TV FILMS of the week
1
PASSENGERS
Tonight, Channel 4, 11pm
The Starship Avalon launches, loaded with 258 crew and 5,000 passengers in deep sleep, bound for the distant colony of Homestead II. A meteor shower causes a malfunction to the ship’s central computer and mechanical engineer Jim Preston (Chris Pratt) and journalist Aurora Dunn (Jennifer Lawrence) wake 90 years prematurely. As they come to terms with their predicament, romance sparks between the pair. When crew chief Gus Mancuso (Laurence Fishburne) is also roused early by a software glitch, a shocking secret is exposed that undermines the couple’s relationship.
2
CHAPPIE
Tomorrow, GREAT! Movies, 9pm
Deon Wilson (Dev Patel) is the genius behind robot police droids, and a thorn in the side of his professional rival Vincent Moore (Hugh Jackman, pictured). When Deon is kidnapped by criminals, they stumble upon his latest creation, christened Chappie (Sharlto Copley), and decide to use it for a heist.
3
THE OLD MAN & THE GUN Tuesday, Film4, 11.10pm
Robert Redford, left, makes his final screen appearance before retirement in this gently paced crime caper – a (mostly) true story, which is also a valentine to the charismatic leading man. He plays real-life bank robber Forrest Tucker, who ran rings around the authorities and escaped from San Quentin State Prison in a canoe.
4
DOWNTON ABBEY Wednesday, ITV3, 8pm
Lord and Lady Grantham (Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern), left, prepare for a visit from King George V and Queen Mary in this first big screen outing for the hit TV series. Screenwriter Julian Fellowes serves up morsels of intrigue and romance to generate conflicts, resolutions and cliffhangers. A sequel hits cinemas on Friday.
5
LAURA
Thursday, Talking Pictures TV, 6.15pm
Director Otto Preminger’s classic film noir stars Dana Andrews as New York detective McPherson, called in to investigate the murder of advertising executive Laura Hunt (Gene Tierney, left). McPherson becomes increasingly obsessed with the dead woman. Then the case takes an unexpected twist.
6
READY OR NOT
Friday, Film4, 10.45pm
Samara Weaving, left, (niece of Matrix baddie Hugo) is being hunted to the death on her wedding night in this fun horror-comedy. There are gruesome killings and dark laughs as the bride is forced take part in a bizarre family ritual by her rich in-laws, members of a boardgame dynasty. Andie MacDowell also stars.
7
TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY Saturday, ITV, 10.35pm
Having destroyed a cyborg assassin sent to kill her, and had a child with her soldier protector, Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton, left) is locked up in a psychiatric institute. Her son John (Edward Furlong), and a reprogrammed Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) free her but a liquid metal T-1000 (Robert Patrick) is on their tails.