FILM HIGHLIGHTS
SUNDAY War Horse (2011) BBC1, 2.20pm
Steven Spielberg’s drama, with Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson, David Thewlis, Tom Hiddleston
and Benedict Cumberbatch. A young man forms a close bond with his horse, but is heartbroken when it is sold to the cavalry at the height of the First World War. Devastated, he signs up to serve, in the hopes that he can be reunited with his companion.
shrek (2001) Channel 4, 4.45pm
Animation, with the voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and
Cameron Diaz. A grumpy ogre is furious when a dastardly king dumps a group of fairytale creatures in his swamp. In order to get his land back, our hero — teaming with a very talkative donkey — must rescue a princess from a fire-breathing dragon and bring her back to the king so he can marry her. Unfortunately, their adventure hits many a bump in the road along the way.
the hobbit: the desolation of smaug (2013) ITV2, 6.55pm
Peter Jackson’s second entry in the fantasy trilogy, starring Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman and
Richard Armitage. Hobbit Bilbo and his companions, the dwarves, continue their journey to Erebor, but there are many perils that still lie in their path. Meanwhile, Gandalf grows more concerned about the evil and mysterious presence that is growing stronger.
birdman (2014) RTE2, 9pm
Alejandro G Inarritu’s Oscarwinning dark comedy, starring Michael Keaton, Naomi Watts, Zach Galifianakis, Edward
Norton and Emma Stone. A washed-up actor is preparing to star in an Off-Broadway play that he hopes will rejuvenate his career. However, struggles with his co-stars, his attempts to reconnect with his estranged daughter and a decline in his mental state begin to cause serious trouble which could jeopardise the whole production.
MONDAY heaven & earth (1993) tg4, 9.30pm
Oliver Stone’s biographical drama, starring Hiep Thi Le, Tommy Lee Jones and Haing
S Ngor. A young Vietnamese woman struggles to get by, as her country is ravaged by war with the US. In her day-to-day life as a hustler on the streets, she begins to learn about those involved in the conflict through her different interactions with them.
shame (2011) Film4, 10.45pm
Steve McQueen’s striking drama, starring Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan and James Badge Dale. New Yorker Brandon likes to keep his private life to himself. However, things get shaken up when his wayward sister arrives and decides to stay with him for an unclear amount of time.
TUESDAY X-men 2 (2003) Film4, 6.20pm
Bryan Singer’s superior superhero sequel, starring Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, James Marsden and
Brian Cox. Wolverine sets off to uncover the truth about who he is and how he came to have his incredible abilities. Meanwhile, military man Stryker sends a highly-trained task force to round up the mutants at Xavier’s mansion, with the goal of eliminating their entire race.
bridge of spies (2015) Film4, 9pm
Steven Spielberg’s wartime drama, starring Tom Hanks and Mark Rylance, who won an Oscar
for his supporting role. The Cold War is at its height, and tensions have both the US and Russia on edge. The American government captures a Soviet spy, and hires lawyer James B Donovan to help them negotiate an exchange — the Russian agent for one of their own, Francis G Powers, a U-2 spy plane pilot who was shot down and taken prisoner. However, James quickly discovers the magnitude of the case.
WEDNESDAY 27 Dresses (2008) Film4, 6.50pm
Romcom, with Katherine Heigl (below), James Marsden, Malin Akerman and Judy Greer. Jane is always the bridesmaid and never the bride — in fact, she has served as one 27 times. Her sister asks her to be her bridesmaid, but Jane finds herself feeling conflicted when she finds out her sibling is marrying the man she is secretly in love with.
killer Joe (2011) Channel 4, 1.30am
William Friedkin’s claustrophobic drama, starring Matthew McConaughey, Emile Hirsch, Juno Temple and Thomas
Haden Church. A young man schemes with his father to have his mother murdered so that they can claim the hefty life insurance policy she has taken out. They hire a contract killer, who makes them agree to an unusual stipulation to his retainer, which he exploits.
escape plan (2013) Film4, 9pm
Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger star in this thriller. Security specialist Breslin is hired to test out the quality of a high-security, underground super prison. However, double-crossed by someone on his team, he is locked up inside and abandoned. Now he must team with another convict to find a way out.
THURSDAY a million ways to die in the west (2014) Film4, 9pm
Seth MacFarlane’s comedy western, which he stars in alongside Charlize Theron, Liam Neeson, Amanda Seyfried and Giovanni Ribisi. Cowardly farmer Albert teams with a beautiful woman who has arrived at his remote town in the hopes that she can help him win his ex back. However, things take a turn when he finds out that his new friend is actually involved with a notorious outlaw.
eraser (1996) ITV4, 11.15pm
Action, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Vanessa Williams. Witness protection specialist John Kruger is tasked with protecting Lee Cullen, a former employee of a gigantic corporation that is secretly developing a deadly new weapon. However, the pair are confronted by many dangers, as they soon realise that there is no one they can trust to help them.
night of the wolf (2002) TG4, 12.05am
Drama, starring Anne Archer, Robert Urich and Michael Shamus Wiles. Rancher Claire gets stranded in the wilderness, and finds herself confronted by her greatest fear — a wolf. However, an unexpected bond is formed between them.
FRIDAY young guns (1988) TG4, 9.05pm
Western, with Emilio Estevez, Kiefer Sutherland and Charlie Sheen. Billy the Kid leads a gang of young gunmen who find themselves deputised after their benefactor is murdered. They set out to track the killer down, but after they push their authority too far, they end up on the run from the law.
man on fire (2004) RTE2, 9.45pm
Tony Scott’s gripping thriller, starring Denzel Washington, Christopher Walken, Dakota Fanning, Radha Mitchell and
Mickey Rourke. A former CIA operative-turned-bodyguard is tasked with protecting the daughter of a notorious Mexican businessman. However, when the youngster is kidnapped, he goes on a dangerous mission to save her from harm.
the longest ride (2015) Channel 4, 12.10am
Romantic drama, starring Scott Eastwood, Britt Robertson, Alan Alda, Oona Chaplin and Melissa
Benoist. Star-crossed lovers Luke and Sophia are about to have their relationship tested when their lives take them down different paths. However, they strike up an unexpected bond with Ira, an older man whose stories about his decades-long relationship with his wife inspire them on their journey together.
SATURDAY invictus (2009) rte2, 8.30pm
Clint Eastwood’s inspirational drama, starring Morgan Freeman
and Matt Damon. South African political figure Nelson Mandela is serving his first term as the country’s president. However, he finds that spirit among the people is low. Striving to find a way to bring them all together, he uses the country’s national rugby team as a symbol of unity, as they attempt to claim victory at the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
mud (2012) Channel 4, 12.15am
Drama, starring Matthew McConaughey, Tye Sheridan, Jacob Lofland and Reese Witherspoon. Two young boys stumble across an unusual homeless man who is living on a small island on the Mississippi River. They discover that he is actually a fugitive, and must avoid the vigilantes who are hunting him. The three of them form a strong bond, and the boys take it on themselves to reunite him with the woman he loves.