FILM HIGHLIGHTS
SUNDAY Bend It Like Beckham (2002) Channel 4, 12.55pm
Comedy, starring Parminder Nagra, Keira Knightley (below right) and Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Jess is the daughter of orthodox Sikh parents, but does not care for the strict, traditional rules that are enforced on her life. As a sign of rebellion, she goes off and joins a female football team with her friend Jules. Although this causes tension with her family, it opens Jess to a new side of life she would never have known about.
Despicable me 2 (2013) ITV2, 6pm Animation, with the voices of Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, and Steve Coogan.
Former supervillain Gru has turned his back on a life of crime and instead focuses on raising his three adopted daughters. However, things take a turn when he is approached by the Anti-Villain League, who need his help in taking down a dastardly rogue’s vile scheme.
the next three days (2010) Virgin Media 1, 9pm Crime drama, starring Russell Crowe and Elizabeth Banks.
Married couple John and Lara have their world turned upside down when she is accused of killing her boss, and her fingerprints are found on the murder weapon. The evidence against her makes it impossible to get her released, meaning that John must resort to desperate measures if he is to free the woman he loves.
you again (2010) BBC1, 11.50pm Romantic comedy, with Kristen Bell, Odette Annable, Sigourney Weaver and Jamie Lee Curtis.
Marni goes home for her brother’s wedding, only to discover that he is tying the knot with the woman who used to bully her in school. Marni embarks on a mission to expose her old rival’s true colours to make up for the years of torment she inflicted on her.
MONDAY edward scissorhands (1990) Film4, 6.55pm
Tim Burton’s stylish fantasy drama, starring Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder. An inventor gives life to a young man who has scissors for hands. However, after a personal tragedy, naive Edward sets out into the world, where he stumbles across a suburban family who teach him a thing or two about life.
true grit (2010) Film4, 9pm
The Coen Brothers’s acclaimed Western, starring Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Hailee Steinfeld and Josh Brolin. Stubborn teen Mattie Ross hires an alcoholic old US Marshal to help her avenge the murder of her father. Teaming with a Texas Ranger, the trio set off on the dangerous trek to bring their man to justice.
requiem for a dream (2000) TG4, 9.30pm
Darren Aronofsky’s harrowing drama, starring Jared Leto
and Jennifer Connelly. Retired widow Sara struggles with drug addiction. Meanwhile, her son Harry, who lives with her, has addiction problems of his own, not helped by his drug-addled girlfriend and his best friend’s aspirations to become a dealer.
the blues Brothers (1980) ITV4, 11.30pm
Comedy, with John Belushi, Dan
Aykroyd and Carrie Fisher. Jake Blues, who has just been released from prison, and brother Elwood discover that the Catholic home that they grew up in is facing closure. Not willing to let it happen, they set out to get their old band back together and raise the money and save it.
TUESDAY SHERLOCK HOLMES (2009) ITV2, 9pm
Guy Ritchie’s detective drama, starring Robert Downey Jr, Jude Law, Rachel McAdams and Mark Strong. The sleuth and his companion Dr Watson think that they have seen the end of occult criminal Lord Blackwood, only for him to seemingly return from the dead and continue his dastardly work. They now have to unravel the true mystery and solve the case once and for all.
taken 3 (2015) Film4, 9pm
Action, starring Liam Neeson, Forest Whitaker, Maggie Grace and Famke Janssen. The criminals hunting Bryan Mills refuse to let him rest, and framed him for a murder he didn’t commit. Now the former government operative must evade capture and track them down if he is to clear his name for good.
Blades of glory (2007) BBC1, 12.10am
Comedy, with Will Ferrell, Jon Heder, Amy Poehler and Will
Arnett. Two rival male ice skaters get themselves banned from competing in Olympic competition, but discover a loophole in the rules that mean they can compete as a pairs team. Now all they have to do is get along long enough to win.
WEDNESDAY hot fuzz (2007) ITV2, 9pm
Edgar Wright’s buddy cop comedy, starring Simon
Pegg and Nick Frost. Top police officer Nicholas Angel is transferred from London to a small village where crime is almost nonexistent. However, he soon discovers a deadly conspiracy involving the village elders that is far more horrifying than anything he had faced in the big city.
hot pursuit (2015) RTE1, 9.35pm
Comedy, starring Reese Witherspoon and Sofía
Vergara. Uptight police officer Cooper gets caught up in a dangerous case involving a drug lord. Now she must protect his loud-mouth wife and evade the mercenaries and crooked cops that are on their tail.
THURSDAY the abyss (1989) Film4, 6pm
James Cameron’s sci-fi adventure, starring Ed Harris and Mary
Elizabeth Mastrantonio. A nuclear submarine disappears somewhere underwater, so an expert diving team is assembled to find it. However, what they find in the depths is more shocking than anything they could have imagined.
Joy (2015) Film4, 9pm
David O Russell’s drama, starring Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro and Bradley Cooper. Joy has always loved inventing things, but finds that others make all the money off her creations while she remains broke. However, she sets out to create something revolutionary, and to forge her own path to becoming the head of a business dynasty.
FRIDAY die hard 4.0 (2017) E4, 9pm
Action, starring Bruce Willis, Justin Long and Timothy Olyphant. Hardas-nails cop John McClane and daughter Lucy go toeto-toe with a dangerous gang of cyber criminals when they get caught in the crossfire of their attack on the banks of Wall Street.
Lethal weapon (1987) RTE2, 10pm
Richard Donner’s classic buddy cop drama, starring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. Veteran cop Murtaugh is partnered with loose cannon Riggs. Despite the fact that neither of them are fond of the decision, they must find a way to work together if they are to take down a dangerous gang who are smuggling drugs.
Last holiday (2006) Virgin Media 1, 11pm
Comedy, starring Queen Latifah
and LL Cool J. Shy Georgia discovers that she has a terminal illness. However, not willing to let it get her down, she decides to blow everything she has on a lavish trip to a top European hotel and live life to the full.
I give It a year (2013) Channel 4, 12.40am
Comedy, with Rose Byrne, Rafe Spall and Stephen Merchant. Josh and Nat get married only a few months after meeting, which leads to raised eyebrows from their family and friends. Now, as their first anniversary looms, they find themselves struggling and in need of a solution.
SATURDAY Maleficent (2014) RTE1, 6.35pm
Disney’s fantastical adventure, starring Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning and Sharlto Copley. A magical fairy is betrayed by the crooked king she once thought she could trust. Out of spite, she places a curse on his infant daughter and kingdom, but discovers she must intervene to save the life of the innocent girl.
Deadpool (2016) Channel 4, 9pm
Comical comicbook action, with Ryan Reynolds. Loud-mouthed mercenary Wade discovers that he has cancer and signs up to an experimental procedure to try and find a cure. However, the man running it double crosses him and leaves him for dead. But Wade soon finds out that the experiment has left him with superpowers, which he uses to track the villain down.