TV FILMS of the week
1 A STAR IS BORN Tonight, BBC2, 10pm
Following a concert, hard-drinking country music singer Jackson
Maine (Bradley Cooper) heads to the nearest bar where he is stunned by a soaring rendition of Edith Piaf by waitress Ally (Lady Gaga). Jackson invites her to join him at his next gig where their performance goes viral and attracts the attention of cut-throat manager Rez (Rafi Gavron). As Rez propels Ally towards superstardom, Jackson’s influence wains and fissures appear in the relationship. This is the third remake of the rags-to-riches story, but Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut is far grungier and sexier than previous incarnations.
2 WHITE HOUSE DOWN Tomorrow, ITV4, 9pm
John Cale (Channing Tatum, left) is an ex-soldier who just happens to be touring the White House with his daughter Emily (Joey King) when a group of terrorists seize control and attempt to kill President James Sawyer (Jamie Foxx). This action thriller was rather overshadowed by the similar Olympus Has Fallen, but it’s a lot more fun.
3 WHIPLASH Tuesday, GREAT! movies, 9pm
Drummer Andrew Neiman (Miles Teller, left) is determined to excel at his Manhattan music conservatory, and catches the eye of the school’s most revered teacher, Terence Fletcher (an Oscarwinning JK Simmons). Andrew transfers to Fletcher’s class, but the game of one-upmanship between teacher and pupil spirals out of control.
4 IN THE HEART OF THE SEA Wednesday, BBC1, 10.40pm
Ron Howard’s adventure dramatises the real-life disaster that inspired Herman Melville’s novel Moby Dick. Seaman Thomas Nickerson (Brendan Gleeson) recalls how whaling ship the Essex encountered a monstrous creature that rammed the vessel and left its men – including First Mate Owen Chase (Chris Hemsworth, left) – stranded.
5 EMPIRE OF THE SUN Thursday, BBC4, 9pm
Directed by Steven Spielberg, this adaptation of JG Ballard’s autobiographical novel sees a 13-year-old Christian Bale, left, in the role of Jim, a young English boy in war-torn Shanghai. When the Japanese take over and he becomes separated from his parents, Jim is captured and forced to survive the terrors of internment alone.
6 THE INVISIBLE MAN Friday, ITV, 10.45pm
Architect Cecilia Kass (Elisabeth Moss, left) flees the clifftop home of her controlling beau, scientist Adrian Griffin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen). Soon after, Cecilia learns that Adrian has killed himself so for the first time in years, Cecilia draws breath. But a series of strange events convinces her that the news of Adrian’s demise is greatly exaggerated.
7 DEADPOOL 2 Saturday, Channel 4, 10pm
Former Special Forces operative Wade Wilson, aka Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds, left) teams up with X-Men buddies Colossus (Stefan Kapicic) and Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand) to try to subdue a misunderstood teen called Russell (Julian Dennison), who is being hunted by futuristic soldier Cable (Josh Brolin).