TV FILMS of the week TV Highlights
1
YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE Today, ITV, 4.15pm
When American and Soviet spacecraft go missing, both sides suspect the other – but British
Intelligence believes a third party could be involved. 007 (Sean Connery) is dispatched to Japan to investigate, where he comes face to face with Blofeld (Donald Pleasence). Fans of the novel, the last published while Ian Fleming was alive, may be disappointed: the film bears little relation to it. For everyone else though, this is one of the better James Bond outings, thanks to a script by Roald Dahl, an explosive climax, and some great special effects.
2
LET HIM GO
Tomorrow, Film4, 9pm
George Blackledge (Kevin Costner, left) and wife Margaret (Diane Lane) live on a ranch with their 25-year-old son, his wife, and their grandson. An accident forces them to bury their boy and watch as their daughter-in-law marries another man. He spirits his new family away, but the Blackledges give chase to fight for their grandson.
3
THE FAVOURITE Tuesday, Film4, 9pm
Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) is removed from the machinations of government, allowing secret lover Sarah Churchill (Rachel Weisz, left with Coleman) to control 18th-century Britain. Robert Harley (Nicholas Hoult) challenges the monarch’s authority from Westminster in this brilliantly bawdy and boisterous dark comedy.
4
THE DEATH OF STALIN Wednesday, BBC2, 11.45pm
Fifties Moscow is a city under the yoke of tyrannical General Secretary Joseph Stalin (Adrian McLoughlin), who executes dissenters in the ranks. When he suddenly dies, members of his inner circle forge alliances to fill the power vacuum and worm their way into the affections of the dead leader’s son.
5
THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD Thursday, Film4, 10.50pm
Student Julie (Renate Reinsve, left) is in the throes of an existential crisis of her own making. Boyfriend Aksel (Anders Danielsen Lie), 15 years her senior and a successful graphic novelist, is ready to settle down and have children but Julie is resistant. Nominated for two Academy Awards, the film is an exuberantly crafted comedy drama.
6
EASTERN PROMISES Friday, BBC1, 12.35am
Director David Cronenberg reunited with A History of Violence’s charismatic leading man Viggo Mortensen to explore the dark secrets of a Russian crime family in his intense and bloodthirsty thriller set in London. Naomi Watts, Armin Mueller-Stahl, and Vincent Cassel (left with Mortensen) also star.
7
ROCKY
Saturday, ITV, 10.15pm
Oscar-winning underdog story. Sylvester Stallone stars as struggling Philadelphia boxer Rocky Balboa (left) who gets a shot at the title against reigning champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). With the support of his coach (Burgess Meredith) and shy pet store employee Adrian (Talia Shire), Rocky sets out to prove he can go the distance.