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| Clockwise, from top left: Predator, Wallace And Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, It's A Wonderful Life |
Jennie Kermode writes: An iconic Arnold Schwarzenegger movie from the star's Eighties heyday, this initially modest, low-budget sci-fi actioner created a remarkable legacy and remains just as much fun to watch today. That's largely testament to the directorial skills of John McTiernan, whose stunning action scenes and control of suspense make it gripping throughout. As in Die Hard , which he made the following year, McTiernan plays with the muscular action man trope whilst having fun at the expense of macho values, striking the perfect balance for a story which riffs on The Most Dangerous Game, already a well established theme in cinema. Arnie leads a group of mercenaries who are hunted through the jungle by a brilliantly camouflaged alien foe. Outgunned and outmanoeuvred at their own game, depending on a local woman to make sense of events, they are picked off one by one until it becomes clear that brains as well as brawn offer the only hope of survival. There's inspirational technology, horrific mutilation, mud wrestling, some stonking tunes and all the gunfire you can eat.
It’s A Wonderful Life, 2.30pm, ITV1, Christmas Eve
Frank Capra’s classic is almost as hard to resist as a box of chocolates over the Christmas period, so we can’t help but include it as a regular favourite. The plot, for the one or two people who have yet to see this seasonal treat, revolves around an angel (Henry Travers), who helps a businessman (James Stewart) who finds himself at the end of his tether. A story celebrating the little acts of selflessness and kindness that can make a big difference, even if we don't realise it at the time, the warmth of the season burns strongly in it - which takes on an added level of humour when you consider that the film was actually shot during a Californian summer heatwave.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife , 5.50pm, BBC1, Christmas Eve
An attempt to hit the reset button on the Ghostbusters franchise, this outing is set in the wake of the death of Egon Spengler (played in the original film by Harold Ramis, who died in 2014 and to whom this is dedicated). His estranged daughter Callie (Carrie Coon) takes her kids Trevor (Finn Wolfhard) and Phoebe (Mckenna Grace) to the dilapidated 'dirt farm' where he lives in the hope of easing her own debt. The practical Phoebe befriends supernatural nerd Podcast (Logan Kim) and Trevor finds the good old Ectomobile in a shed. Soon they're all taking on something suspicious in the local mineshaft. Although the action elements work, the ironic humour that coated the original films is missing and director Jason Reitman lays the nostalgia on thick. Still it's an enjoyable enough way to spend a couple of hours and is a much more squarely family film than its predecessors, which makes it perfect while waiting for bedtime and Santa.
Wallace And Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, 6.10pm, BBC1, Christmas Day
The irresistible inventor and his faithful pal return for another adventure, which also sees the return of the best enemy of the bunch, arch criminal penguin Feathers McGraw. Wallace (seamlessly voiced by Ben Whitehead following the death of the much-loved Peter Sallis in 2017) has, as ever, has come up with a “cracking” invention. In a play on the modern trend for AI-driven helpmates, he creates a “smart gnome” named Norbert (Reese Shearsmith on vocals), who unfortunately has his settings switched to “evil”, leading the usual mayhem to ensue. The film is peppered with sight gags as well as great scripting, with a particular emphasis on northern humour that cares not a jot whether American audiences get the joke or not - a refreshing change. Among the best is a news reader named Anton Deck and a dual sign on a railway tunnel reading: “Welcome To Yorkshire”, “No parkin”. Gold-plated family entertainment at its finest.
Raiders Of The Lost Ark , 8.20pm, Channel 4, Christmas Day
Steven Spielberg's action adventure still feels so fresh that it's hard to believe it has notched up its third decade. Featuring Harrison Ford at the height of his fame as the whip-toting, wisecracking archeologist, this is a boy's own tale that whistles along from that much mimicked opening sequence involving treasure and a rolling stone to the surprisingly dark ending. Lawrence Kasdan, George Lucas and Philip Kaufman carefully fold will-they/won't-they romance into the fist-fight and explosive-driven melee (with Karen Allen giving an enjoyably sparky performance as Jones' ex Marion), along with an enjoyable dollop of humour. Fast-paced and engaging from the off, this is one of cinema's rewatchable treasures. Catch Temple Of Doom on Boxing Day at 6.40pm on the same channel.
East Is East , 12.55am, Channel 4, Boxing Day
Ayub Khan-Din skilfully adapts his culture clash play for the big screen, while Damien O'Donnell directs with plenty of energy to tell this Seventies set story of a Pakistani migrant to the UK, George Khan (Om Puri), his British wife Ella (Linda Bassett) and their family. Khan has a grand plan for his kids that includes arranged marriages but they have other ideas, with revolution on the horizon. The humour here skewers its targets but there is a nuance to the compromises that must be reached which displays a winning warmth for the push and pull of families. Puri and Bassett meanwhile are a delight as the couple charting an enduring love between their two different cultural standpoints.
Dahomey , MUBI, streaming now
Recently announced as one of the films on this year’s Oscar shortlist , Matti Diop’s Berlinale Golden Bear-winning film muses on the repatriation of cultural artefacts from France to Benin in 2021. While documenting the movement of specific pieces, Diop also captures a wider debate about them and their importance to the original nation. Entering more hybrid territory, a statue of King Ghezo is also given a voice to reflect on his incarceration in a box, as well as his place in a history of colonialism and the current state of affairs.
Apollo 13 , 6.10pm, ITV4, Boxing Day
Sometimes fact can seem even stranger than fiction but despite all that happens in it, Ron Howard's film about all the things that very nearly saw Jim Lovell's 1970 Moon mission end in tragedy, sticks close to the truth. Based on Lovell's book, Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13, it was praised on release by people within NASA, including Lovell, for its accurate depiction of what happened. Who better to be the hero at the helm than Tom Hanks, as Lovell, who finds himself hampered by not only leaking fuel that means the mission must be aborted but toxic gas level that could kill his whole crew. Although Hanks is perfect for his role, the rest of the ensemble cast is as airtight as spacesuit, featuring Ed Harris in mission control, Kathleen Quinlan as Lovell's wife on the ground and Gary Sinese as an astronaut pulled from the Moon shot.
The Long Good Friday , 12.55am, Film4, Friday, December 27
One of the lasting kingpins of London crime drama, John Mackenzie’s gripping drama is a showcase for Bob Hoskins’ acting talent. He plays ambitious gangland boss Harold Shand, who is looking to extend his power but when his men start to be targeted by an unknown enemy, his world begins to unravel. Beyond Hoskins’ enjoyable tirades, Helen Mirren is excellent as Shand’s wife and Pierce Brosnan also pops up in his film debut. Still chillingly effective.
King Richard , 9pm, BBC2, Friday, December 27
Director Reinaldo Marcus Green and first time feature writer Zach Baylin offer a twist on more traditional biopics by viewing the story of Venus and Serena Williams through the prism of their family. To the fore is Will Smith as the family's patriarch, who was a man with the ultimate plan - that his girls would go down in tennis history. Driven harder than a cross-court volley to help his daughters to succeed, we see the relentless way he set about getting Venus (Saniyya Sidney) and Serena (Demi Singleton) into the places kids like them seldom reached, coming up against the white establishment along the way. He may be a pushy parent but he has a winning way with it. In addition to the family focus, which sees Aunjanue Ellis in fine form in support as mum Brandi, Marcus Green lets the tension mount on court as Venus faces her toughest match yet. Seasons greetings to all our readers - as it's that time of the year, we've got a bumper selection of films to catch over the next week.
The Incredibles, 1.40pm, BBC1, Saturday, December 28
Pixar has, arguably, been over-thinking things lately with the likes of Lightyear and Soul, but this family-based slice of superhero fun is spot on. Litigation has left a family of superheroes, The Parrs, lying low but they soon discover, when you're super, that's not easy. As notable for its domestic and family observations as its super stuff, Brad Bird's film is packed with glorious characterisation and humour as well as, as you would expect from Pixar, looking absolutely terrific.
The Sting, 6.20pm, Legend, Sunday, December 29
They'd already proved a tough double-header to beat in director George Roy Hill's Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid and the twin wattage of Robert Redford and Paul Newman at the top of their game shines just as brightly in this slick comedy drama from the same director, this time written by David S Ward. The pair play con artists Henry (Newman) and Johnny (Redford) who hatch an elaborate sting to liberate a load of cash from mobster Doyle (Robert Shaw). Everything has the click of satisfaction in this film, from the mechanic of the sting itself to the Depression-era production design and the piano score from Scott Joplin - something the Academy acknowledged with seven Oscars, including Best Film.
Chicken Run, 7.30pm, BBC3, Sunday, December 29
War PoW films like the Great Escape get a feathered makeover in this family adventure - which marked Nick Park and Peter Lord's step up from Wallace and Gromit shorts to feature-length films. Much of the secret of the success of Aardman films is their obvious love of the original movies they are drawing on for their comedy pastiche and they handle the familiar plot beats and characters with care. In this animated adventure, a PoW camp is swapped out for Tweedy's Farm, where chickens show bravery in the face of the impending pie crust, as Ginger (Julia Sawalha) persuades American rooster Rocky (Mel Gibson) to help them get the pluck out. All the trademark Aardman stuff is here, from the culture clash between the very British characters and Rocky to the fiendish contraption the farmers use to turn the birds into pies and the intricate plan the birds hatch to escape.
Don’t Look Now , 12.15am, BBC2, Monday December 29
Jennie Kermode writes: A riveting exploration of a couple’s attempts to hold onto themselves and one another after the death of their little girl, this is one of the finest works by the late, great Nicolas Roeg, and an absolute must-see for anyone who is serious about cinema. Donald Sutherland plays the architect who tries to find solace in restoring a church but becomes obsessed by the sight of a red hooded figure who recalls his lost child. Julie Christie is his wife, putting her faith in a pair of elderly sisters who might provide a link to the dead. Most of the action takes place in Venice, whose maze of twisting streets, narrow alleyways and canals reflects the mental trap in which the couple are caught. The air is perpetually saturated with moisture, the city never more beautiful. The chemistry between the leads is electric, their interaction tender, a weight of emotion captured in the smallest detail.
We've got a snowy, family friendly short for you this week. The Boy, The Mole, The Fox And The Horse, which you can watch on iPlayer or if you prefer the telly, on BBC1 on Friday, December 27 at 2.30pm
