FILM PICKS
MONDAY Bullitt (1968) (ITV4, 9pm)
Hard-bitten San Francisco cop Frank Bullitt (Steve McQueen) is given the task of babysitting an informer who stole $2 million from the Mob and is going to testify against a powerful Mafia syndicate once the weekend is over. All Bullitt and his team have to do is keep him alive until he makes it to the court room. However, when the witness is assassinated, Bullitt decides to conceal the death from his superiors and track down the killers himself. This is McQueen at his absolute coolest – and the film isn’t half bad either. From great dialogue to gripping action scenes – and possibly the most iconic car chase in cinema history – this really is must-see viewing.
TUESDAY
Straight Outta Compton (2015) (ITV4, 11.25pm)
In 1986, pals Dr Dre (Corey Hawkins), Eazy-E (Jason Mitchell), Ice Cube (the rapper’s real-life son O’Shea Jackson Jr), MC Ren (Aldis Hodge) and DJ Yella (Neil Brown Jr) seek an outlet for their creativity and form the pioneering hip hop group NWA. With gentle persuasion, Eazy-E sets up his own label, Ruthless Records, and the group’s first release Boyz-n-the-Hood piques the interest of Jerry Heller (Paul Giamatti), who sweettalks Eazy-E into becoming the band’s manager. Straight Outta Compton is a rags-to-musical riches biopic that fails to fully address the accusations of misogyny and homophobia levelled at the California collective.
WEDNESDAY
The Crying Game (1992) (Film4, 11.10pm)
Stephen Rea stars in this Oscar-winning drama as Fergus, an IRA member who holds a British soldier hostage. They form an unlikely bond, so when the situation ends in tragedy, the guilt-ridden Fergus sets out to find his former prisoner’s lover. However, the pair quickly fall in love – with devastating results. The Crying Game caused no end of hubbub when first released in 1992, with its famous twist causing a media storm. But the combination of sensitive writing and fantastic performances from a cast that also includes Jaye Davidson and Miranda Richardson take this film to another level.
THURSDAY
The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) (ITV4, 9pm)
James Bond (Roger Moore) teams up with KGB agent Maj Anya Amasova (Barbara Bach) to recover missing British and Soviet nuclear submarines before their warheads are fired. However, standing in their way are web-handed mastermind Karl Stromberg and his metal-toothed henchman Jaws. Carly Simon’s swooning theme song claims Nobody Does It Better, but many would argue that Sean Connery remains the superior Bond. This film represents Moore’s finest hour as 007, with the actor complemented by great action sequences, sets, script and co-stars.