Top films to watch on TV this week
WEDNESDAY
Edward Scissorhands (1990) Film4, 11a.m.
Tim Burton’s fairy tale tells the story of an artificial man (Johnny Depp) befriended by Avon lady Dianne Weist and family. He falls in love with Winona Rider (replete with blonde wig), falls foul of local thug Anthony Michael Hall and becomes a hit with the locals after cutting hair and hedges with equal dexterity.
A memorable, and very personal tale from one of Hollywood’s most gifted directors. Added bonuses are a cameo from Vincent Price (Burton’s idol); Bo Welch’s production design, and the haunting score by Danny Elfman. Best line has pining Ryder yearning for a hug from Depp: ‘Hold me,’ she coos. ‘I can’t!’ he replies. Cue lump in throat.
Trivia fans may note that the leading man spoke only 169 words in this 30-yearold classic.
THURSDAY
The Damned United (2009) BBC4, 9p.m.
Based on David Peace’s controversial book, The Damned United chronicles a tempestuous period in the professional life of football manager Brian Clough (Michael Sheen) during the 1974-75 season.
The film opens in July ‘74 with Brian travelling to West Yorkshire to succeed Don Revie (a perfectly cast Colm Meaney) as manager of Division One champions Leeds United. An impromptu television interview, in which Brian openly criticises Revie’s tactics, is seen as a declaration of war against senior squad members including Billy Bremner (Stephen Graham), Johnny Giles (Peter McDonald) and Norman Hunter (Mark Cameron).
An enthralling valentine to the former darling of Nottingham Forest, which shoots and scores on many levels, although fans of Peace’s novel may miss some of the darkness.
FRIDAY
American Gangster (2007) ITV, 10.45p.m.
Director Ridley’s Scott’s epic thriller recounts the true story of the rise and fall of Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington), who created a drugs empire in Seventies New York, controlling a large portion of the city’s heroin trade.
Rumoured to be raking in more than one million dollars a day at the height of his reign, Frank famously smuggled his illegal wares into the country in the coffins of dead servicemen.
American Gangster pits the real-life organised crime boss against a New Jersey cop, Detective Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe), a hothead who is determined to clean up the streets and root out corrupt elements within his own narcotics division. The excellent supporting cast includes Chiwetel Ejiofor, Idris Elba and Cuba Gooding Jnr.
SATURDAY
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) BBC One, 10.20p.m.
Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) is abducted from Earth as a child and raised by alien mercenaries Consequently, he becomes a thief for hire and steals a mystical orb sought by sadistic warlord Ronan (Lee Pace) and his army.
When Peter learns the orb has the power to destroy the universe, he puts selfish desires to one side and aligns himself with a motley crew of renegades - greenskinned assassin Gamora (Zoe Saldana), genetically engineered raccoon Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper), his tree-like sidekick Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel) and vengeance-seeking warrior Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista) - to repel Ronan.
From its visually stunning opening set to the funky strains of Come and Get Your Love, James Gunn’s film is a blast. The fact it plays such an integral part in Captain Marvel and the recent two-part Avengers saga makes it well worth another look.
SUNDAY
Jurassic World (2015) ITV, 5.50p.m. Dinosaur theme park Jurassic World opened to the public in 2005 and now welcomes more than 20,000 visitors a day. Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) oversees park operations, while Dr Henry Wu (BD Wong) plays God in the laboratories, splicing DNA strands to create terrifying new breeds.
Thus the ferocious and highly intelligent Indominus Rex is born. When the I-Rex escapes her paddock, Claire begs animal behaviour specialist Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) to capture the beast and protect her nephews, Zach (Nick Robinson) and Gray (Ty Simpkins), who are trapped in the middle of the bloodbath.
Jurassic World is a muscular, rollicking romp that captures some of the adrenaline-pumping thrills we felt more than 25 years ago when Steven Spielberg first unleashed dinosaurs back into the world. Fans may note a third Jurassic World movie is now filming.
MONDAY
Crocodile Dundee (1986) Film4, 4.10p.m.
A New York reporter ventures into the Australian Outback to interview legendary hunter Mick ‘Crocodile’ Dundee - and hits it off with him so well, she invites to come back to the Big Apple with her.
But while Dundee may be a natural when it comes to surviving in the wilderness, he finds it much harder to navigate the urban jungle of Manhattan.
The fish-out-of-water storyline is a bit hackneyed, but there’s a reason this film proved to be a surprise box-office smash and that’s leading man and co-writer Paul Hogan. He’s hugely likeable as Dundee, a weathered action man who doesn’t take himself too seriously, and the film coasts along on his charm alone.
Linda Kozlowski also stars with John Meillon, Mark Blum and Michael Lombard.