7 TV FILMS OF THE WEEK
1FANTASTIC
BEASTS: THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD Tonight, ITV, 5.35pm
THE second film in JK Rowling’s prequel series begins with Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) staging a breathless escape from the custody of the Magical Congress of the United States of America. The dark wizard sets in motion his convoluted scheme, which focuses on emotionally disturbed outcast Credence Barebone (Ezra Miller). In London, Torquil Travers (Derek Riddell), Head of Magical Law Enforcement, implores magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) to join the fight against Grindelwald. Instead, Newt secretly answers a call from Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law). The Crimes of Grindelwald continues to expand and enrich mythologies beyond Harry Potter and his Hogwarts alumni.
2GHOST
Tomorrow, Channel 5, 10pm
PATRICK SWAYZE stars as Sam, who has the perfect life – until he’s brutally murdered. He decides to hang around in spirit to help his girlfriend Molly (Demi Moore, pictured with Swayze) bring his killer to justice. His mission is made more complicated by the fact the only person who can hear him is a fake psychic (Whoopi Goldberg).
3LOGAN
Tuesday, Film4, 9pm
LOGAN (Hugh Jackman, right) – aka Wolverine – lives in the desert with an albino tracker called Caliban (Stephen Merchant), who helps him to care for ailing Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart). Out of the blue, Logan is offered $50,000 to drive a mysterious girl to “a place up north”. The child is a vital link to a new generation of mutants.
4MURDER
ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS Wednesday, Film4, 9pm
THE little grey cells of Hercule Poirot are tested in Kenneth Branagh’s handsome reimagining of the snowbound murder mystery. Poirot (Branagh, right) finds himself on the Orient Express with slippery gangster Samuel Ratchett (Johnny Depp), who offers to pay the Belgian to ensure his safety. The detective declines, but then a murderer strikes.
5KINGSMAN:
THE GOLDEN CIRCLE Thursday, Film4, 9pm
SECRET agents Eggsy and Merlin join forces with their US counterparts to bring down a femme fatale. Thankfully they are assisted by a veteran hero brought back from the dead. Taron Egerton, right, is superb as Eggsy, and Mark Strong is on top form as Merlin. While Colin Firth’s return as Harry cheapens the impact of the first movie’s twist, it matters little.
6THE
WIFE Friday, BBC2, 9pm
JOE CASTLEMAN (Jonathan Pryce) has been selected for the Nobel Prize in Literature. Joe’s wife Joan (Glenn Close, right) celebrates with her spouse, yet there is unspoken tension. The pair travel to Sweden but are pestered by a journalist (Christian Slater). He is keen to pen a biography on Joe. Tension between the couple explodes with devastating consequences.
7SING
Saturday, Channel 5, 2.55pm
KOALA Buster Moon, right (voiced by Matthew McConaughey), hopes to save his ailing theatre with a singing contest, offering a $1,000 prize. When two more zeroes are accidentally added to the prize on posters, long audition queues form. Buster ploughs on, shortlisting – among others – porcupine Ash (Scarlett Johansson) and pig Rosita (Reese Witherspoon).