FILMS OF THE WEEK

THE BIG MOVIE

Deadpool (2016) 15 Saturday, 9pm, Ch4 Deadpool is the highest-grossing 15-rated movie of all time, a critical success and a hit with comic fans. With its crudeness, sex, and grisly violence, the irreverent tone – not the standard origin story and action – is what sets Deadpool apart from the current glut of superhero movies. Ryan Reynolds is Wade Wilson, the man who by a tragic twist of fate mutates into the bitter antihero of the title (above). His sole mission is revenge on the sadist who forced his mutation (giving him lizard-like regenerative abilities and super-agility) but disfigured his pretty face. He believes it’s now a face that his girlfriend (Morena Baccarin) can’t possibly love and takes out his frustration on the bad guys, as well as venting to the audience with a constant stream of acidic quips. A puerile, satisfyingly naughty treat.

CLASSIC FILM CHOICE

The Man In The White Suit (1951) U Sunday, 2.45pm, BBC2 In an era of disposable fashion, the premise of this Ealing comedy feels decidedly on trend. Flawlessly presented, it’s a morally complex satire in which Alec Guinness stars as brilliant but naive chemist Sidney Stratton (above), whose invention of a stain-resistant, indestructible fabric puts the fear of God into the textile industry and the unions, who seek to suppress it at any cost. Uniting committed capitalists and trenchant workers in a common cause, the film evenly distributes its critique, while idealistic Sidney remains oblivious to the chaos his invention might reap, devoted only to science and its clean, unfettered logic. Guinness’s perfectly tailored performance is low key, while the superb supporting cast includes Cecil Parker, Michael Gough and an immaculate Joan Greenwood as the only voice of reason.