Film choice

Transcendence (2014) FILM4, 6.40PM ★★★

 Johnny Depp and Rebecca Hall star as Will and Evelyn, artificial intelligence scientists who download his brain patterns to a hard drive. This isn’t a casual choice: at a state-of-thefuture convention, Will is grazed by a would-be assassin’s bullet, which is radioactive, giving him weeks to live. The film is star-studded (Morgan Freeman and Cillian Murphy among the cast) and visually stylish but it’s let down by poor storytelling.

Pale Rider (1985) TCM, 9.00PM ★★★

 This classic western is produced, directed by and stars Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood, who here draws on biblical ideas of heaven and hell. A struggling community of gold prospectors are beset by a powerful local mining boss (Richard Dysart) and his son (Chris Penn). Eastwood gives an entertaining performance as “Preacher”, a mysterious stranger who rides into town and turns out to be their only hope of salvation.

All Night Long (1962, b/w) TALKING PICTURES TV, 10.00PM ★★★★

 The story of Othello is supplanted to the London jazz scene of Sixties in this enthralling and brave British psychodrama. Patrick Mcgoohan is the drummer of a band who resents losing his singer (Paul Harris) to marriage, so Mcgoohan attempts to split up the interracial couple. The events unfortunately take place at their one-year anniversary party, hosted by a wealthy music promoter (Richard Attenborough).