TV Movie Guide
Ballerina TVNZ 2, 7pm
Voices Elle Fanning, Dane DeHaan. A poor orphan who dreams of becoming a ballerina runs away to Paris and assumes the identity of a cruel girl to take her place at the Paris Opera Ballet, where she gets involved in a Survivor-style contest to dance in The Nutcracker. Animated movie, with an engaging storyline. ★★★
Turbo M ori TV, 7pm Voices Ryan Reynolds, Paul Giamatti. A good voice cast beefs up this fairly fun animated comedy in which an ordinary garden snail who dreams of going super-fast gets his wish after a freak accident. Not quite as clever as it could have been, but the kids will love it. ★★★
Sicario: Day Of The Soldado Sky Premiere, 8.30pm Starring Josh Brolin, Benicio del Toro. FBI agent Matt Graver is again trying to bring down a Mexican drug cartel. Almost as good as the 2015 original, Italian director Stefano Sollima takes over from Denis Villeneuve, but keeps much the same tone while not having the same complexity. ★★★
The Danish Girl M ori TV, 8.40pm Starring Eddie Redmayne, Alicia Vikander. When a Danish portrait painter asks her husband to stand in for a no-show female model, it awakens his deep-seated desire to be a woman. It’s based on a true story, somewhat embellished, but is a sensitive portrayal of the challenges and tragedy the actual couple faced in the 1920s. ★★★★
Zoolander 2 TVNZ 2, 8.40pm
Starring Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson. A film that will get most filmgoers asking why and fans of the first film going why not? Zoolander 2 is a little bit of a mess and many of the jokes that worked well in the original have simply been recycled. Ben Stiller again plays Zoolander and flashes his best Blue Steel look whenever the chance arises but fails to flash much in the way of comedic talent, or acting talent for that matter.
The film is jammed with so many star cameos it feels like there are more minor roles than actual dialogue. ★★
Nocturnal Animals Three, 8.55pm Starring Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Isla Fisher. Well-acted drama in which art gallery owner Susan Morrow (Adams) finds herself questioning the nature of her present relationship after she receives a manuscript of her ex-husband’s novel. Tom Ford weaves a dark, entertaining story where every character is of real importance to the narrative. It’s a film rooted in maturity which blurs the lines between fantasy and reality. The outcome might be inevitable but Ford handles the whole affair with a grace that leaves you longing for more. ★★★★
Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation TVNZ Duke, 9.30pm
Starring Matthew McConaughey, Renee Zellweger. Forgettable 1994 rip-off sequel to the original slasher about a cannibal and his interesting choice of a carving knife. The only point of interest is that it was Zellweger’s first screen appearance, and McConaughey’s second. ★