TV FILMS of the week
1
PRETTY WOMAN Tonight, Channel 5, 9pm
Julia Roberts gives a truly starmaking performance in the rags-toriches fairy tale of prostitute Vivian, who is plucked off the streets of LA by commitment-shy businessman Edward (Richard Gere, who has terrific chemistry with his leading lady). After agreeing to become his paid companion for the week, Vivian’s relationship with Edward threatens to become more than just business. She finds an ally in kindly hotel manager Barney (Hector Elizondo). However, Edward’s business partner Stuckey (Jason Alexander) fears the working girl will wreck everything that he and Edward have built together.
2
FACE/OFF
Tomorrow, ITV4, 11pm
The traditional good guy-versus-bad guy plot is given a novel twist in director John Woo’s action thriller. John Travolta as an FBI agent and Nicolas Cage (left) as a super-terrorist who literally swap faces and identities. The cop is left languishing in prison while the crook makes the most of his new life as an upstanding family man.
3
THE HUNGER GAMES Tuesday, 5STAR, 11.05pm
Post-apocalyptic drama. Every year, a boy and girl are selected by lottery from each of the nation of Panem’s 12 districts, for a televised fight to the death. Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence, pictured) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) represent District 12 and their mentor (Woody Harrelson) prepares the pair for competition.
4
THE AFRICAN QUEEN
Wednesday, GREAT! movies classic, 6.50pm
Classic adventure. Charlie Allnut (an Oscarwinning Humphrey Bogart), is captain of the river boat African Queen. While working in East Africa in 1914, German troops attack a mission, killing a reverend. The holy man’s sister Rose (Katharine Hepburn, left) charters Charlie to take her away from the anguish and sparks of attraction fly.
5
LOVE, SIMON
Thursday, Channel 4, 11.35pm
Feel-good comedy drama. High school student Simon Spier (Nick Robinson, left) wrestles with his burgeoning sexuality, unsure of the reaction of his family or friends. After chatting anonymously online with another student, kooky classmate Martin (Logan Miller) stumbles upon Simon’s emails and blackmails the closeted student.
6
ANT-MAN
Friday, BBC1, 8.10pm
Paul Rudd makes for a charming superhero in this adventure. Ex-con Scott Lang (Rudd) is recruited by scientist Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) who has invented a suit (pictured) that shrinks the wearer to the size of an ant, but with super-strength.
Pym wants Lang to help stop his former protégé, from using the same technology for evil.
7
CASABLANCA
Saturday, BBC2, 4.50pm
During the Second World War nightclub owner Rick (Humphrey Bogart) agrees to help old flame Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman, pictured with Bogart) get her Czech resistance leader husband out of Casablanca. Hailed as one of the greatest films of all time, this has a gripping storyline, a moving romance, a very quotable script and great songs.