Mulligan shines amongst gloom
Saturday, 8.30pm, Rialto With its star-studded cast that includes Carey Mulligan, Helena Bonham-Carter, Brendan Gleeson and Romola Garai, grey palette and grim backdrop, one could be forgiven for thinking that Suffragette was 2015’s Les Miserables, sans songs.
However, despite the depiction of woeful working conditions and ‘‘marching of the people who will not be slaves again’’, this presents its story in a far less melodramatic way.
Yes, like Miserables, it is one person’s story set against the backdrop of massive social unrest, but Abi Morgan’s script excels at depicting the risks and toll these women’s political actions had on their personal and family lives.
Teaming up with director Sarah Gavron, Morgan’s script feels like a cross between Steve McQueen’s Hunger, Donnie Brasco and In the Name of the Father, as it builds towards a climatic and haunting ‘‘Derby Day’’ thriller.
But while Gavron’s cameras ‘‘beautifully’’ capture the chaos of rallies gone awry, at Suffragette’s heart is yet another reminder of why Mulligan ( Far From the Madding Crowd, The Great Gatsby) is one of the finest actresses of her generation.
Mulligan delivers a powerful, nuanced performance as a reluctant ‘‘heroine’’ and compelling audience guide to an important moment and movement in British history. – James Croot travelogue,’’ wrote The Guardian’s Sam Wollaston. Hugh’s Three Hungry Boys, 8.30pm, Choice TV
Four-part, 2012 series which sees Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall challenging three mates to travel through Devon and Cornwall for five weeks, without money, on the adventure of a lifetime. The Graham Norton Show, 8.30pm, TV3
The best talk show on TV returns for a 20th season with the Irish comedian once again managing to attract the cream of the crop from all forms of entertainment to fill his couch each week. This week’s episode features Daniel Radcliffe, Justin Timberlake, Anna Kendrick and Robbie Williams. Arbitrage, 8.30pm, Duke
Known as a financial oracle, Robert Miller (Richard Gere) is a dedicated businessman, family man, philanthropist and humanitarian. The truth is, though, he’s a money-obsessed serial philanderer who is days away from going bust and taking a whack of his client’s money with him. Nicholas Jareki’s 2012 drama works best as a financial potboiler, providing an interesting counterpoint to Margin Call and Wall St: Money Never Sleeps. You can see the house of cards that Miller has built, and waiting for him to get away with it or for it all to collapse is engrossing. ‘‘A classy soap opera with a charismatic louse at its centre,’’ wrote The Tampa Bay Times’ Steve Persall.