Your Movie Planner

SATURDAY

Red River

(1948) U 4PM, ITV4

John Wayne shows his darker side (as he would again in The Searchers), playing a tyrannical cattleman driving his herd to Missouri – and his men to rebellion – in one of the Duke’s much-loved classics. Director Howard Hawks holds the reins tight and steers it well.

Legend

(2015) 18 9PM, CH4

A polished biopic of the Kray twins, starring Tom Hardy as Reggie and Ronnie. It doesn’t shy away from the brothers’ violence as they claw-hammer their way through London’s underworld. Reggie’s wife, Frances (Emily Browning, below, with Hardy), tells her side.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows

(2011) 12 10.30PM, ITV

Guy Ritchie directs Jude Law and Robert Downey Jr as Watson and Holmes in this second excitably overstyled romp. Dark games are afoot in Victorian London – and beyond – as Holmes’s nemesis, Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris), pulls the strings.

The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford (2007) 15

11.25PM, ITV4

Haunting western, a meditation on the fickle nature of fame as much as it is a view of the Wild West. Brad Pitt stars as James, the villain turned folk hero, with Casey Affleck as the obsessive number one fan, Robert Ford – who would become his idol’s ‘cowardly’ killer. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012) 15 11.35PM,

CH4

Who knew that Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States, was a secret vampire-hunter? Benjamin Walker stars as young Abe (left), being tutored in how to slay the fanged undead by Dominic Cooper. Curiously, though, this silly and rather fun idea is treated too seriously.

Having You

(2013)

15 12 MIDNIGHT, BBC2

Anna Friel stars as a woman who takes her son to meet his father (Andrew Buchan, left, with Friel) – who has just proposed to his girlfriend. Decently acted British drama.

SUNDAY

My Neighbour Totoro (1988) U

11AM, FILM4

Demonstrating the flair for fantasy that won Japan’s Studio Ghibli international acclaim, this animation from Hayao Miyazaki – who also directed Spirited Away (Thursday at 12.35pm on Film4) – follows sisters who meet wonderful creatures in the forest. There’s a documentary on Ghibli on Thursday at 1.20am on Film4.

Emma

(1996) U 3PM, BBC2

Glossy adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic. Gwyneth Paltrow (below, with Toni Collette) is the matchmaker of the title, constantly meddling in the affairs of others, but failing to spot her own feelings in matters of the heart.

Marley & Me (2008) PG

5.45PM, CH5

Marley is the rambunctious Labrador pup whose owners weather his bad behaviour as they face life’s highs and lows. Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston star as Marley’s frayed but devoted custodians – a comedy drama that will no doubt be a winner with dog-lovers.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

(2011) 15

11PM, CH4

Excellent adaptation of John le Carre’s 1974 novel. Gary Oldman gives one of his best performances, pre-Darkest Hour, as George Smiley. Back in active service, the unassuming agent is tasked with sniffing out a mole in

MI6 during the Cold War’s deepest winter.

The Rookie

(2002) U

12 MIDNIGHT, BBC2

Dennis Quaid is the fast-pitching teacher who, despite his age, might have a shot at playing in the Major League in this true-ish story, based on the life of baseball player Jim Morris.

Shubh Mangal Saavdhan

(2017)

12 1.20AM, CH4

PREMIERE Bollywood sex comedy about a groom-to-be having performance-related pre-wedding night nerves. His fiancee is understanding – as is her family – but more than two in the bedroom is definitely a crowd.

MONDAY

The Strange Love Of Martha Ivers (1946) PG 11.35AM, TPTV

Barbara Stanwyck was known for her formidable screen presence, and she doesn’t hide it here. She plays the forthright wife of a drunkard DA (an early role for Kirk Douglas) who suspects his wife of a very dark deed.

The Vikings

(1958) PG

1.30PM, 5SPIKE

Kirk Douglas and Tony Curtis star as Norse rivals (and siblings) Einar and Erik, who lose body parts (Einar an eye, Erik a slice of cheek) in Richard Fleischer’s stylish historic adventure. Janet Leigh completes the love triangle.

Johnny English (2003) PG

4.40PM, FILM4

Rowan Atkinson (above) gets a facial workout in this 007 spoof; English is essentially Mr Bean, but with better tailoring. When he’s assigned to protect the crown jewels, disaster awaits.

Lethal Weapon 2

(1989) 18

9PM, ITV4

Mel Gibson and Danny Glover return as the mismatched cops. This time, they have their patience and sanity tested as they protect Joe Pesci’s supremely annoying witness. Triple 9 (2016) 15 9PM, FILM4

PREMIERE It’s hard to like the various lowlifes assembled here – criminals and corrupt cops alike – but the cast is a knockout. Kate Winslet takes a walk on the trashy side, while Chiwetel Ejiofor, Gal Gadot (above), Casey Affleck and Woody Harrelson are all in on the heist action.

The Girl Next Door (2004) 15 1.20AM, FILM4

Emile Hirsch (left) stars as a sweet-natured guy who falls for his new neighbour, a former porn star with a sleazy ex (a wonderfully oily Timothy Olyphant).

TUESDAY

Maudie

(2016) 12

6PM, SKY PREMIERE

PREMIERE Sally Hawkins stars as folk artist Maud Lewis (above) in this uneven biopic. Maud struggled with arthritis, was treated cruelly by her family, and had a husband (Ethan Hawke) who was brutish. Aisling Walsh’s film sets out to see the harmony in her hard-knock life.

Elysium

(2013) 15 9PM, 5STAR

More social and politically minded sci-fi from South African film-maker Neill Blomkamp – whose first film, the low-budget District 9, was an unexpected hit back in 2009. This Time Machine-inspired dystopian actioner features Hollywood star Matt Damon as one of the have-nots fighting those who have.

The Witches Of Eastwick

(1987) 18 9PM, SYFY

In the role he was born to play, Jack Nicholson (left) hams it up blithely as the self-proclaimed ‘horny devil’ who leads three unduly receptive women astray. Susan Sarandon, Michelle Pfeiffer and Cher are the ladies in question, who find it impossible to resist the arch one’s wanton charms.

Underworld: Rise Of The Lycans

(2009) 18 10PM, E4

Michael Sheen stars as the werewolf-human hybrid Lycan, Lucian, in this Underworld prequel. Rhona Mitra stands in for Kate Beckinsale as the vampire who displeases her father, the vicious Viktor (Bill Nighy, on camp form), by falling in love with Lucian.

Conan The Destroyer

(1984) 15

11.05PM, ITV4

This sequel to John Milius’s 1982 sword-andsorcery epic sees Arnold Schwarzenegger returning in the title role. It has its blood and guts rinsed off and toned down, but Grace Jones makes a big impression.

Resident Evil

(2002) 15

11.10PM, 5STAR

Milla Jovovich (right) takes up arms against a relentless zombie threat in this first in a long-running film series (totalling six – with a reboot threatened). Based on the popular video game franchise, it’s simple shoot-to-kill stuff, with Jovovich leading a group of survivors trapped in a research facility.

WEDNESDAY

Howl’s Moving Castle (2004) U

12.40PM, FILM4

Inspired by a British fantasy novel published in 1986, this splendid Studio Ghibli animation mixes fairytale themes with an antiwar message.

It’s showing in its English-language dub (as all of Film4’s Ghibli films do this week); the voice cast includes Jean Simmons and Christian Bale.

The Kentuckian

(1955) PG

1.55PM, 5SPIKE

Burt Lancaster’s directorial debut is a solid enough western, in which Lancaster also stars as a man travelling to Texas with his son to start a new life. Walter Matthau’s whipcracking bad guy is the trouble he runs into.

Romeo Must Die (2000) 15

9PM, 5SPIKE

Jet Li’s US breakthrough is a very loose adaptation of Romeo And Juliet, in which

Li’s vengeful gang member (Han, aka Romeo) falls for the daughter (Aaliyah, above, with Li) of the rival gang leader who killed his brother.

Look Back In Anger

(1958) PG

9PM, TALKING PICTURES TV

Bold adaptation of John Osborne’s hit stage play. Richard Burton stars as Jimmy Porter, an angry young man who directs much of his ire at the women in his life, especially his put-upon wife (Mary Ure, below, with Burton). Osborne’s The Entertainer is on Friday at 9pm on TPTV.

Starry Eyes

(2014) 18

10.55PM, HORROR

Horror films critiquing a vapid thirst for fame and celebrity are becoming a cliche, but this stays just the right side of bitter and cynical. Alex Essoe is the wannabe whose psychotic ambition provokes a grotesque transformation. (Freeview 70, Freesat 138, Sky 319, Virgin 149)

Wanderlust

(2012) 15 1.30AM, CH4 Recession-themed comedy starring Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston as a newly jobless couple forced to leave glamorous and grasping New York City. Stumbling across a hippy commune, they decide to give its unconventional approach to life, sex and clothing a two-week trial run.

THURSDAY

Spirited Away (2001) PG

12.35PM, FILM4

Visually stunning and inventive Oscar-winning animation from Studio Ghibli. Chihiro (above) is the little girl who is transported to a bizarre parallel world. With her parents transformed into pigs, Chihiro finds her inner strength, surrounded by weirdness and wonder.

X-Men

(2000) 12

6.55PM, FILM4

Before the ever expanding Marvel cinematic (and TV) universe became legion, this was one of the strongest superhero franchises out there. He might be a showman, but for many, Hugh Jackman will always be Wolverine. The first two sequels show tomorrow on Film4.

The Dukes Of Hazzard

(2005) 12

9PM, 5STAR

The inevitable big-screen update of the 1970s1980s US TV show is cheery and inoffensive. Johnny Knoxville and Seann William Scott are cousins Luke and Bo, who – with cousin Daisy (Jessica Simpson) – run rings round corrupt county law enforcers. Watch out for wonder woman Lynda Carter (above).

The Man With The Golden Gun

(1974)

PG 9PM, ITV4

Roger Moore’s second outing as James Bond is even more camp than his first – 1973’s Live And Let Die. Christopher Lee steps into the villain’s shoes as Scaramanga, a man intent on harnessing the power of the sun, and doing away with that pesky 007 once and for all.

Hunted (1952) U

9PM, TALKING PICTURES TV See Classic Film Choice (right).

The Kingdom Of Dreams And Madness (2013) PG

1.20AM, FILM4 Documentary on Japan’s much-loved Studio Ghibli, with unprecedented access behind the scenes as director Hayao Miyazaki – the great artist and masterly storyteller – and teams of animators work on 2013 films The Wind Rises and The Tale Of The Princess Kaguya.

FRIDAY

Alien: Covenant

(2017) 15

8PM, SKY PREMIERE

PREMIERE Ridley Scott throws in a few more face-hugging, chest-bursting aliens for this second Alien prequel, but it still ponders the meaning of creation all too clunkily. Michael Fassbender returns as android David 8.

The Legend Of Hercules

(2014) 12

9PM, 5STAR

Kellan Lutz isn’t a big name if you’re not a Twilight fan, but as a young Hercules (below), he plays a big hero. This is a hurried, fanciful look at the Greek demigod’s origin story.

The Entertainer

(1960) PG

9PM, TALKING PICTURES TV

Director Tony Richardson and star Laurence Olivier transfer their stage version of John Osborne’s acclaimed play to the silver screen. Morecambe is the setting for a series of musichall numbers reflecting on post-war English life.

Invictus

(2009) 12 10.45PM, ITV

Clint Eastwood’s biographical drama is set around the 1995 Rugby World Cup, soon after the end of apartheid. Matt Damon plays Springboks captain Francois Pienaar; Morgan Freeman (below, with Adjoa Andoh) is Nelson Mandela. My Entire High School Sinking Into The Sea (2016) 12 11.05PM, FILM4

PREMIERE Quirky animated teen comedy in which American high-schoolers try to overcome clique warfare before their school building topples off a cliff. It’s written and directed by graphic novelist Dash Shaw.

Oldboy

(2013) 18

12.50AM, CH4

Spike Lee’s remake of Park Chan-wook’s 2003 cult thriller stars Josh Brolin as Joe, a man inexplicably kept in solitary confinement for 20 years. Sharlto Copley is Joe’s tormentor, and he has a rather funky bodyguard (Pom Klementieff, left).