DRAMA OF THE WEEK

The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

(Film4, Friday, 6.45pm)

Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) lands a plum job as assistant to the fearsome Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), editor of Runway magazine. Andy hopes the position will be a steppingstone to serious political journalism and is unprepared for the immense challenges that lie ahead, catering to her tyrannical boss’s every whim. David Frankel’s smartly tailored adaptation of Lauren Weisberger’s international best-seller is delicious. Streep glides through every frame in swathes of Galliano, Valentino and, of course, Prada, armed to her polished teeth with a dizzying array of knockout one-liners. As despicable as Miranda may be, Streep expertly reveals the chinks in her villainess’ designer-label armour, showing glimmers of vulnerability beneath the impeccably coiffed facade. height of his post-Titanic fame - no wonder expectations were high for this drama. The finished product failed to live up to them, although viewed now, it’s a pretty decent thriller. DiCaprio is good in the lead, plenty of interesting ideas get bandied out, and those sun-kissed beaches look very inviting.

WEDNESDAY

Little Women (2019) (Film4, 6.15pm)

In Greta Gerwig’s acclaimed take on Louisa May Alcott’s much-loved novel, Marmee (Laura Dern) presides over the March family home while her husband (Bob Odenkirk) is enlisted in the American Civil War. Her four daughters pursue their dreams. Jo (Saoirse Ronan) wishes to become a writer, Meg (Emma Watson) pursues a romance, aspiring artist Amy (Florence Pugh) yearns to step out of Jo’s shadow so handsome next-door neighbour Laurie (Timothee Chalamet) might look her way, and Beth (Eliza Scanlen) loves to play the piano. The siblings’ paths diverge courtesy of romantic dalliances and grave sickness. Little Women is distinguished by terrific performances including Ronan as the fiercely independent wordsmith, who is fully aware of the lack of privilege afforded her sex.

THURSDAY

The Godfather: Part III (1990) (Film4, 9pm)

The first two gangster dramas were among the most acclaimed films of all time, so Francis Ford Coppola’s belated third movie was always going to struggle to live up to expectations. It also arguably didn’t help that when Winona Ryder dropped out, Coppola cast his own daughter, Sofia, in a key role - she’s since proved to a be fine director in her own right, but she didn’t exactly wow the critics with her acting. However, viewed now, especially in this director’s cut, the trilogy closer is much better than its reputation suggests. Al Pacino returns as Michael Corleone, who seems to be on the brink of severing his ties with organised crime and finally going straight - but his nephew (Andy Garcia) has other ideas.

FRIDAY

The Revenant (2015) (Film4, 9pm)

Explorer Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) guides a team of 19th-century fur trappers and hunters under the command of Captain Andrew Henry (Domhnall Gleeson). When Glass is injured in a mauling from a grizzly bear, Henry leaves behind two men, Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy) and Bridger (Will Poulter), to tend to Glass and his son, Hawk, while the rest of the trappers head for safety. Fitzgerald kills Hawk and drags Glass’ near lifeless body into a freshly dug grave, leaving the injured man for dead in the snow-laden wilderness. Glass regains consciousness and vows to hunt down the men who killed his boy.