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| Loving Vincent |
This film from Dorota Kobiela, Hugh Welchman - which sees a man attempt to 'solve' the mystery surrounding painter Van Gogh's death after being tasked with delivering a note to his brother - may be a bit paint-by-numbers in terms of its narrative but it most certainly delivers on the look. The story was acted as a live film but then the images were rendered with oil paint on canvas by 125 artists, drawing on Van Gogh's impasto style, with its visible brushstrokes - although there is a comparatively 'neat' feel, it nonetheless evokes the skill of the artist. There's a sense of motion in every frame, while light sources hold a magnetism that also reflects the artist's work. While the average Father Brown episode holds more mystery than the investigation here, and there is a dizzying array of accents, from everyone from Chris O'Dowd to Saoirse Ronan, it's still well worth seeing for the animation craft.
Twelve Angry Men, 1.10pm, Film4, Tuesday, January 18
If Loving Vincent doesn't generate much in the way of suspense, quite the opposite is true of this claustrophobic jury room drama, where the men of the title are debating whether to pass a death sentence on a man "on the hottest day of the year". Originally made as a live television drama, it was beefed up three years later by screenwriter Reginald Rose and shot with intensity by Sidney Lumet as we watch the characters sweat and shuffle their allegiances as their prejudices also begin to leak out. The cast is a who's who of the Hollywood greats at the time, including Henry Fonda, whose Juror No 8 is unwilling to jump to a decision, Lee J Cobb whose Juror No 3 is pushing for a guilty verdict and a very young Jack Klugman, as a man whose own upbringing gives him a unique perspective, in one of his early film roles. This gripping film doesn't just interrogate the jury's motives but our assumptions too.
Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes, 11.15pm, Film4, Sunday, January 23
Perhaps the middle of a pandemic is not the best time to watch a film which sees humanity brought to the brink of extinction by a lab-created strain of simian flu - but if you're looking for an intelligent film that shows how distrust, as much as outright aggression, can lead to conflict, this is for you. Matt Reeves' film has all the action you would expect from a summer blockbuster and is lent a real sense of life by superior CGI and incredible vocal and physical performances by Andy Serkis and Toby Kebbell as first and second in command, Caesar and Koba. Its appeal goes beyond the visual, as Mark Bomback, Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver's script explores the tragedy of war, and all the little things that can fuel it, from rogue elements to 'fear of the other', while holding up tribalism to the light.
Apollo 13, 8pm, ITV4, Thursday, January 20
Ron Howard's film is a gripping dramatisation of the 1970 Moon mission led by Jim Lovell that could have, easily, ended in tragedy for all concerned. Who better to be the hero at the helm than Tom Hanks, 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, this is an ensemble cast that all clicks together with a satisfying snap, featuring Ed Harris in mission control, Kathleen Quinlan as Lovell's wife on the ground and Gary Sinise as an astronaut pulled from the Moon shot.
From Russia With Love, 8pm, Friday, January 21
If you're a Bond fan, you're rarely far from the next screening of one with ITV4 and this entry in Sean Connery's back catalogue is well worth catching if you're looking for some solid spy action. The plot is driven by a stolen code machine used as bait to lure 007 into an espionage trap by SPECTRE agents Rosa Klebb (Lotte Lenya) and Kronsteen (Vladek Sheybal). Although the usual set pieces are here, it's the gripping thriller element that is the real selling point as Connery brings both physicality and suave style to his second outing in the role.
The Angel's Share, BBC iPlayer, until February 15
This Scottish charmer sees Ken Loach and regular writing partner Paul Laverty bring the warmth of whisky to this social realist story about a group of young offenders doing community service. Sometimes lately Loach films have been a bit of a wallow, but here the emphasis is firmly on the positive. Tucked away at the bottom of the glass is a medicinal message about the poverty trap but it's washed down with plenty of humour and an enjoyable, if familiar, heist plot.
Kung Fu Panda, BBC iPlayer until Saturday, January 22
Pudgy panda Po (voiced to perfection by Jack Black) is the last animal on Earth you'd think of when it comes to being a "legendary dragon warrior" and the writers of this enjoyable family tale exploit that to the comedy max. Slapstick humour is mixed with some neatly animated martial arts action as Po finds himself with his new buddies Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Crane (David Cross), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Viper (Lucy Liu) and Monkey (Jackie Chan) on the trail of the brutal snow leopard Tai Lung (Ian McShane), who has escaped from a maximum security prison and is out for blood. Sweet without being saccharine, there's also some lovely supporting performances, including from Dustin Hoffman as trainer Master Shifu.
I've not been able to find a decent film documentary on the box for a week or two, so why not catch this Oscar short-listed short doc online while you can? Eagles, directed by Kristy Guevara-Flanagan and Maite Zubiaurre follows the work of volunteers who try to bring closure for families whose loved ones have gone missing crossing the Mexico-US border.
