TV FILMS of the week
1
THE DEATH OF STALIN Tomorrow, BBC2, 10.45pm
This political satire, directed by
Armando Iannucci, is based on a
French graphic novel about the power struggle that ensued after Joseph Stalin’s demise in 1953. The one-liners come thick and fast as the dictator’s cronies, including the boring Malenkov, wily Krushchev and sadistic police chief Beria, line up to take his place as the leader of the Soviet Union. But as they’re distracted by their bickering, it becomes clear that nobody is actually running the country... Jason Isaacs, Andrea Riseborough, Steve Buscemi, Simon Russell Beale and Michael Palin are among the all-star cast.
2
THE EDGE
Tomorrow, GREAT! movies, 9pm
Billionaire Charles Morse (Anthony Hopkins) travels to Alaska with photographer Bob Green (Alec Baldwin, left with Hopkins) to meet Charles’ model wife (Elle Macpherson) at a photo shoot. The journey takes a dramatic turn when their plane crashes, stranding them in the wilderness... The Edge is an underrated adventure-thriller
3
THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND Tuesday, Film4, 11.20pm
Medic Nicholas Garrigan (James McAvoy) journeys to Uganda where a series of events bring him into contact with brutish dictator Idi Amin (Forest Whitaker, left). He appoints Garrigan as his personal physician, but before long the physician begins to see the cruelty and egomania lurking beneath the surface of Amin’s character.
4
MONA LISA
Wednesday, Talking Pictures TV, 9.05pm
After being released from prison, small-time criminal George (Bob Hoskins) is hired back by his boss, Mortwell (Michael Caine, left with Hoskins), to be the bodyguard of high-class prostitute Simone (Cathy Tyson). She asks him to help her find fellow call girl Cathy, and when he succeeds, George realises what connects the two women.
5
ZERO DARK THIRTY Thursday, ITV4, 11.05pm
Director Kathryn Bigelow’s gripping follow-up to the Oscar-winning The Hurt Locker follows ballsy CIA officer Maya (Jessica Chastain, left) as she is posted to Islamabad under Station Chief Joseph Bradley (Kyle Chandler). Over the next eight years, Maya dedicates her life to intelligence which might lead her to Osama bin Laden.
6
A TIME TO KILL Friday, BBC1, 11.25pm
In this drama, two white racists in the Deep South rape a young black girl, prompting her father (Samuel L Jackson) to kill them. As his court case is thrust into the public eye, an ethical lawyer and his idealistic student (Matthew McConaughey, Sandra Bullock, left) have their lives threatened when the Ku Klux Klan set up shop in the area.
7
KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE Saturday, Channel 4, 9pm
All-action comedy adventure sequel sees Taron Egerton as Eggsy, pictured, along with Colin Firth, and Mark Strong back for another stylish spy romp, as two elite secret organisations band together to defeat a common enemy. With star turns from Julianne Moore, Jeff Bridges, Halle Berry and Elton John.