TV FILMS of the week
1 CLUELESS Today, Channel 5, 3.05pm
Writer-director Amy Heckerling’s classic teen comedy takes the plot of Jane Austen’s Emma and transports it to a Nineties Beverly Hills high school. Rich, spoilt, but essentially well-meaning student Cher (Alicia Silverstone, pictured above) decides to use her popularity for good by taking an unfashionable new girl (Brittany Murphy) under her wing and finding her a suitable boyfriend. However, when her attempts at matchmaking end in disaster, Cher is forced to face the fact that she might be the one who’s truly clueless in matters of the heart.
2 SHIRLEY VALENTINE Tomorrow, Channel 5, 10pm
Downtrodden housewife Shirley (Pauline Collins, pictured) spends most of her day talking to the wall and coping with insensitive husband Joe (Bernard Hill). Then her best friend Jane (Alison Steadman) wins a trip to Greece, and our heroine embarks on a journey of self-discovery – and enjoys a fling with local man Costas (Tom Conti).
3 ON THE BASIS OF SEX Monday, BBC2, 10.30pm
In 1956, Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Felicity Jones, pictured) follows her husband Martin (Armie Hammer) to Harvard Law School. Dean Erwin Griswold (Sam Waterston) can barely contain his disdain. Ruth excels, but her path ultimately becoming a Supreme Court Judge is far from simple. A love letter to The Notorious R.B.G.
4 GRAN TORINO Tuesday ITV4, 10pm
Walt (Clint Eastwood, pictured) is a cantankerous widower, estranged from his family and hostile to his immigrant neighbours, but when the Korean teen from next door tries to steal Walt’s beloved Gran Torino car he ends up taking the youngster under his wing, and bonds with the family – so when they are threatened by a street gang, he steps in.
5 SABRINA Wednesday, GREAT! movies classic, 9pm
Daughter of the wealthy Larrabees’ chauffeur, Sabrina (Audrey Hepburn, pictured) has long been in love with youngest son, playboy David (William Holden). When she gets back from a spell in France with fresh confidence, newly engaged David takes notice. But stodgy brother Linus (Humphrey Bogart) decides to woo her himself to keep them apart.
6 AMERICAN MADE Thursday, Film4, 9pm
Pilot Barry Seal (Tom Cruise, pictured) is busted smuggling Cuban cigars into America. Coerced into flying CIA reconnaissance missions over Central America, there Barry meets members of the Medellin cocaine cartel, who convince him to transport narcotics to the US. Based on a true story, American Made recreates the swagger of the 70s and 80s.
7 WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES Friday, Film4, 9pm
Twelve years have passed since the ALZ-113 virus ravaged the globe. Colonel McCullough (Woody Harrelson) and his soldiers stage a surprise assault on the apes’ stronghold, killing much of Caesar’s (Andy Serkis) family. The grief-stricken leader orders the survivors to flee while he exacts revenge. A fitting conclusion to the rebooted sci-fi franchise.