About A Boy Sat 6/6 TG4 @ 22.05
Will is an immature eejit skipping from one woman to the next while living off family money. Marcus is a troubled boy living with his depressed mother Fiona. One day they meet and it's an odd match but somehow it works. This adaption of Nick Hornby's book is a joy to watch. Hugh Grant is an effective lead and Toni Collette and a baby faced Nicholas Hoult bring a tonne of emotion to proceedings.
The Hurt Locker Sat 6/6 BBC1 @ 23.00
Kathryn Bigelow directs this story of an unorthodox soldier who joins a bomb disposal unit during the second Iraq war. This is hardy stuff and it's definitely not for the faint of heart. Packed full of nail chewing tension and meaty performances from a cast that includes Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, David Morse and Ralph Fiennes. A film that shows both the hell and the mind numbing boredom of battle.
The Boys From Brazil Sat 6/6 Virgin Media 3 @ Midnight
Paraguay. The late 70's. The nazi cowards who ran to here after the war 30 years earlier are up to dodgy things and Ezra Leberman, a veteran nazi hunter wants to know what's cooking. What we got here is a gloriously garish slice of pulp fiction wish fulfillment, nasty and darkly humorous in equal share. Gregory Peck is demented as Joseph Mengele and Lawrence Olivier is good value as the righteous avenger hunting him down.
What We Do In The Shadows Sun 7/6 BBC2 @ 00.20
A documentary crew films the lives of a group of vampires in a house share in Wellington, New Zealand. Sounds odd right? It is but it's also so much fun. A laugh out loud comedy in parts that's sprinkled with some surprisingly bloody horror, some social commentary and even a touch of pathos. Jermaine Clemant and Taika Waititi (also the director) are perfect as two of the main vamps. Give this a go.
Nancy Drew Sun 7/6 ITV2 @ 15.00
Nancy and her father have moved to Los Angeles. He wants her to live a normal life and give up the sleuthing. But she's got her mind set in something different and this an adventure that begins at home. This 21st century take on the teenage detective story is an enjoyable one. It's not very substantial but it's light and frothy tone is ideal for a sunday afternoon watch. Emma Roberts is a nice lead in a cast full of familiar faces.
Black Sheep Mon 8/6 The Horror Channel @ 02.35
Genetic experiments in a small New Zealand town have turned sheep into ferocious carnivores and it's up to the townsfolk to stop them in their tracks. Yes I know this sounds terrible but it's actually really entertaining and hilarious in while....a disgusting way. If you've seen and loved the early work of Peter Jackson this will be right up your street. Do not watch if you are anyway squeamish however.
The Big Sleep Mon TCM @ 13.30
Private eye Philip Marlowe has been hired to deal with the youngest daughter of a rich family and he asks the help of the eldest daughter to do so. Things get kind of complex. Do you like hard boiled dialogue, blistering chemistry and very intriguing plotlines? If so this is the film for you. A classic 74 years young that truly lives up to the name. Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall are, of course, fantastic as the leads.
Before Midnight Mon 8/6 TG4 @ 21.30
While on a holiday in Greece a couple begin to question the decisions that brought them together and to this place in their lives. This is the third in the Before Trilogy and it's an excellent way to finish the story of Jesse & Celine. It's a sharp and exceedingly well written story that feels painfully real. Julie Delpy & Ethan Hawke are magnificent as the leads and Richard Linklater's direction is the icing on the cake.
Me And You Tues 9/6 Film4 @ 02.05
Lorenzo's an introvert and he loves his own company. He tells his parents he's going on a school skiing trip but secretly hides in the basement of his apartment building. He's not alone for long though. A personal and intimate film from the mind of Bernardo Bertolucci. It's slowburn stuff for sure but it's an interesting look at a troubled soul played brilliantly by Jacopo Olmo Antinori in his debut acting role.
Joy Ride Tues 9/6 The Horror Channel @ 21.00
Three teenage friends are on a roadtrip across America. A prank involving a CB radio puts them on the radar of a murderous trucker and their trip takes a dangerous turn that sees them running for their lives. This 2001 horror is a criminally underrated one and one that gets its scares from slow burn tension and suspense instead of cheap shocks and splatter. Leelee Sobieski, Steve Zahn and the late Paul Walker all do decent work.
The Voices Wed 10/6 CH4 @ 01.50
Jerry's a nice guy with an invisible illness. An illness he encourages by not taking his medication. Lack of medication leads to voices in his head. And now he's listening to them a bit too much. This dark comedy had the potential to offend but it's humour and quirkiness and a committed turn from Ryan Reynolds makes it an amusing, albeit grisly watch. Gemma Arterton, Anna Kendrick and Jacki Weaver do well in support.
The Square Wed 10/6 Film4 @ 21.00
The curator of a Stockholm art gallery has having a hard time. He's been the victim of a robbery and he's also in the middle of setting up a rather unique art exhibit. One that's bound to court controversy. This satirical look at the mores of the art world is an enthralling watch where you'll cringe as much as you'll laugh. Claes Bang, Elisabeth Moss & Dominic West do fine work in a film that's quite long but very worth your time.
Tim Robinson : Connemara Wed 10/6 TG4 @ 21.30
Ok, I haven't actually seen this but I've heard wonderful things about it. A documentary about the history of Connemara, the landscape that defines it and the mythology created by it. Directed by Pat Collins who made the superb Silence, it takes the words Tim Robinson wrote about one of Ireland's most beautiful areas and transposes them to screen. Sadly Tim died of Covid-19 recently and this screening will be a fitting tribute.
Amy Thur 11/6 CH4 @ 22.00
A feature length documentary about the wild and at times sordid life of chanteuse Amy Winehouse and the events leading up to her tragic death in 2011 aged 27. The format is the usual talking heads one but a lash of home video clips and interviews with her family and friends turn this into a deeply personal and upsetting watch that will grip you even when you know how her story ends. A true cautionary tale.
The Killing Fri 12/6 Film4 @ 00.40
Prison is finally behind him and now Johnny Clay and wants a payday. His plan, to rob a racetrack with the help of a handful of associates. The plan is faultless. The people hired to carry it out are not. This slice of film noir from Stanley Kubrick is a masterpiece. Blackly funny, tense as hell, packed full of irony and brutality. 50's crime films really don't get better than this. Sterling Hayden, Elisha Cooke Jr, Coleen Gray and Marie Windsor are all on fire.
The Big Sick Fri 12/6 RTE1 @ Midnight
Emily & Kumail fall in love but Emily is white and Kumail's Indian family do not approve. When Emily falls seriously ill Kumail is forced to decide what is truly important to him. This is a delightful watch, heartfelt and charming in a way that will leave you beaming after it. Kumail Nanjiani and Zoe Kazan make a solid central pairing and Holly Hunter and Ray Romano in back up do all sorts of good work.
2 comments:
I'll be setting the Sky box to record most of these, great selection this week.
Cheers Keith.
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