TV FILMS of the week
1 gemini Man Saturday, channel 4, 9.30pm
Former Marine turned sniper Henry Brogan (Will Smith) is contracted by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) to carry out hits on foreign targets that pose a threat to the American people. Henry neutralises a rogue scientist, only to later learn the intelligence was bogus. Before he can confirm suspicions of DIA interference, Henry is targeted by a covert military unit called Gemini, run by Clayton Varris (Clive Owen). The assassin is Henry’s cloned younger self, brought to life on screen using state-of-the-art digital trickery and motion capture performance. Director Ang Lee’s film is a turbo-charged action thriller.
2 IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT Sunday, bbc2, 10pm
When a wealthy industrialist is found murdered in a Mississippi town, the racist local sheriff Bill Gillespie (Rod Steiger) accuses black newcomer Virgil Tibbs (the late Sidney Poitier, left), only to discover his chief suspect is a homicide detective from Philadelphia. Despite this poor start, the pair slowly bond as they seek the real killer.
3 LADY MACBETH Monday, bbc2, 11.15pm
Teenage bride Katherine (Florence Pugh, left) is consigned to a loveless marriage to a brute called Alexander (Paul Hilton). When he is unexpectedly called away, Katherine seeks out excitement with rebellious groomsman Sebastian (Cosmo Jarvis). The lovers soon forge a murderous pact to retain their lofty position in the household.
4 DATE NIGHT Tuesday, 5Star, 9pm
Claire (Tina Fey, left) and Phil Foster (Steve Carell) plan to re-inject some excitement into their marriage with a date night at a restaurant. The place is full, so they pose as another couple who booked a table, but failed to show up. They soon regret it, when they realise the people whose reservation they stole are in debt to gangsters.
5 THE RAILWAY MAN Wednesday, bbc1, 10.35pm
Second World War survivor Eric Lomax (Colin Firth) was held captive by the Japanese and used as slave labour to help build the infamous Death Railway from Thailand to Burma. As he confronts the horrors of his past and falls in love with Patti (Nicole Kidman, pictured with Firth), a former nurse who wants to help him through his trauma.
6 RIO BRAVO Thursday, february 3, bbc4, 8pm
Small-town lawman Sheriff Chance (John Wayne, left) must keep a murderer behind bars until a marshal arrives to deal with him. It sounds simple enough, but the only people on the sheriff’s side are a drunk and an ageing deputy, while the prisoner’s brother is a rancher who will stop at nothing to break him out.
7 THE TRUE HISTORY OF THE KELLY GANG Friday, february 4, film4, 11.20pm
Young Ned Kelly (Orlando Schwerdt) learns to fend for himself under the tutelage of bush ranger Harry Power (Russell Crowe). As Ned (now played by George Mackay, left) comes of age, he forms a gang with his younger brother Dan (Earl Cave) and a couple of friends, and declares war on Constable Fitzpatrick (Nicholas Hoult).