TV FILMS of the week
1
Borg vs McEnroe Tonight, BBC2, 10.30pm
On July 5, 1980, reigning
Wimbledon men’s champion Bjorn
Borg faced hot-headed challenger John McEnroe on the Centre Court of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. The Swede was aiming to win a fifth consecutive title on grass in front of a partisan crowd, while the American wanted to silence doubters after his ill-tempered semi-final win over Jimmy Connors. Here, Danish film-maker Janus Metz Pedersen immortalises this battle of fortitude and sweat-drenched resilience. Sverrir Gudnason and Shia LaBeouf serve and volley solid performances as the tennis greats.
2
MONSTERS, INC Tomorrow, BBC1, 2.55pm
Pixar’s animated adventure introduces us to monsters Sulley and best pal Mike (voiced by John Goodman and Billy Crystal), pictured, who work in the child-scaring business in Monstropolis. Humans are forbidden in the monster world, so when Sulley accidentally brings a little girl named Boo into Monstropolis, all hell breaks loose.
3
GLASS Monday, Film4, 9pm
In this mind-bending thriller, Dr Ellie Staple (Sarah Paulson, left) works with individuals who believe they are superheroes. Her patients include The Beast (James McAvoy), The Overseer (Bruce Willis) – who can unmask sins through touch, and Mr Glass (Samuel L Jackson), whose brilliant mind is condemned to a painfully fragile body.
4
DEADPOOL Tuesday, Film4, 9pm
Former Special Forces operative Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds,) is an assassin who learns he has inoperable cancer. Wade is invited to undergo a radical procedure in an experimental program, but its sadistic program director transforms him into a mutant with the power of self-healing. Reborn as Deadpool (left), Wade vows revenge.
5
LOVE, SIMON Wednesday, Channel 4, 1.05am
Feel-good comedy drama. High school student Simon Spier (Nick Robinson, left) wrestles with his burgeoning sexuality, unsure of the reaction of his family or friends. After chatting anonymously online with another student, kooky classmate Martin (Logan Miller) stumbles upon Simon’s emails and blackmails the closeted student.
6
CASABLANCA Thursday, BBC4, 9pm
During the Second World War, nightclub owner Rick (Humphrey Bogart) agrees to help old flame Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman, pictured with Bogart) get her Czech resistance leader husband out of Casablanca. Hailed as one of the greatest films of all time, this has a gripping storyline, a moving romance, a very quotable script and great songs.
7
ELECTION Friday, BBC3, 9pm
In this dark comedy, over-achieving high-school student Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon, left) announces she’s running for class president – an idea that fills teacher Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick) with dread. He convinces dim-butpopular athlete Paul (Chris Klein) to stand against her, but Jim’s plot soon spirals out of control.