April 04, 2020

16 films to watch on TV this week


War For The Planet Of The Apes   Sat   4/4   CH4 @ 21.00

The ape vs human conflict is in full swing and both sides are suffering huge casualties. An obsessive human soldier brings tragedy into Caesar's life and a battle for the planet begins. The final installment in the Apes trilogy is a brilliant way to round off the series. A beautiful looking, starkly violent, action packed and ultimately uplifting watch. Andy Serkis in the lead does mega work and Woody Harrelson hits the spot as his nemesis.

Reservation Road   Sat   4/4   TG4 @ 21.30

The futures of two families, the Learner's and the Arno's, are forever changed one night after a chance occurrence on Reservation Road. A sad film, and maybe one to record and watch when current events have cleared up but a very good one. A twisty, turny look at loss that might surprise you with how it plays out. Mark Ruffalo, Joaquin Phoenix and Jennifer Connelly do pitch perfect work.

Gold   Sat   4/4   RTE1 @ 23.35

Remote Indonesia. There's gold in them thar hills and prospector Kenny Wells can smell it. So can geologist Michael Acosta. They team up and head in. Does success or failure await? A somewhat shallow film but an enjoyable look at a business ran by absolute chancers and led by a very entertaining showing from a very different looking Matthew McConaughey. Bryce Dallas Howard and Edgar Ramirez provide decent support.

The Gift   Sun   5/4   RTE2 @ 00.55

Simon and Robin are a married couple living a nice life until a chance encounter with a face from the past turns everything upside done for them. A slowburn but gripping thriller with a very unsettling denouement, this is the kind of movie that will rattle around your head for an age. Starring Rebecca Hall, Jason Bateman and Joel Edgerton (who also wrote and directed it) this one is really worth a watch.

The Duke Of Burgundy   Sun   5/4   Film4 @ 01.25

Evelyn, a student studying butterflies and her lecturer/employer Cynthia begin seeing each other and soon find themselves pushing the boundaries of their relationship to some very intense places. A dark, erotic and beautiful looking film and one that whilst  light on plot will keep you watching to the end. Funny in places, sad in others and always well acted by Sidse Babett Knudsen and Chiara D'Anna.

Topkapi   Sun   5/4   BBC2 @ 14.00

After a security incident at the border, a small time crook is forced into working with a gang of jewel thieves in Istanbul. Hi-jinx of course ensue. You can't beat a fun heist comedy and this is one of the best. An excellent blend of comedy and tension all wrapped around a superb cast that includes Peter Ustinov, Melina Mercouri, Robert Morley and Maximilian Schell. A first rate way to while away an afternoon in quarantine.

A Monster Calls   Sun   5/4   BBC1 @ 22.30


A broken boy is having a hard time. His Da is gone, school is miserable and his Mam is sick. And now something has begun to menace him. But it's not what you think. A stunning film, and a look at grief through a child's eyes that will floor you, fill you with fear and eventually leave you an emotional wreck. But in a great way. Lewis MacDougall, Felicity Jones and Liam Neeson all nail their parts.

Enough Said   Mon   6/4   CH4 @ 00.10

Eva is dreading the thought of her daughter going to college but then she meets both an interesting fella and a new friend through work. Little does she know both of them share a past. This is a joy of a film, warm and humorous and filled with characters who feel genuinely real. Julia Louis Dreyfus and the late James Gandolfini are both fantastic as the leads and the always reliable Catherine Keener offers fine back up.

The Girl On The Train   Mon   6/4   RTE2 @ 21.00

Rachel's commute takes her past a fancy house everyday and everyday she sees the same woman on her balcony. Until one day she doesn't. So she decides to see what's up. It's a very Hitchcockian premise with added sex and violence to spice it all up and yes it does get a bit too twisty for it's own good but it's worth sticking with to see how it all plays out. Emily Blunt, Justin Theroux and Rebecca Ferguson do top notch work.

Berberian Sound Studio   Tues   7/4   Film4 @ 01.30

A sound effects artist arrives at an Italian film studio to do foley work for a new movie. The film isn't the one he was expecting to be working on and the plot and the horror within begins to bleed into his real life. A surreal watch that's not for everyone but genre fans will get a big kick out of this homage to the glory days of Italian giallo cinema. A top notch turn from Toby Jones adds to the trippy twisted madness.

The Man In The White Suit   Tues   7/4   BBC2 @ 15.25

Sidney has developed a fabric that's both stain resistant and doesn't fall apart. He's happy to share his invention with the world but clothing manufacturers who stand to lose out are not happy. Alec Guinness is a scream in the lead of this amusing Ealing comedy production that will not only make you laugh but also make you think. A perfect lazy Tuesday afternoon watch to help you forget everything for a couple of hours.

Double Indemnity   Tues   7/4   TCM @ 18.40

A classic slice of film noir from master director Billy Wilder. An affair between a salesman and a married woman takes a murderous turn all in the pursuit of money. Barbara Stanwyck & Fred MacMurray are at the top of their game in this one but Edward G. Robinson robs the film out from underneath them as a man who won't let things go. A classic from the Golden era of Hollywood that truly lives up to the hype

The Burning   Wed   8/4   The Horror Channel @ 23.00

A long time ago a group of kids played a trick on Cropsy and he ended up scarred for life. Now years later he's out of hospital and itchin' to put a hurtin' on somebody. This member of the notorious video nasty club is real guilty pleasure viewing. It's crunchy and gory (Tom Savini's fx work still excels) and silly and derivative but carries a certain charm. Keep an eye out for a baby faced Hilly Hunter and Jason Alexander with a full head of hair.

Elle   Fri   10/4   Film4 @ 01.25

Michèle is a successful businesswoman who's life changes when she gets raped in her own home. Her reaction to the attack is a struggle for others but Michèle has her own plan. Paul Verhoeven's comeback film is a harsh watch that may be triggering for some but it's also very surprising and all held together by a tour de force performance by Isabelle Hubert. She's just amazing here and she'll keep you glued to the screen.

Mad Max : Fury Road   Fri   10/4   ITV2 @ 21.00

In a post apocalyptic Australia a drifter joins up with a gang of women on the run from an evil master. Tom Hardy & Charlize Theron lead the cast as Max Rockatansky and Imperator Furiosa in one of the best action films of the 21st century. Seriously. Hardy does his usual grumbly thing while Theron steals the film from under him with ease. The title may be Mad Max but the women own this film. Give it a go. It will wow you.

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance   Fri   10/4   TG4 @ 21.10


The Stoddards have returned to the town of Shinbone for the funeral of an old friend. An old friend who did something for Ransom Stoddard that will forever be a secret. A true classic of the western genre. Talkier and more cerebral than most while still offering everything you'd expect. James Stewart, Vera Miles, John Wayne, Lee Marvin, Woody Strode & Edmond O'Brien all do stellar work in this John Ford masterpiece. 






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