Weird Science Sat 30/4 BBC3 @ 22.00
Gary and Wayne are a pair of nerds who are sick and tired of being school punchbags and knowing that they have no chance with women because of their reputations they decide to create one with their scientific knowledge. Everything goes wrong of course. John Hughes's 1985 comedy has aged quite painfully in places but it's still an entertaining slice of nostalgia for the middle aged among us. Kelly LeBrock steals the show and keep an eye out for a baby faced Robert Downey Jr.
Out Of Innocence Sat 30/4 RTE1 @ 22.00
A baby's body is found on a beach. A young woman not even from the area is blamed and coercion is used to make her and her family confess. The good old days of 1980's Ireland where the church and gardai ruled by fear. Based on a real case this 2016 Irish drama is a bit simplistic and stretched in places but there's a righteous fury at play here and two magnificent performances from Fionnula Flaherty and Fiona Shaw demand you keep going through the heartbreak.
Get Shorty Sat 30/4 TG4 @ 22.20
Hollywood's a dark and shifty place and when mobster Chilli Palmer rocks into town to collect a debt he realises he fits right in. So he decides to make himself at home. Barry Sonnenfeld's comedy drama is an absolute joy and it's easily the best utilisation of John Travolta's talents since his 90's career renaissance. The cast also includes Rene Russo, Gene Hackman, Delroy Lindo, Danny Devito and many more and they all bring their A-game.
A White,White Day Sun 1/5 BBC2 @ 00.55
Ingimundur, an Icelandic police chief is dealing with the loss of his wife with the help of his work and their daughter. To help him through the process she hands over some of her mother's belongings and something catches Ingimundur's eye. A rattler of a film, a brutal look at the effects of grief and a hefty character study rolled into one. It's not for everyone but it's well worth recording. Ingvar Eggert Sigurðsson is amazing in the main role.
Bend Of The River Sun 1/5 ITV4 @ 13.20
The second collaboration between James Stewart and director Anthony Mann is a majestic watch. An oft told tale of simple homesteaders being harassed by landowners but one that's kept fresh by authentic acting, action and scenery. Plus it's always fun to see an actor with a screen persona like Stewart play someone ruthless and it all plays out in glorious Technicolor too. A nice old fashioned Sunday afternoon film.
The Bride Of Frankenstein Sun 1/5 The Horror Channel @ 22.25
Doctor Frankenstein is dismayed after the events of his earlier story and wants to give up on his experiments to create life after death but a mentor of his urges him to continue and to create a mate for his infamous invention. James Whale's 1935 masterpiece is a rare beast, a sequel that's better than it's predecessor. A layered, intelligent, imaginative, soulful and eerie stunner with brilliant showings from Boris Karloff and Elsa Lanchester.
Lady In Cement Mon 2/5 Talking Pictures TV @ 21.00
Private eye Tony Rome is on holidays in Florida when he makes a grisly discovery beneath the warm waves near Miami. After reporting it to the police his services are hired in another case but something seems familiar. Too familiar. A surprisingly breezy movie despite it's subject manner and a reminder that Frank Sinatra, as Tony, was actually a strong actor when he put his mind to it. Racquel Welch and Dan Blocker add nice support.
The Wolf Of Wall Street Mon 2/5 TG4 @ 21.30
Jordan Belfort was a scumbag who ripped people off all over America in the 1980's and 90's selling ropey shares. Somehow Martin Scorsese has managed to turn his story into an extremely funny and compulsively watchable tale about the dangers of capitalism and egotism. Leonardo DiCaprio is tremendous in the lead role and gets wicked back up from Margot Robbie, Jonah Hill and John Bernthal. Not for the easily offended. Seriously.
45 Years Tues 3/5 Film4 @ 01.25
Just as they are about to celebrate their 45th anniversary a couple receive a piece of news that shakes the foundations of their relationship. Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay are fantastic in a deeply humane film that will make you rethink your ideas about how other people perceive you. Seeing these two old pros getting to grips with a meaty and mature story is a compelling way to spend a couple of hours.
Anna And The Apocalypse Tues 3/5 The Horror Channel @ 02.25
Anna's about to finish school and go travelling for a year. Her Da is not happy about it, her best friend is secretly in love with her and a fleeting romantic acquaintance is being awkward. Life is messy and gets worse when the end of the world kicks off. A bizarre blend of christmas movie, horror, comedy and musical that shouldn't work at all but somehow it does. An amusing story made even better by it's memorable characters.
Zoltan, Hound Of Dracula Wed 4/5 Talking Pictures TV @ 00.05
Army shenanigans have unearthed a scary crypt and in that crypt is something ungodly, a demon on four legs, Zoltan, the faithful servant of the Prince Of Darkness. He's free, he's hungry and pedigree chum just won't do. Yep, it's as stupid as it sounds but it's a lot of fun too coming at the tale (tail heh) end of that golden era of 1970's American horror while effective turns from Jose Ferrer and Reggie Nalder keep it bobbing along.
Picnic At Hanging Rock Thur 5/5 Film4 @ 00.50
February 14th. 1900. A class excursion to Hanging Rock in the wilds of Victoria, Australia ends in disaster when a teacher and pupils vanish without a trace. Peter Weir's 1975 classic put Antipodean cinema on the map and rightly so. It's a haunting, puzzling, unnerving, dreamlike movie that asks more than it answers but once you've seen it you won't forget it for a long while. Rachel Roberts and Anne-Louise Lambert nail their parts.
Top Hat Thur 5/5 BBC4 @ 21.00
If you've seen The Green Mile you'll recognise the most famous scene in Top Hat instantly. The story of an American dancer coming to London and the dancing partner he first annoys and then falls for. After a series of mistakes and miscommunications of course. 87 years old this year and still as charming as when it was first released. Ginger Rogers & Fred Astaire create a little bit of magic onscreen together.
Sudden Death Thur 5/5 ITV4 @ 22.05
Darren McCord is a security guard working in an ice hockey rink and a man haunted by his past. When a game night is taken over by terrorists he has a chance to redeem himself. An enjoyable adventure that manages to hit all the action beats you'd expect while simultaneously ripping the mick out of the entire genre. Jean Claude Van Damme is fun as McCord and the much missed Powers Boothe is a deadly boo hiss bad guy.
Call Me By Your Name Fri 6/5 RTE2 @ 21.45
Elio, a teenager lives a carefree life in the early 80's Italy. Until he meets Oliver, an American man hired to work with his father and his life gets rather complicated when he starts to feel attracted to him. Lead Timothée Chalamet does his drippy thing as usual but here it suits the film. A heartfelt look at the pain and angst and discovery of your formative years with Armie Hammer and Michael Stuhlbarg doing excellent work.
Alone In Berlin Fri 6/5 RTE1 @ 23.20
A family tragedy during World War 2 brings home to a pair of grieving parents the fact that the political ideology they have given themselves over to doesn't care less about them or their feelings. If you can get past the sight of Ireland's favourite actor (™) Brendan Gleeson playing a nazi sympathiser you'll find plenty to get your teeth into here. Emma Thompson and Daniel Brühl do well in a sadly still topical story.
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