TV FILMS OF THE WEEK

1

JACKIE

Tonight, Channel 4, 11.30pm

IN Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963, the 35th president of the United States of America was shot dead in an atrocity that spawned endless conspiracy theories. In director Pablo Larrain’s biopic, Natalie Portman portrays Jackie Kennedy in the days following the assassination of her husband, John F Kennedy, as she tries to deal with the extremes of private grief and the public eye. She’s shown as a woman who had to deal with the personal trauma while trying to limit the damage that this event would do to her family. Portman was nominated for an Oscar for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role.

2

THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY – PART 2 Tomorrow, E4, 6.15pm

IF Mockingjay – Part 1 dragged its feet, trading verbal blows between Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence, left) and President Snow (Donald Sutherland), the concluding salvo lands one devastating blow after another as simmering animosity ignites full-blown slaughter. The unified Districts are preparing for an assault on the Capitol and Katniss must lead the charge.

3

CRIMSON TIDE Monday, ITV4, 9pm

A Russian nuclear missile base falls into ultra-nationalist hands, and a US submarine is ordered to prepare for a pre-emptive strike. The captain clashes with his new by-the-book first mate over what course of action to take. Tony Scott’s thriller has so much tension you could cut it with a knife. Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington, pictured, are superb.

4

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – ROGUE NATION Tuesday, Film4, 9pm

CIA Director Alan Hunley (Alec Baldwin) succeeds in shutting down the Impossible Missions Force (IMF). Subsequently, the hunters become the hunted when a shadowy organisation targets IMF for extinction. Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise, left) reunites with his team to take on their foes. A stylish and slick fifth instalment of the action-packed franchise.

5

THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES Wednesday, ITV4, 9pm

FARMER Josey Wales (Clint Eastwood, left, who also directs) vows revenge after his family is slaughtered by soldiers. While tracking them down, he becomes an outlaw, much-feared by those who’ve heard of his ruthless ways. As time passes, Josey becomes a wanted man, but he unwittingly creates a new family involving a bunch of mismatched, disenfranchised souls.

6

THE BLUES BROTHERS Thursday ITV4, 9pm

EVERYBODY needs somebody in this classic 1980 comedy. When Jake Blues (John Belushi) is released from prison, he and brother Elwood (Dan Aykroyd with Belushi, left) pay a visit to the orphanage where they grew up, and learn the building is under threat of closure. So the siblings concoct a scheme to raise the money by reuniting their old band to stage a concert.

7

THE SHINING Friday, BBC1, 10.50pm

ASPIRING author Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson, left) takes a job as a caretaker at a remote hotel which is closed for winter. But while the Overlook is supposed to be deserted, it’s actually home to evil spirits – and their plans for Jack and his family don’t include him working on his debut novel. Director Stanley Kubrick imbues the film with a powerful sense of dread.