The Herald - The Herald Magazine
THIS WEEK’S BEST FILMS
SATURDAY
Invictus (2009) (BBC1, 8.05pm)
Following his release from Robben Island, South African President Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) inherits a country deeply scarred by apartheid. Nowhere is this more pronounced than on the rugby field: only white South Africans cheer the Springboks. With only a year until his nation hosts the Rugby World Cup, Mandela attempts to heal the emotional rift and inspire his men to victory. Clint Eastwood’s majestic film celebrates the titanic efforts of Mandela and captain Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon) on and off the pitch, relying on magnificent performances from the leads to embody these charismatic figures.
The Bucket List (2007) (5STAR, 11.50pm)
Rob Reiner’s comedy concerns two terminally ill cancer patients who decide to enjoy what time they have left as much as possible. The pair come up with a list of all the things they’ve wanted to do but never found the time, and, after breaking out of hospital, they proceed to try them all. Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman might not seem like an obvious comedy double act, but the pair demonstrate their natural flair for comedy and this charming comedy is worth watching for their performances alone.
SUNDAY
Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) (ITV4, 8pm)
Pierce Brosnan’s second outing as James Bond is one of the franchise’s most polished films. Media tycoon Elliot Carver (Jonathan Pryce) creates war between China and the west so he can cover it with his TV, magazines and newspapers. Bond’s showdown with the sadistic Dr Kauffman (Vincent Schiavelli) is great, there’s a car park chase
having a sofa full of celebrities ready to share their favourite anecdotes, each episode is devoted to just one guest. Now, it’s returning with two episodes that could be the most inspirational and affecting yet. The second edition will feature the nation’s new hero, Captain Sir Tom Moore, while the first marks the return of Vinnie Jones, who first appeared on Life Stories more than a decade ago. The footballer-turned-actor’s life has changed a lot since then, as last year he lost his wife Tanya at the age of just 53.
SUNDAY
BBC Proms 2020 (BBC4, 8pm)
Featuring brand-new string arrangements
crooked prison warden convinces Ames to take his place with the promise he’ll be released if he wins.
MONDAY
A Matter of Life and Death (1946) (BBC2, 2.30pm)
Dashing Second World War pilot Peter (David Niven) strikes up a flirtatious relationship with radio operator June (Kim Hunter) during a return journey from a bombing run. It looks like their romance will be very short-lived though, as his plane has been hit, and he’s about
Strike - Lethal White (BBC1, 9pm)
Still reeling after the events of last episode, Strike and Robin are more determined than ever to catch their culprit. Robin goes undercover again to befriend a suspect, but puts herself in a dangerous situation as she looks for what could be a crucial piece of evidence. Meanwhile, Strike pieces together a theory by interviewing many of the key players in the case – but ends up fending off an attack on his life in the process. The person blackmailing the Government Minister eventually becomes the duo’s prime suspect – but they now believe that there was an accomplice. Finally, on the personal front, there is still tension between the pair. Strike’s new to bail out without a parachute. So when Peter then wakes up on a beach, it seems like a miracle – but all is not well. It turns out his survival is down to a clerical error in heaven, and if he wants to stay on Earth with June, he must argue their case in a celestial court.
Die Hard 4.0 (2007) (Film4, 9pm)
When warnings about shortfalls in national security go unheeded, cyber-terrorist Thomas Gabriel (Timothy Olyphant) punishes the US government’s arrogance by orchestrating a ‘fire sale’, shutting down the country’s power, telecommunications and financial institutions. The plan hits an almighty snag when gun-toting Detective John McClane (Bruce Willis) prevents Gabriel’s henchmen from killing hacker Matt Farrell (Justin Long), who inadvertently wrote a piece of code needed for the ‘fire sale’.
TUESDAY
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943) (BBC2, 2.30pm)
A Home Guard officer serving during the Second World War is outraged by the disrespect for tradition shown by younger soldiers. He looks back on his military adventures during the Boer War and First World War, as well as his three great loves. Roger Livesey stars with Deborah Kerr, Anton Walbrook and John Laurie. Trivia fans may note it was listed as number 45 in a BFI Top 100 British Films poll.
Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) (E4, 9pm)
Starfleet is rocked by a terrorist attack in London masterminded by the mysterious John Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch). Kirk
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