FILM HIGHLIGHTS
SUNDAY The Flintstones (1994) ITV2, 11.50am
Family live-action adaptation of the classic cartoon, starring John Goodman and Rosie O’Donnell. After Barney lends his best friend Fred some money, he pays him back by switching their answers for a test at their work, leading to Fred becoming the new associate vice president. However, Fred lets the money and power go to his head, ruining his friendship and turning his co-workers against him, leaving it up to the wives to make things right.
St Trinian’s (2007) ITV2, 1.35pm
Comedy, starring Talulah Riley, Rupert Everett and Gemma Arterton (below, right). Snobby teen Annabelle Fritton is moved to a chaotic school run by her eccentric aunt. Although she initially finds it difficult to get along with the rag-tag collection of classmates, she soon learns to get through to them. Then, after learning the school is in financial trouble, they decide to scam their way to victory on a TV quiz show.
The Devil Wears Prada (2006) Channel 4, 2.30pm
Comedy, starring Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt. A young woman gets her big break as an assistant at a well-known high fashion magazine. However, she learns immediately that the powerful editor-in-chief that she is working for is a no-nonsense fire-breather, who is quite happy to make her new assistant’s life an utter misery.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) BBC1, 10.30pm
Superhero action, starring Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson. Captain America and Black Widow come to suspect that something is not right at SHIELD after Nick Fury is assassinated by the mysterious Winter Soldier. It is up to them to find out what is going on, which leads them to a conspiracy that links back to Cap’s arch enemies in Hydra.
MONDAY Avatar (2009) E4, 8pm
James Cameron’s sci-fi adventure, starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana and Sigourney Weaver. Paraplegic former marine Jake Sully takes his deceased brother’s place on a scientific experiment on the distant planet of Pandora. He has his consciousness placed in a scientifically made avatar body that looks like the indigenous species, the Na’vi, with the intention of negotiating with them. However, as he grows closer to them, the corporation funding the project look to claim a natural resource for themselves, using force if they have to.
a Most Wanted man (2014) TG4, 9.30pm
Crime drama, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Daniel Bruhl. A half-Chechen, half Russian immigrant arrives in Hamburg, laying claim to his father’s fortune. This brings him to the attention of both the German and American security agencies, who are desperate to find out his true identity.
TUESDAY Changing lanes (2002) TV3, 9pm
Thriller, starring Ben Affleck and Samuel L Jackson. The lives of an attorney and an insurance salesman literally collide when they are involved in a car accident as they are both rushing to their next meeting. The salesman’s life spirals out of control as a result and, blaming the attorney, he sets about exacting his revenge.
Full Metal Jacket (1987) ITV4, 10pm
Stanley Kubrick’s classic Vietnam war drama, starring Matthew Modine, R Lee Ermey and Vincent D’Onofrio. A new group of green-around-the-gills marine recruits go through the hellish training regimes of the relentless Gunnery Sergeant Hartman. When they finally make the jump to the war-torn fields of south-east Asia, war correspondent JT Davis realises how unprepared they really are.
WEDNESDAY graCie! (2010) BBC4, 9pm
Drama, starring Jane Horrocks, Tom Hollander and David Dawson. The biographical story of wartime singing star of the silver screen Gracie Fields’s battle with cervical cancer. Despite her health struggles she continues to entertain the troops during the Second World War. Things grow further complicated for her and husband, Italian director Monty Banks, when Italy’s involvement in the war intensifies. No matter how they chose to react, it will be trouble for the couple.
Walk The line (2005) RTE1, 9.35pm
James Mangold’s biographical drama, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon. The story of the rise and fall and return of country music legend Johnny Cash. From his early days and breakthrough, the performer had to fight for everything he has, including his rocky relationship with the women he fell in love with.
kick-ass 2 (2013) E4, 10pm
Comedy action, starring Aaron Taylor Johnson and Chloe Grace Moretz. KickAss’s previous heroics have inspired a new wave of masked vigilantes to start fighting crime. The reluctant icon joins them on patrol, alongside their leader Colonel Stars and Stripes. However, a re-branded Red Mist is still angry after what KickAss did to him and his family, and assembles his own team of psychotic super villains to track the heroes down and eliminate them.
Thursday Transporter 3 (2008) ITV4, 9pm
Action, starring Jason Statham, Robert Knepper and Natalya Rudakova. Driver Frank Martin is back in action. This time he has been hired by gangsters to transport a package to the Ukraine. He finds out that the cargo includes the kidnapped daughter of a government official, and thugs have been hired to make sure they don’t reach their final destination.
Interstellar (2014) RTE2, 9.40pm
Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi drama, starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chastain. A team of experts are Earth’s last hope when they investigate a wormhole that gives them the use of interstellar travel. On the other side they discover a planet that could be the answer to their prayers, but they will face countless struggles if they are to make it back.
green Street (2005) ITV4, 11.10pm
Drama, starring Elijah Wood and Charlie Hunnam. Matt Buckner finds himself wrongly expelled from Harvard. He moves to London to live with his sister, where he is introduced to mutual acquaintance Pete, who introduces him to the self-destructive world of football hooliganism.
Friday The Shawshank Redemption (1994) ITV4,9pm
Frank Darabont’s classic adaptation of Stephen King’s short story, starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman. Andy Dufresne is convicted of murder and placed in Shawshank prison. He must learn to adapt to the treacherous world behind its bars, including violent inmates, psychotic guards and the untrustworthy warden. However, there is hope, through a friendship with inmate Red.
The Sweeney (2012) TV3, 11pm
The 1970’s TV drama, starring Ray Winstone and Plan B. DI Jack Regan and George Carter are unorthodox-yet-successful cops who work on the worst-of-the-worst cases on the mean streets of London. Their messy handling of the arrest of a dangerous criminal comes to the attention of an internal affairs agent, leading to bother when the crook is released.
Disturbia (2007) BBC1, 11.25pm
DJ Caruso’s thriller tips the hat to Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear
Window. A teenager (Shia LaBeouf ) is placed under house arrest after an incident at school. While he is confined to his home, he believes he witnesses his neighbour murdering someone.
Saturday The Nut Job (2014) RTE1, 6.35pm
Animation, with the voices of Will Arnett, Brendan Fraser
and Liam Neeson. Sly squirrel Surly is exiled from the park he calls home after he accidentally destroys his community’s winter food stash. To get back in their good books he plans an elaborate heist at a local nut store.
The Fugitive (1993) RTE2, 9pm
Taut thriller, starring Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones. Dr Richard Kimble is shocked to discover his wife has been brutally murdered. However, the police are determined that he is guilty of the heinous crime. On his way to prison he escapes and sets out to prove his innocence by tracking down the real killer at any cost.