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| Monsters |
Monsters, Pluto TV
One of the many sites in the UK where you can now stream movies for free, Pluto has an eclectic mix. Among its gems is this outing from Rogue One director Gareth Edwards, which is set six years after an alien invasion of Earth, when the creatures have been confined to an "infected zone". The plot revolves around a photographer (Scott McNairy), who is desperate for a snap of one of the monsters but given a trickier assignment by his boss - to rescue his daughter (Whitney Able). Edward keeps his monsters subtle as the pair end up on a road trip that blossoms with unexpected romance, with the special effects all the more remarkable given that the director knocked them up at home. Here he proves less can certainly be more.
Judy, 10.35pm, BBC1, Wednesday, 16 February
If you missed this among the glut of films when it screened over Christmas there's another chance to catch this engrossing biopic, which zeroes in on the six months before Judy Garland's death. Rupert Goold's film - adapted from Peter Quilter's stage musical The End Of The Rainbow by Tom Edge - shows the star's struggles with alcohol and drugs, and her eating disorder but uses flashbacks to remind us of her sense of fun and sheer star power. Renee Zellweger - who took home an Oscar for this performance - may not be a ringer for Garland but she captures her look and attitude perfectly, showing the paradox of her power and fragility while nailing the musical numbers. In that regard, Goold also plays a blinder, having faith in his star to deliver the goods in generous long takes.
The Conversation, BBC iPlayer until mid-March
Regular readers of this column will know this is a perennial favourite but Frances Ford Coppola's film stands up well to rewatching. The director was on a serious roll when he made this gripping psychological thriller between his Oscar-winning Godfathers. Its subject of surveillance is ever-green, while its anti-hero Harry Caul (Gene Hackman, at the top of his game here as a haunted surveillance expert whose troubled conscience drives the film) is also one for the ages. From the opening slow zoom sequence on the conversation of the title to the sound design from Walter Murch and the jazz-inflected score from David Shire, the craft is classy all round. Look out for Harrison Ford in an early role as a slimeball and a small and uncredited but noticeable appearance by Robert Duval.
The Terminator, 10pm, ITV4, Thursday, February 17
Before Arnold Schwarzenegger got all soft-centred, he brought a serious aura of threat to the screen in James Cameron's sci-fi actioner as the indestructible cyborg sent from the future to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) before she can give birth to the future leader of the human resistance. Much is rightly made of Hamilton and Schwarzenegger's performances, but Michael Biehn also shines as the man sent back from the future to help Sarah. All the craft work here is excellent, from prosthetics through to the visual effects but it's the constant tension Cameron generates that really makes this a masterclass in action thrillers. A new anime series based on the franchise is coming to Netflix in the not-too-distant future, what better way to get in the mood?
Rocky, 11.05pm, ITV, Friday February 18
While we're on the subject of classy originals, don't miss the chance to rewatch Sly Stallone's affecting performance as the boxing underdog in the film which he also wrote and which, in true underdog style, beat both All The President's Men, Network and Taxi Driver to the Best Picture Oscar. Although John G Avildsen's directing in the ring has plenty of style, the film really hinges on what's happening outside of it, as Rocky tries to win the heart of Adrian (Talia Shire). Sure there's the sentimentality that tugged at those Oscar voters' heartstrings, but this film also offers a gritty portrait of working class America.
Harry and the Hendersons, 2.35pm, Film4, Saturday, 19 February
John Lithgow brings his usual sharp comic timing to this tale of a family who take home Bigfoot, only to get a lot more than they bargained for. Although the humour is a little hit or miss, you can't fault its heart of gold - not to mention its supporting cast, which includes Don Ameche, M Emmet Walsh and none other than Poirot himself David Suchet. The make-up won an Oscar back when this was made and if the special effects look a bit ropey by today's standards the film itself retains plenty of charm.
Puss In Boots, Film4, 3.10pm, Sunday, 20 February
The swashbuckling cat with the silky voice of Antonio Banderas was so beloved by fans of Shrek 2 and its sequels that he got his own spin-off film - an origin story that's every bit as enjoyable in its own right. This adventure includes all round bad egg Humpty Dumpty (voiced by Zach Galifianakis), cat burglar Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek) and a magic beans quest. The film is packed with visual humour and cat comedy, with the double-act between Humpty and Puss a real family treat.
Our short film selection this week is the World Record holder for the "smallest film". The Boy And His Atom is, as its title suggests, drawn with individual atoms, and a quirky delight.
