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| Into The Wild |
The true story of Christopher John McCandless is brought to the screen by Sean Penn in this heartfelt drama with a poetic streak. The central role of MCandless, arguably marks a high spot in the career of Emile Hirsch. The story unfolds both from the perspective of McCandless, who gave everything he owned to Oxfam and went to look for America with tragic consequences, and his sister (Jena Malone), heard in voiceover offering the perspective of his family. Penn gets a bit too clever with the camera tricks in places, but the idealistic McCandless but he’s embodied with intelligence by Hirsch and the natural landscape is also shown in all its rugged beauty. There’s also a beautiful cameo from Hal Holbrook as a lonely pensioner who finds his life changed by his encounter with this youngster with a lust for life.
The Terminator, 9pm, 5 Action, Monday, September 4
Before Arnold Schwarzenegger got all soft-centred and started making movies like Kindergarten Cop, he brought a serious aura of threat to the screen in James Cameron's sci-fi actioner. He plays an 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.
The Fits, 2.30am, Film4, Tuesday, September 5
Anna Rose Holmer's lean and engaging debut is a poised character study of Toni (exceptional newcomer Royalty Hightower, who has done less than you might expect since) an adolescent who is exploring what she wants from her own identity. She finds herself torn between the boxing world she has become immersed in via her brother and the very sort of different camaraderie that is offered by the all-girls drill team – a type of group dance that is popular in the US. Holmer explores the way that people adopt an identity or an attitude according to their chosen tribe, showing how Toni's different 'look' keeps her on the fringes while, as the film progresses, exploring the psychological pressures at play as first one girl and then more begin to experience to “the fits” of the title. Beautifully choreographed with the help of movement consultant Celia Rowlson-Hawll so that all the action has a fluid quality, the emphasis is on the physicality of what is happening, reinforced by a strong clapping beat in the score from Dani Bensi and Saunder Juriaans as Toni decides to what degree she wants to fit in. Read our interviews with the composers and director.
Tyrannosaur, 11.25pm, Film4, Tuesday, September 5
Peter Mullan has carved out a career of strong performances that put inner conflict to the fore and he notches up another here in Paddy Considine's directorial debut. It also gave Olivia Colman the opportunity to demonstrate her serious acting prowess beyond her, at that point, more common comedic roles. Mullan plays Joseph, a man on the brink of a constant simmering rage. He strikes up an unusual relationship with a charity shop assistant (Colman), who we come to discover is on the receiving end of violence at the hands of her husband (Eddie Marsan, smaller role, no lesser performance), despite outward appearances. This is a brutal film - but while a more experienced director might have let in a little more light - Considine proves impeccable in eliciting intense performances from the cast.
A Private Function, 1.50pm, Talking Pictures TV (Freeview Channel 82), Thursday, September 7
Everything about this Alan Bennett-scripted comedy is a treat, from Michael Palin's chiropodist's talk of verrucas to his social-climbing wife Joyce (Maggie Smith) instructing her piano student, "Da Capo, Veronica!". The plot, set in post-war Britain, revolves around a black market pig and quickly descends into farce, as Bennett blends elements of Ealing comedy and slapstick with much edgier stuff that anticipates the likes of The Royle Family. As always with Bennett there's a poignancy underlying the fun, particularly with regard to women's position in society at the time. If anyone is the screen-stealer it's Liz Smith, as Joyce's ageing mother, who is convinced she's going to be carried off to the funny farm at any moment.
The Queen, 11.25pm, ITV1, Friday, September 8
Helen Mirren deservedly took home an Oscar for her portrayal of Britain's longest serving monarch. Although royal drama has come much more to the forefront since with The Crown, Stephen Frears and Peter Morgan's drama was unusual at the time in digging down into the human, less ceremonial side of things. Set in the wake of the death of Princess Diana – the 25th anniversary of which is no doubt the reason for this film to be back in the schedules – it heads to Balmoral, where Queen Elizabeth is trying to simultaneously navigate her family's grief while still commanding more public affairs of state. Beyond Mirren's excellent embodiment, Michael Sheen is also excellent as Tony Blair.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding, 8pm, ITVBe, Saturday, September 9
There’s a third instalment of this Nia Vardalos’ rom-com franchise is out in cinemas this Friday, so now is a perfect time to catch up with the original. A real sleeper hit on its release back in 2003, this fun and frothy tale stars Vardalos as American-Greek Toula who, in a shock to her family, falls for the decidedly non-Greek Ian (Sex And The City’s John Corbett). This may be a familiar run over the culture-clash jumps but Vardalos has excellent comic timing and bags of charm on screen, while also showing a light but sure hand when it comes to the script. Perhaps the reason this film feels so upbeat and alive is that it is semi-autobiographical, a summery treat to match the splash of autumn sunshine we’re getting this week.
We’ve got an experimental treat for you as our short of the week. Wound Footage - a found footage joy from Thorsten Fleisch, who still continues to make short films.
Wound Footage from Thorsten Fleisch on Vimeo.
