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| Nicole Kidman in Dead Calm |
Night Drive, Legend Extra, 11.30pm, Monday, September 23
A ride share driver who left the business world behind for a profession where he could relax and get to meet different people. A young passanger, alternately garrulous and quietly sulky, who is clearly up to her neck in something dodgy. An unlikely bond, developed over the course of a single night, which seems full of possibility. You might think you know where this is going, but shortly before the end there’s a shift of gears that will force you to rethink everything you’ve seen. A Frightfest favourite, Brad Baruh and Meghan Leon’s twisty little thriller is one wild ride, and a great way to spend your time.
Independence Day, Film4, 6.10pm, Tuesday, September 24
Before CGI was something you could make at home and alien invasion movies were ten a penny, Hollywood threw everything into one blockbuster effort that was part science fiction (without a lot of science), part disaster movie and part advert for the US armed services. It doesn’t measure up well by today’s standards, but it has its moments, and plenty of historical interest. Bill Pullman plays the US president but still can’t escape his usual beating – psychic though it may be in this case. Jeff Goldblum does an impressive job with some truly ridiculous lines, and Will Smith gets praised for using his fists. Some famous things blow up, and there’s a trip to Area 51. It’s US neurosis in distilled, bottled form.
Pig, Film4, 11.20pm, Wednesday, September 25
What distinguishes Nicolas Cage as an actor is not just his intensity but the range of emotions he can deliver that way whilst still seeming absolutely genuine. Pig is a film that makes the most of that. It begins with the kidnap of his truffle hunting character’s porcine companion, and spends most of its running time on the hunt for the culprit, with Alex Wolff as the spoiled rich boy who goes along for the ride and learns something about humanity in the process. In the hands of director Michael Sarnoski, it has the quality of a fable, intimate and yet expansive, full of symbolic weight. It’s gorgeously shot and the small cast are all at the top of their game. It’s thrilling to watch, but beware: it may break your heart.
The Big Sleep, BBC4, 9pm, Thursday, September 26
With Humphrey Bogart as private eye Philip Marlowe and Lauren Bacall as a dangerous dame, this Raymond Chandler adaptation oozes character and style. Its plotting may be somewhat wayward, and it’s not always hot on logic, but it makes for compelling viewing nonetheless, still finding its way into lists of the best crime films after almost 80 years. The censors pressured director Howard Hawks to tone down the sexual references but there wasn’t much they could do about the sizzling chemistry between the stars, and Bogart in particular also brings impressive depth and sensitivity to his role. Add in Sydney Hickox’s moody cinematographer and this is a bona fide classic.
A Star Is Born, BBC3, 9pm, Friday, September 27
Amber Wilkinson writes: This fourth film iteration of the story of a fading star who strikes up a relationship with a talented newcomer and helps her find fame - leading to romance and tragedy, showed there's a reason why it is a perennial favourite. Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga make the perfect pairing as the older star with addiction issues and nervous newcomer, and Cooper (who also co-wrote the screenplay) proves he's no slouch in the directorial department either, moving the story along at a fair pace. He hits the sweet spot of delivering the emotional goods without overdoing it, but, be warned, you're also likely to have the Oscar-winning tune Shallow stuck in your head for a week afterwards.
Dead Calm, 5 Star, 11.35pm, Saturday, September 28
Before she became a superstar, Nicole Kidman made a splash in this taut little three-hander about a couple enjoying a yachting holiday who invite a young stranger onboard and find themselves in trouble. With the black hulk of the stranger’s vessel on the horizon, there are references to ancient maritime myth and classic literature, but it’s in the high stakes interactions between the characters that the film finds its magic. Talented and hungry, with no established brand to build on, Kidman goes all out and steals the show, whilst director Philip Noyce, also an up-and-comer at the time, finds inventive means of creating peril in a stripped-down scenario with plenty of tension.
Rango, E4, 7.35am, Sunday, September 29
Amber Wilkinson writes: If you've ever wondered what Chinatown might look like if it was turned into a family-friendly animation, now's your chance. Johnny Depp is Rango, a chameleon who, in the way of so many great westerns, finds himself in a town that needs a sheriff. Water supplies are dwindling and a hero is required. The nods to spaghetti westerns are a treat for adults but the characters director Gore Verbinksi's trademark anarchic energy are also great fun for kids. Everyone from Bill Nighy to Harry Dean Stanton pops up and the animation is lent undeniable energy by the fact that rather than voice booth recordings, Verbinski had his actors work together on stage to achieve the vocals, referred to rather cutely as "emotion capture" in the film's original publicity.
