FILM REVIEWS
11.35pm
C4
This is the film that minted Bruce Willis’s career, launched a franchise and still stands as a giant of the action genre. It places a group of people in peril (office workers at a Christmas party in an otherwise empty LA skyscraper) when suave Alan Rickman and his Euroterrorists take them hostage. One man — Willis’s cop, John McClane — is charged with saving them. Director John McTiernan handles the bravura set pieces with aplomb and the script oozes dry wit. There’s more McClane today on Sky Max in The Unofficial Science of Die Hard — see choice, p111. ANDREW COLLINS
good morality tales, the villain is exceptional, with Lionel Barrymore at the peak of his powers as Mr Potter. DAVID PARKINSON 7.00-9.00pm
C4
After a lacklustre first sequel, those Men in Black are back on top form in this madcap caper. Agent J (Will Smith) is forced to go back in time to 1969 to prevent partner K (Tommy Lee Jones) from getting killed by an alien fugitive. Smith is, as always, wisecrackingly cool, but it’s Josh Brolin who really lights up the screen as K’s younger incarnation. STELLA PAPAMICHAEL 10.10pm-12.35am
C5 j
Renée Zellweger reprises her role with gusto in this hoot of a threequel. Bridget celebrates her 43rd birthday older but no wiser, and once again single. During a festival, she bunks up with a suave American (Patrick Dempsey), but unresolved issues with Darcy (Colin Firth) means she doesn’t know who the daddy is when she gets pregnant. Oh, Bridget! SP 11.30pm-1.10am
BBC2 j
For three years from 1977, Manhattan nightclub Studio 54 was the eighth wonder of the world. The glamorous watering hole hosted myriad party animals desperate to dance the night away. Matt Tyrnauer’s film is a wonderful celebration of Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager’s mirrorballed brainchild. AJ