TV FILMS OF THE WEEK
THE SHINING Tonight, BBC2, 9.15pm
STANLEY KUBRICK’S adaptation of Stephen King’s best-selling novel is repeatedly named as one of the greatest horror films of all time. Jack Nicholson – in a role he was seemingly born to play – takes the lead role of recovering alcoholic Jack Torrance, who takes up a position as winter caretaker of the Overlook Hotel in order to concentrate on writing a book. He brings along his wife Wendy (Shelley Duvall) and son Danny (Danny Lloyd), who has a strange supernatural gift. As the snow falls and the temperature plummets, Jack experiences visions in Room 237, which drive him to the brink of insanity and place his family in grave danger.
2 THE GREATEST SHOWMAN Tomorrow, Channel 4, 7pm
ROLL up and rock out for this foot-stomping musical based on the life of circus impresario Phineas Taylor Barnum (played by Hugh Jackman, pictured). A crowd-pleasing rags-to-riches fairytale set to a wickedly infectious score, it also stars Michelle Williams, Zac Effron, Rebecca Ferguson and Zendaya. Director Michael Gracey’s picture is a joy-infused, whoop-inducing blast of pure pleasure.
3 FENCES Monday, Film4, 9pm
REFUSE collector Troy Maxson (Denzel Washington, pictured) toils to provide for his wife Rose (Viola Davis) and their son Cory (Jovan Adepo), who is being scouted for college football. Troy refuses to sign his son’s permission slip, because he believes the football leagues are rife with racial prejudice. This drives a wedge between Troy and Cory. Soon, financial pressures see Troy’s rage explode.
4 HOT FUZZ Tuesday, ITV4, 10.05pm
HUGELY enjoyable romp that handcuffs the loopy plotting of Midsomer Murders to the hysterically overblown action of Lethal Weapon. PC Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg) is transferred to the sleepy West Country backwater of Sandford. Assisted by Constable Danny Butterman (Nick Frost, pictured with Pegg), Nicholas soon discovers that Sandford harbours at least one psychopath.
5 BELLE Wednesday, Film4, 9pm
CAPTAIN Sir John Lindsay (Matthew Goode) brings his illegitimate, mixed-race daughter Dido to England and entrusts the child to his uncle Lord Mansfield (Tom Wilkinson). As Dido (Gugu MbathaRaw, pictured) reaches adulthood, she is afforded certain privileges but must remain behind closed doors at social gatherings. However, her head is turned by an idealistic lawyer (Sam Reid).
6 HIDDEN FIGURES Thursday, Film4, 9pm
DRAMA based on a true story. Mathematician Katherine Johnson (Taraji P Henson) works in the segregated West Computing Group in Virginia as part of Nasa’s effort to put a man into space before the Soviets. Space Task Group director, Al Harrison (Kevin Costner, pictured with Henson), needs a mathematician and Katherine is selected, becoming the first African-american to work with Al’s unit.
7 FIFTY SHADES DARKER Friday, Channel 5, 10pm
FOLLOW-UP to erotic drama Fifty Shades of Grey. Anastasia (Dakota Johnson, pictured) has turned her back on billionaire Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan), to climb the career ladder. It’s not long before crestfallen Christian pleads his case. “I want to renegotiate terms,” he growls, and Ana agrees. Soon after, she has her first run-in with the woman who seduced Christian aged 15 (Kim Basinger).