May 15, 2021

16 films on TV to enjoy this week

Con Air   Sat   15/5   ITV @ 22.50

Cameron Poe is going home after a spell in jail for killing a man while defending his wife. On the plane ride across the desert a group of prisoners decide to hijack his transport. Now one man and his mullet must take them on. A perfect Saturday night movie. Riotously silly and stupid but oh so enjoyable. Have a drink and watch Nicholas Cage take care of business. John Cusack, Ving Rhames, Colm Meaney and a terrifying John Malkovich all add to the mix.

Drag Me To Hell   Sat   15/5   Film4 @ 23.10

Sam Raimi's hilariously gooey & crunchy tale of a young woman's mistake and her efforts to fix that mistake. Alison Lohman has a whale of a time in the lead role and certainly earns her pay as she gets thrown around the screen like the Coyote in the old Roadrunner cartoons. This is the ideal horror film for people who claim not to like horror. It's a load of laughs and you'll snort as much as you roar at the screen

X+Y   Sun   15/5   BBC1 @ 00.15

A young autistic man finds his closed in world opening up when he takes part in an international mathematics competition. A nice film that will make you blub and make you smile. It's not exactly a comprehensive look at the condition but it gives us an idea of what people with it and their families go through. There's great acting from Asa Butterfield and Sally Hawkins as son & mother and Rafe Spall & Eddie Marsan are always a pleasure to see onscreen.

The Big Sick   Sun   15/5   RTE2 @ 00.55

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.

Fried Green Tomatoes At The Whistle Stop Cafe   Sun   15/5   Virgin Media One @ 17.30

A woman trapped in a miserable marriage makes friends with an elderly woman & begins to change her life as her older friend's stories start to have an effect on her. Flashing between the modern day & life in early 20th century Alabama this is a lovely tale that is at times both sad and heartwarming. The always reliable Kathy Bates and Jessica Tandy play the modern leads with Mary Stuart Masterson & Mary Louise Parker appearing in the past.

Psycho   Sun   15/5   Sony Movies @ 21.00

Marion has just stolen a lot of money and now she's on the run up along the Californian coastline. She checks into a motel and meets a friendly young man named Norman. The rest is history. Literally. Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece has often been copied but never equalled and it's about turn from crime thriller into shrieking horror gets you every single time. Vera Miles, Anthony Hopkins, Janet Leigh and Martin Balsam do wonderful work.

The Counselor   Mon   16/5   CH4 @ 00.25

Time for a divisive film. A lawyer with iffy friends allows himself to be dragged into deals that offer huge rewards. With big highs come massive lows. One notoriously silly scene in Ridley Scott's 2013 thriller put most people off this film on it's initial release but that aside it's a entertaining but graphically violent thriller about the downside of greed. Michael Fassbinder, Penelope Cruz and Brad Pitt stand out in a packed cast.

The End Of The Affair   Mon   16/5   TCM @ 21.00

At the beginning of World War II a man and a married woman begin an affair. As these things are want to do, it does not end well. The second adaption of Graham Greene's celebrated novel is more sexually explicit than the first but it's also a deeper, richer, and more complex look at love and obsession powered by a trio of superb performances from Julianne Moore, Stephen Rea and Ralph Fiennes.

The Florida Project   Mon   16/5   Film4 @ 23.55

Florida is known for it's massive amusement and theme parks. But what about the lives lived in the shadows of those money making behemoths. Little Brooklynn Prince as Moonee will break your heart in a film that's both heartfelt and oddly hilarious. Sean Baker's direction and his juxtaposition of poverty and wealth offer loads of food for thought. Oh and Willem Dafoe's character Bobby will become a fast fave.

Manhunter   Tues   17/5   ITV4 @ 22.45

There's a serial killer called the Tooth Fairy murdering entire families and an ex FBI profiler called Will Graham is out to stop him. But he needs help from another killer he once jailed. A man called Lektor. Michael Mann's 1986 film is arguably the best adaption of Thomas Harris's books. It eschews the hamminess of the later films and goes straight for the jugular with an unerring aim. William Petersen, Brian Cox & Tom Noonan do mighty work here.

Last Man Standing   Tues   17/5   TCM @ 23.30

A drifter rocks into a dusty town. Prohibition is in effect and two gangs, one Irish and one Italian, are war with each other over the supply of illegal alcohol. He spies an opportunity to make his mark. First there was Yojimbo, then A Fistful Of Dollars and now this. Walter Hill takes a old story and adds his unique style to it. Add in Bruce Willis back in the days when he still gave a damn, throw in a million bullets and some very dark humour and you have a fun filled watch. 

Eurovision Song Contest : The Story Of Fire Saga  Wed   18/5   RTE1 @ 21.35

Do you enjoy Will Ferrell and the silly old jokes he's been relying on forever? If yes, then you'll like this. If not there's still enough going on that you can ignore him. Lars Erickssong and Sigrit Ericksdóttir are Fire Saga and they've been picked to represent Iceland in the Eurovision. Everything goes wrong for them. Rachel McAdam and Dan Stevens are the saving graces here. Stevens especially goes all out with a wildly camp performance perfectly suited to the madness on display.

Devil's Knot   Thur   19/5   CH4 @ 01.55

3 children are dead. 3 teenagers are being blamed. The town of West Memphis is about to go up in flames at the news that the reasons behind the violence may be satanic. A private investigator and a grieving mother are the only two who smell a rat. A strong and disturbing look at a real life case and a film that's powered by a stacked cast that includes Reese Witherspoon, Amy Ryan, Colin Firth and Alessandro Nivola. 

Paris, Texas   Thur   19/5   Film4 @ 23.15

A man wanders into a cafe by a road in the middle of a desert. He can't or won't talk and his condition is baffling. He brother arrives and we find out he's been missing for four years. Wim Wender's drama is a quiet, experimental, emotional stunner. It's slow pace won't be for everyone but stick with it and you'll get a story that will stay in your head for weeks to come. The late great Harry Dean Stanton nails the lead while Dean Stockwell and Natassja Kinski offer wonderful back up.

A Quiet Place   Fri   20/5   CH4 @ 23.05

In a world where the slightest sound can get you torn asunder a family struggles to survive and thrive. You want your nerves wracked? Well look no further than this full blooded sci-fi horror. Stressful, frightening, inventive and with an absolutely killer final scene. Best of all? It's only 90 minutes long. Jon Krazinski's debut film as director is a success and his onscreen chemistry with his real life wife Emily Blunt is the icing on the cake.

Death Line   Fri   20/5   Talking Pictures TV @ 23.00

Something strange is happening on the London underground near Russell Square. In the dark shadows hungry things are lurking. Things with a truly horrifying past. Death Line may be nearly 50 years old but it's still so effectively made and creepy that you'll shudder the next time you find yourself on a subterranean train. It's bleak, harrowing stuff but Donald Pleasance and Hugh Armstrong's performances will see you through to the end.


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