HELL IN THE PACIFIC

Talking Pictures TV, 11.15pm

John Boorman never makes an idea-light film, and even this one, set on a remote Pacific island during the

But this raucous offering from Shane Black, starring Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling as a pair of oddly mismatched investigators, takes one of the most sinister movie genres of them all – film noir – and shuffles it up to make side-clutching comedy. Margaret Qualley and Angourie Rice co-star. Second World War, grows into a true philosophical masterpiece. Lee Marvin and Toshiro Mifune – the only two actors in the film – play an American and a Japanese soldier stranded in paradise. At first they struggle to communicate, or even to live side-by-side in peace, but gradually they build trust.

Home favourite Julian Alaphilippe made a strong start to Le Tour, but 2018 champion Geraint Thomas is riding well. The true challenges arrive this week with the brutal mountain stages in the Pyrénées and Alps. The race is broadcast live on both channels every day bar Monday, a rest day.

Netball’s premier event concludes in Liverpool this weekend. Whose name will be written under that of 2015 winners Australia? The bronze-medal match precedes the main event (centre-pass 2.30pm).

England’s World Cupwinning captain Eoin Morgan, born in Dublin, will watch this four-day game at Lord’s with keen interest. The two sides have never played a Test match, and even though Ireland have lost their only two Tests to date, Joe Root and his team will need to reach good form – the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston is just over a week away.

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