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| Basic Instinct |
Basic Instinct, 11.15pm, Legend, Monday, September 22
Paul Verhoeven's superior erotic thriller sees a flawed hard-bitten detective (Michael Douglas) fall for the prime suspect, author Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone) in a murder case. Given that Tramell's latest novel is about a cop who falls for the wrong girl, could life be about to imitate art? Both the central characters are engagingly complex and the boudoir scenes are as provocative as you might expect from the Dutch director. The material is also lifted by the two actors firmly on top of their game, some nice Hitchcock riffs and a terrific supporting cast that includes Jeanne Tripplehorn and George Dzunda.
Good Luck To You, Leo Grande, 9pm, Film4, Tuesday, September 23
Emma Thompson is on top form as Nancy, a retired schoolteacher, who decides to finally take control of her sex life by hiring young sex worker Leo Grande (Daryl McCormack). While you might – and I have – argue that this film paints a particularly glowing portrait of sex work and makes light of an age difference that would be considerably more problematic if it was an older man hiring a young woman, there’s no arguing with Thompson’s central performance. She brings a nervous energy to Nancy in early scenes and we feel the internal battle going on about her body confidence as the film progresses and she slowly begins to relax into a new idea of herself. Talky but engrossing, McCormack also brings a subtlety to his role that allows for nuance around the ‘performance’ of his role as a sex worker.
Kind Hearts And Coronets, 3pm, Film4, Wednesday, September 24
Jennie Kermode writes: How might a man without means improve his lot? This was a question frequently addressed in Ealing comedies, and the solutions offered were not always what might be considered legitimate. Louis (Dennis Price) is not considered legitimate either – he was disowned and disinherited by the wealthy D’Ascoyne family before he was even born, due to disapproval of his beloved mother’s working class status, so after her death he determines that he is going to set things right and make his way to the dukedom by the simple expedient of killing everybody in the line of succession ahead of him. Most of them are played by Alec Guinness. Not a word is wasted in Robert Hamer and John Dighton’s deliciously witty script, and this is a treat from start to finish.
The Motorcycle Diaries, streaming now, BFI Player
Gael Garcia Bernal was fast cementing his name among international audiences when he starred as the young Che Guevara in Walter Salles' coming-of-age film about the young revolutionary, having already grabbed attention with Y Tu Mama Tambien, The Crime Of Padre Amaro and Bad Education, released the same year. The film - based on books by Guevara and his biochemist buddy Alberto Granado (played onscreen by Rodrigo de la Serna) - hits the road with the pair as they head across South America, learning about their continent and themselves as they go. With winning central performances and cinematography from Eric Gautier that captures the magnificence of the landscape in all its diversity, Salles keeps his storytelling simple but effective as Guevara's ethos is shaped by his experience. Free to watch with their 14-day trial.
The Elephant Man, 11.35pm, BBC4, Thursday, September 25
Make sure you have some hankies to hand for his consideration of the tragic tale of John Merrick (played with great nuance under a lot of prosthetics by the late, great John Hurt). Hurt lost out in the Oscar race to Robert De Niro for Raging Bull, but he would have been just as worthy a winner, bringing a soulful anguish to his portrayal of the disfigured Merrick, who is rescued by surgeon Frederick Treves (Anthony Hopkins, in a similarly strong performance). Anyone who loves Mel Brooks will also love the fact that he was an uncredited producer here, wisely aware that putting his branding on the film might confuse people into thinking it was comedy fare.
Madagascar, 7.45am, ITV, Saturday, September 27
Central Park Zoo might have all the mod-cons but Marty the zebra (Chris Rock) is bored with his life there. When he catches news of the penguins planning a break-out , he decides it’s time for a change too. When his friends, a giraffe (David Schwimmer), hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith) and lion (Ben Stiller), try to bring him back, it prompts the zoo’s authorities to decide to return them all to their natural habitat. But the subsequent trip to Kenya does not go to plan. A likeable adventure that offers a decent level of humour for all ages.
Joker, 9.50pm, ITV, Saturday, September 27
Joaquin Phoenix excels himself as the damaged and unstable Arthur Fleck sliding inexorably towards the Joker. There's more than a whiff of The King Of Comedy about Arthur's desperation to make it as a stand-up, reinforced by the presence of Robert De Niro in support as a late-night TV host who fuels Arthur's obsession. Todd Phillips takes a sideswipe at a modern news cycle that loves villains more than heroes but this is Phoenix's show, and his physical, unpredictable dance of emotions is hard to look away from.
If you don’t fancy sitting through that, then why not treat yourself to Sylvain Chomet’s animation that begins the film’s sequel… and which boils down Joker’s themes and action to a three-minute short?
