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 decided to compile a weekly list of the best films on TV. This week Tom Hanks gets in touch with his inner child, we need to talk about Kevin and Grease is the word.
MONDAY – Hanna (Film4 21:00)
Director Joe Wright is best known for his classic romantic dramas such as Pride and Prejudice, and so Hanna, a story about a young girl raised to become the perfect assassin, was new territory for him. He tackles it well, delivering an action packed and technically brilliant thriller, with a fine performance from the young Saoirse Ronan who is accompanied by a fab supporting cast that includes Eric Bana and Cate Blanchett.
TUESDAY – Grease (E4 20:00)
Everyone knows about Grease and there is probably very few people who have not seen it. It is now the end of term and dissertations and essays are almost behind us, and so it is the perfect time to relax with some chocolate as a reward and enjoy this classic musical. It is the highlight of the musical genre so bring your friends and sing along to Greased Lightning and other hits.
WEDNESDAY – Big (Film4 19:00)
Tom Hanks is undoubtedly one of America’s finest current working actors who was outrageously robbed at this years Oscars, when he was not nominated for his phenomenal performance in Captain Phillips. In Big he takes on a rather different character playing a young boy who wakes up in an adult boy one morning. He is rather brilliant in Big and ensures Big will make you laugh and keep you entertained.
THURSDAY – Get Carter (ITV4 00:00)
Why waste your time with the awful Sylvester Stallone remake when you can watch the brilliant 1970s original with the ever wonderful Michael Caine. Mike Hodges’ story of a London gangster is the highlight of his career as a raw, gritty and tense drama. This will remind you of many more modern British crime films which it clearly inspired.
FRIDAY – Wall Street (More4 22:25)
Earlier this year Scorsese explored the world of stockbroking in his elaborate The Wolf of Wall Street, but Oliver Stone’s classic Wall Street will always be the ultimate film about capitalism. An unusually good Charlie Sheen plays a young man impatient to get to the top of the stockbroking chain who engages with illegal trading, performing opposite the intimidating and charismatic Michael Douglas playing the infamous Gordon Gekko.
SATURDAY – We Need To Talk About Kevin (BBC2 22:30)
Based on the popular novel by Lionel Shriver you will never see anything like this. A study of a strange mother and child relationship, it is dark, twisted and completely original. Tilda Swinton as the tortured mother will ensure your eyes are glued to the screen with a harrowing performance that will stay with you.
SUNDAY – The Woman In Black (Channel 4 21:00)
Daniel Radcliffe moves on from the Harry Potter franchise with this understated horror that is certainly far away from the world of Hogwarts. It harks back to classic ghost stories, but is still able to shock a modern day audience with the usual tricks that will make you jump out of your skin. Haunting yet also rather emotional, the twist at the end really puts a sting in the tail.
Emily Murray