 |
| Raging Bull |
Raging Bull, 11pm, BBC2, Monday, September 29
Robert De Niro's work may have been decidedly patchy in the past decade or so but this classic is a reminder of just how great he can be at his most intense. He inhabits the hulking figure of Jake La Motta in Martin Scorsese's tale of the self-destructive boxer, who can't keep his violence in check, working for the first but not the last time against Joe Pesci, who plays as La Motta's brother-cum-manager Joey, in the role that brought him to prominence. There's an operatic quality to the action both inside and outside the ring, with cinematographer Michael Chapman (reteaming with Scorsese after Taxi Driver) using the crisp black and white to great effect both inside and outside the ring.
Joyland, 12.35am, Film4, Tuesday, September 390
The first film from Pakistan to ever screen at Cannes, Saim Sadiq's debut is a complex and deeply moving character-driven drama. He immerses us in the lives of a single family who find themselves pushed this way and that by patriarchal expectations that leave little room for personal feelings. Although the main focus is the family's youngest son Haider (Ali Junejo) and the unexpected relationship that develops between him and trans performer Biba (Alina Khan), each member of the family is fully developed and grappling with their own sense of self. A richly scripted and nuanced film that was fully deserving of its Jury Prize from Cannes Un Certain Regard.
The Old Man & The Gun., 7.10pm, Film4, Tuesday, September 30
Robert Redford's late career role as an ageing bank thief is up there with his finest. Forrest Tucker was a real-life robber who hit the headlines after pulling off a series of unfailingly polite bank robberies. Writer/director David Lowery has always had an interest in mortality and legacy and it's in evidence again here, while he also nods to the breadth and depth of Redford's own career. The whole thing is topped off by lovely supporting performances from the likes of Sissy Spacek and Danny Glover.
Knives Ou, 10.55pm, Film 4, Thursday, October 2
With Wake Up Dead Man, the third in the Knives Out series, due for release later this year, now is as good a time as any to catch up with the original. Rian Johnson's whodunnit murder mystery is very much in the Agatha Christie vein - complete with a sprawling country pile and a star-studded cast. When an author is found dead just as his family have gathered to celebrate his 80th birthday, everyone, of course has a motive, and there's also an unexpected detective (Daniel Craig) in attendance. Johnson is basically having a lot of fun, not to mention the field day Craig has with his accent, and you are likely too as well, even if mystery veterans are likely to be able to take an early stab at the outcome.
Till, 11pm, BBC2, Thursday, October 2
Jennie Kermode writes: To anyone familiar with the US' ugly history of racism, the story of Emmet Till is so familiar that it's painful to watch it play out on screen. To some viewers, however, it will be new, and director Chinonye Chukwu does a good job of catering to both these audiences in a film which invests a great deal of effort in recreating details. The success of the film is located in Chukwu and her team's recognition that what made this particular lynching so significant was not, for all its horror, the brutal murder of a teenage boy, but the reaction of the boy's mother, Mamie Till-Mobley. Danielle Deadwyler is stunning in the role, delivering one of the great performances of 2022. The story is judiciously balanced, young Jalyn Hall brings a wonderfully light touch to playing the boy, and overall it feels like an extension of Mamie's wish: that this time, the killing would not be dismissed and forgotten, but people would look, and so come to understand.
Blue Road: The Edna O'Brien story, 2.25am, Sky Arts, Friday, October 3
The life and legacy of Irish author and memoirist Edna O'Brien are explored in this classy documentary that is built around the O'Brien's own recollections and features her last interview before her death at the age of 93. She took a frank approach to writing about female sexuality and desire in books, including The Country Girls, which led to a ban in her homeland. In addition to O'Brien's revealing observations about her life, Sinéad O’Shea also draws on strong archive footage, while her sons also help to fill out details regarding her personal life. You don't need to be familiar with her work going in to appreciate this poignant and intimate consideration of it.
Rye Lane, 9pm, BBC2, Friday, October 3
This British rom-com charmer is making its network premiere this week, offering the feel-good story of Yas and Dom (Vivian Oparah and David Jonsson) who meet shortly after both have suffered a break-up. What starts as a bit of idle banter develops into an unpredictable adventure across South London. With bags of personality from the performers and the quirky direction from Raine Allen-Miller, this is a treat from start to finish.
