The Herald - The Herald Magazine
THIS WEEK’S BEST FILMS
SATURDAY
Arguably the best of Daniel Craig’s Bond films to date begins with 007 seemingly killed in action. It’s left to section chief M (Judi Dench) to pen his obituary as a political storm rages around her. A database of MI6 assets has fallen into the wrong hands, which puts M in the firing line and she is summoned to Westminster to explain her actions. While she fends off sustained attacks on her reputation, news filters through that Bond has survived and M engages her physically bruised agent to track down cyber terrorist Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem). Working alongside Q and field agent Eve (Naomie Harris), Bond traverses the globe in search of Silva, crossing paths with the mysterious Severine.
Book Club (2018) (Channel 4, 9pm)
Friends Diane (Diane Keaton), Vivian (Jane Fonda), Sharon (Candice Bergen) and Carol (Mary Steenburgen) reunite each month over glasses of wine to discuss a book. Vivian introduces her pals to Christian Grey’s notorious Red Room in EL James’s erotic thriller Fifty Shades Of Grey. It inspires them all, as doting wife Carol tries to invigorate her marriage, while Sharon signs up to a dating site. Vivian has an encounter with an old flame and widowed Diane is swept off her feet by an airline captain.
SUNDAY
The Magnificent Seven (1960) (BBC2, 2pm)
This classic Western follows seven gunfighters, each with their own individual styles and personalities as they form a gang in a bid to protect a poor Mexican village from raids by local bandits. A terrific cast, led by Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen,
settle back and enjoy this look at the tennis star’s success in the Wimbledon warm-up event at Queen’s Club, featuring footage of some of the 33-year-old’s memorable matches from his five singles title wins. He has won a stunning five singles titles on the grass courts at Queen’s. It was the scene of his first win on the ATP Tour in 2005, and both of Andy Murray’s Wimbledon titles were prefaced with victory at the west London venue, one of the most prestigious events in men’s tennis. There’s also a look at his 2019 success with Feliciano Lopez in the men’s doubles, just months after Andy’s hip surgery. It might almost make up for the lack of court action at SW19 this year.