Your Movie Planner

SATURDAY

Spectre Daniel Craig’s (2015) Bond 12 adjusts 8PM, to ITV2 service under a new to an M all (Ralph too familiar Fiennes) enemy while – following Ernst Stavro a trail Blofeld (a perfectly cast Christoph Waltz). Taken Born-again (2008) action 15 hero 9PM, Liam CH4 Neeson is former CIA man Bryan Mills, who is given a very personal reason to redeploy his ‘particular set of skills’ – human traffickers have kidnapped his beloved daughter. Gregory’s Girl (1981) 12 9PM, DRAMA Bill Forsyth’s coming-of-age romantic comedy stars John Gordon Sinclair as Gregory. The dreary football team the teenager plays for is turned upside down by the arrival of Dorothy (Dee Hepburn) and her nimble ball skills. The Negotiator (2018) 15 9.50PM, SKY PREMIERE

PREMIERE Jon Hamm stars as a former diplomat (above) who hits the bottle when his wife is killed in Beirut. Years later, he’s back in Lebanon, where kidnappers request that he act as their middleman. A solid espionage thriller, co-starring Rosamund Pike. Dredd Karl Urban (2012) growls 18 on 10.50PM, cue as the CH4 2000 AD comic-book law enforcer Judge Dredd (below). Lena Headey, of Game Of Thrones fame, stars as an especially twisted villain. In The Dark Half (2012) 15 12.10AM, BBC1 This low-key atmospheric British indie is full of ghosts, but is more psychological drama than supernatural chiller. Tragedy strikes babysitter Marie (Jessica Barden), leading the troubled teen to conjure her darkest fears. Up There (2012) 15 12.20AM, BBC2 Quirky British fantasy comedy about workers welcoming newly deceased people into the next life. Burn Gorman is Martin, the drone who loathes his literally dead-end job.

SUNDAY

The PG Man 1.55PM, Who BBC2 Would Be King (1975) See Classic Film Choice (right). Ice 2.55PM, Age CH4 2: The Meltdown (2006) U Sid home (above), in peril Diego from and flood Manny water find and their set off to both safe colourful ground, and encountering annoying along characters the way. Meanwhile, finds a kindred lonely spirit Manny who is the as mammoth woolly as he. Jupiter Ascending (2015) 12 6.30PM, PREMIERE CH5 See The Big Movie (right). Thor (2011) 12 9PM, E4 Aussie hunk Chris Hemsworth’s grounded Norse god has his name as the title, but

Brit Tom Hiddleston – as Thor’s troublesome adoptive brother, Loki – also won fans in this first Thor film, directed by Kenneth Branagh. The villains are the chilly Frost Giants. John Carter (2012) 12 12 MIDNIGHT, BBC2 Wallet-popping adaptation of the Barsoom novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the creator of Tarzan. Taylor Kitsch tops the cast as the Civil War soldier of the title, who leaves an intriguing conundrum after his death. Lynn Collins is Barsoom princess Dejah Thoris (above). Notes On A Scandal (2006) 15 12.05AM, BBC1 Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett are perfectly cast in Richard Eyre’s psychological thriller. Dench plays the lonely teacher whose initial support of Blanchett’s new recruit ends up developing into an unsettling obsession. A strong study in slow-building menace. This Is 40 (2012) 15 1.15AM, CH4 This ‘sort-of sequel’ to Knocked Up, also from Judd Apatow, doesn’t actually involve the main characters and stars of the earlier film, but is based around two of its supporting cast. Leslie Mann (right) and Paul Rudd are the pair who fear they will fall apart as both hit a milestone birthday.

MONDAY

(2017) 15 Boyfriend 2.15PM, Crazy girlfriend CH5 Killer and saintly mum go head to head is the in woman this TV finding movie creepy thriller. messages Barbie Castro on the Was social his girlfriend media accounts behind his of fatal her dead accident? son. Leap Year (2010) PG 9PM, Amy Adams 5STAR stars as the American desperate to get to Dublin to make the customary marriage proposal to her man on February 29. But is it meant to be? Matthew Goode (below, with Adams) cordially gets in the way. The Devil Rides Out (1968) 15 10.45PM, HORROR British satanic thriller starring Christopher Lee as the Duc de Richleau, the hero of the books by Dennis Wheatley. Rescuing a friend’s son who has been seduced by the occult, Richleau must confront potent dark forces. (Freeview 70, Freesat 138, Sky 317, Virgin 149) Over Her Dead Body (2008) 12 11.05PM, 5STAR Fantasy romcom with Paul Rudd as Henry, a man left heartbroken when his fiancee, Kate (Eva Longoria), dies before their wedding. One year on, Henry falls for a psychic (Lake Bell) – much to the horror of dead Kate, who returns in ghost form to ruin the relationship. Gridiron Gang (2016) 12 11.05PM, 5SPIKE Uplifting, fact-based sports drama in which Dwayne Johnson (above, with rapper Xzibit) tries to distract disaffected teens from reoffending by getting them into collegeleague football. Simplistic but satisfying. St Elmo’s Fire (1985) 15 11.30PM, PARAMOUNT Demi Moore, Ally Sheedy, Andrew McCarthy and Rob Lowe are the

1980s Brat Packers doing a ham-fisted job of coming of age. Joel Schumacher directs, with typically over-the-top flourishes. (Freeview 54, Sky 159, Virgin 188)

TUESDAY

Gallipoli (1981) PG 6.45PM, FILM4 An Australian view of the First World War, from acclaimed director Peter Weir, seen through the eyes of two young men (Mark Lee and Mel Gibson, above). Promising sprinters who enlist, they face the cruel reality of war while losing their innocence on the battlefield. Evan Almighty (2007) PG 10PM, 5STAR Morgan Freeman returns to play ‘Him upstairs’ in this sequel to the Jim Carrey star vehicle, Bruce Almighty. Steve Carell is the man who, this time, has to put all his faith into building an ark, just like Noah – while all around him proclaim him a total loon. Death Wish 2 (1981) 18 10PM, ITV4 Director Michael Winner and his star, Charles Bronson (left), are reunited for this even more violent sequel. This time, architect Paul Kersey (Bronson) becomes a vigilante again when he tries to find the five street thugs who murdered his daughter and housekeeper. Escape From New York (1981) 15 11PM, 5SPIKE John Carpenter directs this cult sci-fi actioner with tongue firmly in cheek – and the result is an absolute riot. Kurt Russell nails the tone as eye patch- and mulletsporting Snake Plissken, a former soldier on a rescue mission in a lawless Manhattan. Bulletproof Monk (2003) 12 12 MIDNIGHT, 5STAR Comedy kung fu action that puts enigmatic monk Chow Yun-Fat and scruff y ‘punk’ Seann William Scott together as the chalkand-cheese team on a mystical quest. How I Live Now (2013) 15 2AM, FILM4 Adaptation of Meg Rosoff’s 2004 young-adult novel, with Saoirse Ronan (right, with George MacKay) at the head of a strong ensemble cast. She stars as the American teenager fending for herself – in England – when global nuclear war breaks out.

WEDNESDAY

My 10PM, Luke Super Wilson 5STAR Ex-Girlfriend is the guy who finds (2006) his 12 glamorous much being dumped, of a handful. girlfriend though, She (Uma doesn’t and Thurman) the take fact that kindly is too she to has superpowers only makes matters worse. I 11PM, Johnny Walk TALKING Cash The loans Line PICTURES his (1970) title 15 TV song to the soundtrack by John Frankenheimer. of this serious Gregory drama, Peck directed stars as who a married embarks small-town on a passionate Tennessee affair sheriff with a much younger woman (Tuesday Weld). Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (2016) 15 11.10PM, PREMIERE FILM4 This sprightly comedy drama is Fey based (above) on the stars memoirs as the US of Kim TV reporter Barker. Tina who covered the rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan. It succeeds in highlighting not only the horror of oppression, but its absurdity, too. Eagle Eye (2008) 12 11.15PM, BBC1

Surveillance thriller starring Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan (below) as two citizens who, out of the blue, start receiving sinister commands via their mobile phones. They must obey the instructions – or else. Total Recall (1990) 15 11.20PM, ITV4 Bold, bonkers and hugely entertaining, Paul Verhoeven’s sci-fi adventure is based on a Philip K. Dick story. Arnold Schwarzenegger, at the peak of his powers, is the ordinary Joe who thinks he just needs a holiday – but instead opens up a freaky can of worms. The Tree Of Life (2011) 12 1.45AM, CH4 Terrence Malick (Badlands), a darling of the critics, returned from a six-year hiatus with this acclaimed drama, a dreamy, poetic musing on the meaning of life. Jessica Chastain and Brad Pitt star in one of the film’s more conventional segments.

THURSDAY

(1949) PG Train 2.40PM, After a Of train TALKING Events crashes PICTURES at a level TV crossing, the stories flashback. of four An uncharacteristic of its passengers film unfold for Ealing in Studios, Crichton it and features Basil Dearden stable directors at the helm Charles – and Peter Finch (above) in his first British film. Valentine’s Day (2010) 12 6.30PM, This romcom ITV2 features one of the largest ensemble casts ever brought together.

So, in the absence of story and character development, you can instead play spot the star as a series of couples and singles endure the trials and triumphs of February 14. Dirty Dancing (1987) 12 9PM, 5STAR This full-on guilty pleasure film boasts a fantastic soundtrack, full of sing-along 1960s hits. Patrick Swayze (left) is the hunky holiday camp dance teacher who turns the head of a girl – called Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman (Jennifer Grey) – who is on the cusp of womanhood. Shakespeare In Love (1998) 15 9PM, PARAMOUNT This sharp and witty comedy drama stars Joseph Fiennes as William Shakespeare – a handsome young man with writer’s block. To his rescue comes Gwyneth Paltrow’s Viola, who proves to be a great inspiration. Eat Pray Love (2010) 15 9PM, SONY MOVIE CHANNEL In this drama based on the bestselling memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert, Julia Roberts stars as Gilbert, who leaves her old life behind to go find herself in exotic lands. The locations are stunning in a film with a bright and breezy feel. (Freeview 32, Sky 321, Virgin 425) Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason (2004) 15 10.45PM, ITV The gang from the original hit, based on the writing of Helen Fielding – including Renee Zellweger (right), Hugh Grant and Colin Firth – reunite for this sequel. On a ski trip, Bridget’s fragile self-confidence takes another beating.

FRIDAY

Her Boyfriend’s Secret (2018) 12 2.15PM, PREMIERE CH5 Another TV movie where a woman rug pulled (Kelly from Sullivan) under her has feet the when romantic her new man turns out to be anything but ‘perfect’ – and could, in fact, be a dangerous fantasist. Life Of The Party (2018) 12 8PM, SKY PREMIERE PREMIERE Melissa McCarthy is the upbeat housewife (below) who reacts to her divorce by going to college – the same one as her patient but embarrassed daughter. By the numbers, but McCarthy gives it her all. Bullitt (1968) 15 9PM, ITV4 Star and vehicle in perfect harmony, this is the film with which the famous petrolhead Steve McQueen is most synonymous. He’s the San Francisco cop who drives his car up and down that city’s vertiginous streets in some of cinema’s most magnificent car chases. Nightcrawler (2014) 15 11.05PM, BBC2 Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Lou Bloom (below), the oily, detached antihero of this gritty and compelling satirical thriller. One dark night, Lou stumbles into his ideal profession. As a freelance crime cameraman, he stalks the streets for footage of violence and death. Joy Ride (2001) 15 11.30PM, HORROR Before Lost, Star Trek and Star Wars,

J.J. Abrams co-penned this wild horror road movie. Paul Walker, Leelee Sobieski and Steve Zahn play a prank on a CB radio, and get on the wrong side of a psychotic trucker. Underworld: Awakening (2012) 18 12.40AM, CH4 Gun-toting vampire Selene (Kate Beckinsale) and her vampire-werewolf hybrid lover do not get to play happy families in this fourth instalment of the popular horror franchise.