Top films to watch on TV this week
WEDNESDAY
Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989) Channel 5, 11.05p.m.
The wannabe rock stars at the heart of this adventure proved it’s not just eccentric timelords who can zip from era to era in a phone box. It’s a madcap comedy about two students who travel through time to research a history project.
Some of writer Chris Matheson’s work can be clever and wonderfully offbeat, but fails to gel on screen; see Mom and Dad Save the World and Rapture Palooza for proof. However, this was a wonderful mix of the right script, cast (Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves are perfect as the nice-but-dim heroes) and director.
Look out for the much missed Tony Steedman as Socrates (pronounced So Crates in the movie). He originally starred in cult soap Crossroads and Citizen Smith before enjoying success in Hollywood offerings The Fall Guy and Scrooged. Jane Wiedlin, who had a hit with Rush Hour, also stars as Joan of Arc.
A second sequel is due for release this week so this might be a good time to catch up on the original.
THURSDAY
Scarface (1983) ITV4, 11.40p.m. Based on Howard Hawks’ 1932 noir thriller and with a screenplay by Oliver Stone, Brian De Palma’s violent, gripping Scarface chronicles the rise and fall of Tony Montana (Al Pacino on iconic form), a lieutenant for powerful South Florida drug lord Frank Lopez (Robert Loggia) in the early 1980s.
Tony harbours desires for Frank’s sultry mistress, Elvira (Michelle Pfeiffer), but is also strangely protective of his sister Gina (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio). So much so, Tony would rather sacrifice his friendship with Manolo (Steven Bauer) than allow romance to blossom between them.
As Tony rises up the Florida food chain and slowly succumbs to the product he peddles, his downfall is assured.
FRIDAY
Galaxy Quest (1999) 5 STAR, 9p.m. Washed-up actors of cancelled sci-fi show Galaxy Quest are still in demand at conventions and store-openings where they regularly appear dressed in costume and in character.
But some of their biggest fans are group of aliens who believe their show to be a historical document and consequently model their culture on it. When the creatures are targeted by the evil General Sarris, they turn to the actors for protection, hoping they’ll have a plan.
This clever, funny film affectionately pokes fun at shows like Star Trek and their obsessive followings with a top-flight cast that includes Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman and Tim Allen.
Trivia fans may note that when Rickman died in January 2016, one California bank poignantly quoted one of his lines on their billboard: ‘By Grabthar’s Hammer, what a savings.’
SATURDAY
I, Tonya (2017) BBC2, 9.30p.m.
As a girl, Tonya Harding (Margot Robbie) learns to ice-skate at the behest of her domineering mother LaVona (an Oscar-winning Allison Janney). LaVona is far from impressed with Jeff Gillooly (Sebastian Stan) as a potential son-in-law but she is powerless to stop her daughter from falling under Jeff ’s spell.
Tonya trains hard and becomes the first American athlete to land a triple axel jump in competition but the judges refuse to give her the high marks she thinks she deserves.
In stark contrast, rival Nancy Kerrigan (Caitlin Carver) is lavished with praise. As frustration grows, Tonya’s bodyguard Shawn Eckhardt (Paul Walter Hauser) and Jeff hatch a loopy plan.
I, Tonya is a blackly humorous biopic, which illuminates a grubby episode in sporting history with considerable aplomb.
SUNDAY
Doctor Zhivago (1965) BBC2, 3p.m. This epic romantic drama is set during the Russian Revolution and follows Yuri Zhivago (Omar Sharif ), a married doctor who falls for Lara (Julie Christie), the beautiful wife of a political activist. He’s torn between his commitment to his wife and his passion for his mistress.
Of course, the path of true love doesn’t run smooth. The story itself is nothing particularly special, despite being based on Boris Pasternak’s classic novel.
However, the outstanding performances from the all-star cast and, in particular, David Lean’s masterly direction, make it a must-see. Although it was mauled by the critics, the film earned 10 Oscar nominations, winning five.
MONDAY
Elysium (2013) Sony Movies, 11.20p.m. The year is 2154. While most of the population live in squalor on the surface of Earth, the wealthy inhabit a stateof-the-art space station called Elysium governed by President Patel (Faran Tahir) and his no-nonsense Secretary of Defence, Delacourt (Jodie Foster).
Back in the slums on terra firma, factory worker Max DeCosta (Matt Damon) is involved in an industrial accident resulting in exposure to dangerous levels of radiation. Max knows his only hope is to breach Elysium’s defences so he can access one of the space station’s medical bays and banish the cancer ravaging his system.
Although it lacks the depth of director Neill Blomkamp’s thrilling first feature, District 9, this ambitious follow-up is distinguished by slickly orchestrated action sequences and a rousing slam-bang finale.