This Week's Essential Movies for Free T.V Guide
Lots of great viewing from all sorts of genre's this week. From The Empire Strikes Back to Replusion and The Thin Red Line to Dr. Strangelove!
A nice balance to the listings this week finds unmissable hard hitting dramas like The Crying Game and Scum alongside such time-honoured treasures of the likes of Dr Strangelove... a band of early Roman Polanski thrillers that include Repulsion and Knife in the Water and the welcome premiere (albeit ridiculously early morning scheduling) of French mystery drama Innocence. Saturday: Late Night WatchTHE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK (1997) 22.30, ITV2 Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough and director Steven Spielberg return for this darker dino outing that still maintains some of the awe and wonder and suspense of the original, with enhanced S/F, but is ultimately let down by a cop-out 'T-Rex runs riot in the city' ending. THE CRYING GAME (1992) 23.05, FILM4 Neil Jordan's acclaimed drama seems to be remembered more for its revolutionary twist than for the brooding and intelligent thriller that it is. A British soldier (recent Oscar winner Forest Whitaker) befriends his IRA captor and asks him to look up his girlfriend drawing him into a web of deceit, mystery and obsession. SundayTHE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980) 16.25, ITV1 Mirroring Revenge of the Sith in tone, startling revelations and daringly haunting down beat climax this is widely cherished as the best instalment in the series and one can see why, what with its powerful pivotal oedipal crisis story, quality expressionistic design, breathtaking emotional intensity, taut suspense scenes and breakneck pace. "Impressive. Most impressive..." PEOPLE I KNOW (2001) 23.10, BBC1 Al Pacino and Kim Basinger star in this slow burning drama about a press agent who becomes embroiled in a huge scandal. Not a box office hit, but a critically acclaimed film which should prove an entertaining watch. MondayIT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE (1953) 10.40, MORE4 Classic 50s sci-fi about an alien ship which crash lands in the Arizona desert with the crew taking the shape of human form...shown in 3D at the time this features the original one-eyed xenomorphs later to be spoofed in The Simpsons horror specials. NAKED GUN 2.5 (1991) 21.00, FILM4 Leslie Nielsen stars as the clumsy cop in the equally hilarious second and a half police outing which sees singer Robert Goulet (who pasted away just a few days ago) play a charmingly but ruthless businessman who sets out to pollute the environment. "Awfully big moustache!" THINGS TO COME (1936) 22.00, BBC4 Visionary bleak futuristic science-fictioner which sees the world's population regroup in underground cities after society breaks down following years of raging war. A chilling and visually stunning movie which is bold in his dystopian depiction. JACKASS: THE MOVIE (2002) 10.35, FILM4 The dare devil team perform a series of audacious stunts that are mind blowing in their conviction. Great fun! THE THIN RED LINE (1998) 23.05, ITV1 Terrence Malicks powerful war drama is an adaptation of James Jones autobiographical 1962 novel, about the conflict at Guadalcanal during WW2. Nick Nolte leads an exceptional cast. REPULSION (1965) 01.15, ITV4 Roman Polanski's first english language film - that after Rosemary's Baby and The Tenant forms a loose 'apartment dwelling' trilogy - sees Catherine Deneuve as the sexually repressed hairdresser assistant who slowly goes insane with her necrotic fantasies of rape and seduction in swinging London. TuesdayA CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971) 22.00, ITV4 Stanley Kubrick's fascinating interpretation of Anthony Burgess' totalitarian novel, is mostly remembered for the far-flung violence however probe deeper and this is a brilliant satire on global control that beat harmoniously to the triumphant strings of Beethoven. WednesdayJUST CAUSE (1995) 21.00, FIVE Sean Connery stars as a veteran professor of law who is called into help prove the innocence of a man who faces the chair for murder in this gripping thriller that has one of those 'pull the rug from beneath you' twist endings. ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO (2003) 23.00, FIVE US Completing his Mexico trilogy (after El Mariachi and Desperado) Robert Rodriguez's confusingly complex western is superbly enjoyable nonsense. This finds feared assassin Mariachi (Antonio Banderas) becoming involved in a ploy concerning a CIA agent and a mexican general. Enough said. ThursdayONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO (2003) 21.00, FIVE USSee Wednesday 23.00SCUM (1979) 22.00, ITV4 Hard-hitting drama about the, then true to life shocking incidents, that occur in a British Borstal. Controversially banned by the BBC at the time, this is a tough viewing experience but essential and rewarding. THE MADNESS OF KING GEORGE (1994) 23.30, FILM4 Based on the real life plight of the historic king who developed a severe bout of dementia during his reign. Nigel Hawthorne stars as the titular king with sterling support from both Helen Mirren and Ian Holm. KNIFE IN THE WATER (1962) 01.05 ITV4 Polanski's directorial début concerns a middle age couple who happen upon a young stranger and invite him aboard their yacht unaware of his clandestine intentions. Mind games endure in this classy thriller from the master of claustrophobic containment. FridayTHE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR (1968) 11.10, MORE4 'He was young, handsome, a millionaire and he'd just pulled off the perfect crime! She was young beautiful, a super sleuth sent to investigate him!' With its 60s split screen over indulgence and exceptional chemistry between its two leads Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway this is the original classic nostalgic crime caper. DR STRANGELOVE: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) 21.00, ITV3 Stanley Kubrick's sterling comedic depiction of the world on the verge of nuclear attack boasts expectational performances from the likes of Sterling Hayden, George C Scott and of course Peter Sellers who hilariously encompasses three roles with effortless comedic timing. "Mein Fuhrer! I can walk!" INNOCENCE (2005) 03.30, FILM4 In the heart of a forest lyes an all girl's boarding school, cut off from the outside world. Know one must leave...but a group of the girls decide to explore their haunting surroundings. Winner of various prestigious film awards this should prove a gripping French mystery.