May 18, 2019

11 films worth watching this week


Hercules   Sat   18/5   RTE2 @ 21.00

After completing his twelve famous labours, Hercules and his merry gang are tasked with a quest more dangerous than anything they've faced before. This knowing twist on an old fable is very amusing and far more satisfying than reviews would have you believe. Dwayne Johnson as Hercules does his usual thing but the supporting cast just rocks especially Ian McShane as a weary warrior who can't wait to die.

The Game   Sat   18/5   TCM @ 23.10

A birthday present from an estranged brother sends a rich banker on an adventure that's fun at first but soon turns his life upside down. David Fincher's twisty and turny and quite intriguing thriller from 1997 was ignored on release but it's a film that's well worth rediscovering. Solid turns from Michael Douglas, Sean Penn and Deborah Kara Unger all add to the appeal.

Two Mules For Sister Sara   Sun   19/5   TCM @ 18.45

A nun called Sara is on the run in the wild west and is saved from a fate worse than death by a mysterious soldier named Hogan. Before long their reasons for being in the desert become intertwined and they have to stick together to survive. This might be one of the lesser Clint Eastwood westerns but it's still an entertaining one due in no small part to the chemistry between him and a spirited Shirley MacClaine. 

Win Win   Mon   20/5   Film4 @ 01.30

A solicitor who makes extra money as a wrestling coach finds the sins of his past coming back to haunt him when he comes into contact with a client's grandchild. This Tom McCarthy directed film is a lovely, touching and painfully real film that for some reason is being shown at ridiculous o'clock. It's well worth recording. Paul Giamatti, Amy Ryan, Bobby Cannavale and Melanie Lynskey are all great.

Heaven & Earth   Mon   20/5   TG4 @ 21.30

The third film in Oliver Stone's loose Vietnam trilogy is mostly forgotten these days but it's a film that deserves re-evaluation. It's the story of Le-Ly, a young Vietnamese woman and her troubling experiences during and after the war. It's a tough and disturbing watch but one that's ultimately rewarding. Hiep Thi Le is an affecting lead and she gets fine support from Tommy Lee Jones and Joan Chen.

Night Of The Living Dead   Mon   20/5   TCM @ 22.50

The dead have started to come back to life and their appetites have taken a turn for the cannibalistic. Barbara and Ben and a handful of survivors finds themselves trapped in a farmhouse and must fight to survive. The film that made George A.Romero famous is a rough and ready masterpiece layered with meaning and metaphor. It might be over 50 years old but it still has the ability to shock. Duane Jones & Judith O'Dea do mighty work.

Graduation   Tues   21/5   Film4 @ 00.35

A woman's path to a bright and promising career comes crashing to a halt when she's attacked the day before her exams. Her father and her future become entangled in the aftermath. This Romanian drama from 2016 is a powerful look at corruption and the tough choices life presents you with. Maria Drăguș & Adrien Titieni both play their parts with fiery conviction.

Horns   Thur   23/5   CH4 @ 02.20

One morning a young man wakes up with horns growing from his head and the ability to get people to admit their darkest secrets. Daniel Radcliffe shakes off his Harry Potter persona to star in this gory and surreal tale that will upset you in places and make you snort laughing in others. A genuine oddity of a film but one thats both original and interesting. Juno Temple James Remar & Kathleen Quinlan all shine too.

Gold   Fri   24/5   Virgin Media One @ 22.00

Ray is back in town after a decade and looking to reconcile things with his estranged daughter. But life has moved on in his absence and he's trying too hard. Something is going to give. A charming Irish film set in Dublin about family, morality, ambition and reconnection. David Wilmot is a very amiable lead and gets nice back up from Kerry Condon, Maisie Williams and James Nesbitt.

Leave To Remain   Fri   24/5   BBC2 @ 22.45

Three teenage asylum seekers, Omar, Abdul and Zizidi, enter the UK to start their new life. But then find themselves caught up in the nightmare that is the UK home office. A grim, challenging and upsetting look at a process that should make life better for people but one that often fails them. A film that avoids cliche which is always good. The cast of unknown actors all do a fine job






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