There’s always a wide selection of great films available on Freeview and seeing as staying in is the new going out, TV presents the ideal opportunity to catch up on what you might have missed in the cinema. Plus, it saves you spending your student loan on DVDs and rentals. Sometimes the choice can be quite overwhelming, so LSi has decided to compile a weekly list of the best films on TV.
MONDAY – Antichrist (Film4 23:10)
Lars Von Trier is one of those directors who will divide his audience in half – you will either hate him or love him, never in-between. People are often put off immediately by his controversial character with the famous Cannes ‘I’m a Nazi’ incident and the outrageous nature of his films. Antichrist is one of the most extreme films he has made with some rather grotesque pieces of violence, squeamish avoid this film, but it is also a stunning piece of art that is worth the hard watch. If you fancy trying something different on a Monday night, watch this – trust me, you have never seen anything like it.
TUESDAY – 10 Things I Hate About You (E4 20:00)
Adapted from Shakespeare’s play The Taming of the Shrew, 10 Things I Hate About You is a quirky romantic-comedy that will steal your heart as soon as you turn it on. Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles are brilliant as the central characters, bouncing off each other with flair. It may not be original, but the jokes never get old and the story never gets dull.
WEDNESDAY – Beginners (Film4 00:05)
The premise of Beginners certainly does not sound promising – a young man is shocked when his elderly father announces that he has both terminal cancer and a young male lover. However, it works wonderfully being both sad and joyful, light and heavy at the same time taking you on an emotional rollercoaster that could be real. McGregor is magnetic as the leading character accompanied by brilliant performances from Laurent and Plummer too.
THURSDAY – Serenity (ITV4 21:00)
The cancellation of Joss Whedon’s television series Firefly will always be considered by fans of nerd culture one of the greatest tragedies in television history. Fans were so devastated a campaign was started to get more from the characters, with the result being a film version Serenity directed by Whedon, the master behind Marvel’s The Avengers and the recent beautiful adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing. To most Serenity will just be science-fiction nonsense, but if you can take it with a pinch of salt you will find yourself immensely enjoying an entertaining film brought to life by fans.
FRIDAY – Planet of the Apes (More4 11:15)
Last month the trailer for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes was revealed, the most recent of a film franchise that started with this phenomenal 1968 classic. A ground-breaking film that redefined the science-fiction genre, it does take a little while to get into but soon enough you will be absorbed by a brilliant story full of deep themes that is scarily close to reality. Don’t waste your time with the Tim Burton remake… watch this!
SATURDAY – 28 Days Later… (Film4 23:05)
Last week we featured an overlooked brilliant film by Danny Boyle, Sunshine, and so it only seems right this week to feature another. 28 Days Later is a raw and rare horror film that has depth as well as zombies! Cillian Murphy is fantastic in the central role and it is a shame he does not get more attention for this. If zombies are not your thing the horrifying classic Schindler’s List is on ITV4 at 22:00
SUNDAY – Fantastic Mr. Fox (Film4 17:20)
Wes Anderson’s latest film The Grand Budapest Hotel is released 7 March and so now is the right time to look through his back catalogue. It is rare to see such imagination and creativity from a director, and so his films like Fantastic Mr. Fox are ones to watch and treasure. Based on the classic novel by Roald Dahl, even the most boring adult will find themselves chuckling at the jokes and falling in love with the animation. Perfect for a Sunday afternoon in with tea and biscuits!
Emily Murray