TV FILMS of the week
1 Close encounters of the third Kind saturday, Channel 5, 3.15pm
Electrician Roy Neary (Richard
Dreyfuss) spots a UFO but has a hard time convincing the authorities to believe him. His obsession with recreating a mysterious structure in his living room sparks an epic quest to get to the bottom of the alien encounter. He crosses paths with a single mum (Melinda Dillon) whose son has been abducted by extra-terrestrials, and a French expert (Francois Truffaut) orchestrating a secret government project. Close Encounters is one of the best offerings from writer/director Steven Spielberg, and that is really saying something.
2 the Conjuring 2 sunday, BBC2, 10.45pm
In 1976, Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, left) travel to Enfield, England, to interview terrified single mother Peggy Hodgson (Frances O’connor) and her four children. They find youngest daughter Janet (Madison Wolfe) exhibits signs of demonic possession in this stylish supernatural horror sequel.
3 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Monday, Film4, 6.25pm
In what was once believed to be the third and final instalment in the franchise, legendary adventurer Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) goes in search of his father (a perfectly cast Sean Connery, pictured with Ford), who has been captured by the Nazis. At the same time, he’s asked to help locate what could be the final resting place of the Holy Grail.
4 the Mother tuesday, BBC4, 9pm
A pre-bond Daniel Craig stars in this thoughtprovoking film. May (Anne Reid) and her ailing husband Toots (Peter Vaughn) visit their grown-up children in London. When Toots dies, May is drawn into a passionate relationship with her daughter’s married boyfriend Darren (Craig). Not for the easily upset or offended.
5 Blindspotting Wednesday, Film4, 10.45pm
Collin and Miles (Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal, pictured) work for a removal company in Oakland. Ex-con Collin is three days shy of completing a year’s parole when he witnesses police brutality. He tries to forget what he’s seen, but can’t stand by and allow men with badges to abuse their position of power in this comedy drama.
6 JUMANJI: WELCOME to the Jungle thursday, Film4, 9pm
In this fantasy adventure reboot, gaming nerd Spencer (Alex Wolff) is forced to serve detention with three fellow students. In the school’s basement they find an old Jumanji video game and are sucked in where they take on the guise of four heroic avatars (played by Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black and Karen Gillan, left).
7 dirty harry Friday, Channel 5, 10pm
A deranged killer claims he’ll begin attacking innocent people unless the city of San Francisco pays him a vast amount of money. When he starts carrying out his threat, tough cop Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood, left), is called in to deal with the situation. Dirty Harry remains one of the most brilliantly constructed cop thrillers ever made.