Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem to Control – the seven best films to watch on TV this week
Pick of the week
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
The four pizza-loving, crime-fighting friends are back in a new animated film that embraces the unique and edgy style introduced by Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse. This coming-of-age tale follows the group of heavily armed teenagers as they spend their time shoplifting food and hiding in the sewers of New York. However, their true desire is to attend high school like normal kids, but in order to do so, they must gain public recognition. This means going up against a group of evil mutants led by the notorious Superfly, voiced by Ice Cube. The fast-paced and humorous story is filled with references to popular culture, classic hip-hop music, and a family-friendly lack of violence.
Thursday 1 February, Paramount+
Calendar Girls
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The real-life tale of members of WI and their highly successful semi-nude calendar embodies all the elements of a quality British comedy. It explores the clash between propriety and risqué behavior as a group of middle-aged women in a North Yorkshire village strip down for a charitable cause. The top-notch cast, including Julie Walters and Helen Mirren, play meaty roles as best friends Annie and Chris, who spearhead the project. And the story is filled with heartwarming moments as Annie mourns the loss of her husband to leukemia and devises a plan to raise money for the hospital that provided him with care.
On Saturday, January 27th at 4:15pm, tune in to Channel 5.
The Lost City of Z
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Percy Fawcett was part of a lineage of explorers who were attracted to the less explored regions of the world during Britain’s time of imperialism. Unfortunately, like many others, he met a tragic fate. In the film “The Lost City of Z,” directed by James Gray, Charlie Hunnam portrays Fawcett as a stoic career soldier who also possesses a deep sense of empathy towards the people he encounters. This characteristic proves beneficial during his expeditions into the unknown Amazon, where he discovers a mysterious lost civilization. While Fawcett becomes obsessed with this discovery, his fixation never reaches the extreme levels seen in Herzog’s characters. Nonetheless, the film offers enough excitement and danger to captivate the audience.
Monday 29 January, 9pm, Great! Movies
God’s Own Country
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Francis Lee’s film, “Brokeback Mountain,” tells a rural love story that could have had more conviction. In the film, Josh O’Connor plays a sullen young man named Johnny, who is struggling to manage his sheep farm in Yorkshire. He lives with his elderly grandmother and his father, who has had a stroke. However, when Gheorghe (played by Alec Secareanu), a Romanian hired for lambing season, arrives, he brings patience and tenderness that helps awaken Johnny’s better side. Despite the challenges of farm life and feelings of isolation, something beautiful blossoms between them.
On January 30th at 1:50am, Film4 will be airing.
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The murder of a man by a postmistress using a hatchet may appear to be a frightening offshoot of the conflict between Mr. Bates and the Post Office. However, Alberto Cavalcanti’s impressive 1942 film, based on a story by Graham Greene, cleverly subverts our assumptions about the seemingly ordinary inhabitants of an English village. When a group of soldiers stationed in their town are revealed to be German paratroopers planning a naval invasion, the villagers, led by women and children, bravely fight back – and their tactics are far from quaint.
Wednesday 31 January, 11am, Film4
Saturday Night Fever
He is a skilled dancer who never fails. Tony Manero, played by John Travolta, is an expert in disco moves and has the talent to leave his hometown of Brooklyn. However, his upbringing in a traditional Italian American community, with its strict family expectations, religious beliefs, and dangerous gang activities, makes it challenging for him to break free. The impressive soundtrack featuring songs by the Bee Gees and other artists, along with the flashy costumes worn by the dancers, adds energy and captures the essence of the era. But director John Badham’s 1977 film is also focused on the gritty and unpleasant aspects of city life, so much that Tony becomes a conflicted hero.
On Wednesday, January 31st at 1:35am, Film4 will air.
Control
“I’ve no control any more.” The brief life of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis was a troubled one, and Anton Corbijn’s stark black-and-white biopic – based on his widow Debbie’s book – is more intrigued by his personal life than the fertile Manchester music scene that gave birth to his influential band. Sam Riley gives an uncanny impression of Curtis, tormented by his epilepsy, a too-young marriage to Debbie (Samantha Morton, exceptional as ever) and his love for another woman, Alexandra Maria Lara’s Annik.
On Thursday, February 1st at 6am, Sky Cinema Greats will be airing.
Source: theguardian.com
