March 07, 2020

12 films on TV for you this week


Moondance   Sat   7/3   TG4 @ 21.20

Two brothers by the name of Patrick and Dominic live a carefree existence in a remote farmhouse in the west of Ireland. Their lives are thrown into disarray when their aunt arrives with a young woman in tow. A bittersweet and affecting tale of first love and the complexities of fraternal relationships. Ian Shaw, Rúaidhrí Conroy, Marianne Faithfull and Julia Brendler all carry the can well here.

Foxcatcher   Sat   7/3   BBC1 @ 23.55

2 brothers readying for the 1988 Seoul Olympics find themselves sponsored by an eccentric millionaire and move into his estate to train. Things get strange. A stunning film, unsettling in places, haunting and cringeworthy in others and full of perfect acting. Steve Carell steals the show with a superb performance as a very troubled man but Channing Tatum really surprises too. This film shows a very different side to him.

Stations Of The Cross   Sun   8/3   BBC2 @ 01.45

Maria is a young German Catholic who lives for religion. She wants to live a normal life but she also wants to live a sin free one so she's make it to heaven and become a saint. A thought provoking watch about the issues of leading a religious life as a teenager in the modern world. Like the 14 stations of the cross this film is shot in 14 long takes. Watch it and marvel at the film making craft and an amazing lead turn from Lea van Acken.

American Honey   Sun   8/3   Film4 @ 23.45

A teenager gets the chance to escape her dreary bonds and explore the American midwest with a group of like-minded individuals. This Andrea Arnold directed drama is (imo) the best film of 2016. A complex, emotional and blisteringly real watch all about a forgotten place and the forgotten people that populate it. Sasha Lane is astonishing in her movie debut and Shia LaBeouf does wonderful work in support.

Top Secret   Mon   9/3   CH4 @ 01.10

While on tour in Germany, teen heart throb Nick Rivers falls for a girl and soon finds himself involved with the French Resistance and fighting against nazis with one big eye. This spoof of 1950's spy and war films is a joy and some of the sight gags (boots & phones in particular) really hit the spot. Val Kilmer is a fun lead in a film that's 90 nonstop minutes of giggles. We need this film this week.

Perrier's Bounty   Mon   9/3   TG4 @ 21.30

Michael owes Perrier money. Perrier's a violent guy. Michael's a plum. A cash grabbing plan goes awry and blood is spilled. This isn't the best Irish film you'll ever see but it's fast paced, funny, crunching and exceedingly profane and all carried by a Hibernian cast for the ages. Cillian Murphy, Gabriel Byrne, Liam Cunningham, the Gleesons (Brendan and Domhnall) amongst many others all do good work.

The Bling Ring   Tues   10/3   Film4 @ 01.10

Kids there day eh? A group of teens in Hollywood realise there's a lot of easy pickings to be had from the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Sofia Coppola's 2013 drama that's based on real life is lovely looking, darkly humorous and unsettling look at the cult of celebrity and it's effect on the young and restless. Taissa Farmiga and Emma Watson stand out among an energetic cast.

12 Angry Men   Tues   10/3   TCM @ 13.30

A young man is on trial for murder. 11 men in the jury think he's guilty. 1 man can see reasonable doubt and sets out to change the mind of the others. 12 men in 1 room talking. Sounds deathly dull doesn't it. It's not. It's a masterpiece of film. It's gripping stuff and brilliantly acted from a cast of famous faces including Lee J.Cobb, Martin Balsam, Ed Begley and Henry Fonda as the conscience laden juror number 8.

Good Kill   Wed   11/3   CH4 @ 01.35

Major Thomas Egan is fighting the Taliban everyday. But not on the ground in Afghanistan, from a control room in Las Vegas where he controls bomb drones from half a world away. Andrew Niccol's 3rd collaboration with Ethan Hawke is an interesting watch about the complexity and morality of modern day warfare. Not a joy filled watch but a provocative one.

P2   Fri  12/3   The Horror Channel @ 02.35

A woman wakes in a deserted car garage on Christmas Eve and it isn't long before she realises she's not alone in there. A creepy, crunchingly violent and atmospheric watch dotted with a couple of very effective scares. What it lacks in originality it makes up in suspense. Rachel Nichols is a solid damsel not in distress and Wes Bentley's bad guy is nicely boo-hiss.

This Is England   Fri   13/3   Film4 @ 23.15

A young boy grieving for his father is taken under the wing of a gang of skinheads. Life is sweet until a face from the past turns things upside down. The best British film of the 21st century right here. A fantastic look at the horrible dark underbelly of life in Margaret Thatcher's Britain. Shane Meadow's directs an astounding cast of unknowns in a film that will bowl you over. Stephen Graham & Thomas Thurgoose are the stand outs.

A United Kingdom   Fri   13/3   RTE1 @ 23.50

Prince Seretse Khama of Botswana had the whole world ahead of him. Until the day he fell in love with a white woman while at college. In the UK of the 1940's you couldn't have a bigger scandal. An excellently acted look at an issue which sadly hasn't changed much in the last 80 years. The chemistry between leads David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike is first class.


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