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| The Dark Knight |
Harriet, 11pm, BBC2, Monday, October 13
Harriet Tubman is a legendary American figure - daring escapee and rescuer, military heroine, philosopher and political reformer - so there was a prolonged struggle over how, and by whom, her story would be brought to the screen. After numerous white men had been considered as possible directors, and even briefly, a white woman considered for the lead, producers settled on the happy combination of Kasi Lemmons and Cynthia Erivo. The latter may not be American but she adapts perfectly and brings a force of personality to the central role that does justice to Tubman's own, capturing her sincerity and deep religious belief but also her swagger and the delight she took in outfoxing her enemies. The film focuses on the early part of her life and plays out for much of its running time as an in-the-moment action thriller. It assumes a certain amount of knowledge on the part of viewers and is not gratuitous in its depiction of the horrors of slavery, but the tension runs high nonetheless, whilst the complicated inter-state and international politics of the time plays out in the background. Those familiar with Tubman's story will not be disappointed, and newcomers will find it an accessible entry point to a complex history.
The Dark Knight, 10.50pm, ITV, Tuesday, October 14
The middle part of the Nolan brothers’ Batman trilogy sees the two relaxing into their respective roles and delivering a better balance of action and drama as a result, with some great set pieces and double-crosses. It also has that performance by Heath Ledger as the joker. Sadly overlooked by awards voters who were still hesitant about dipping their toes into genres and probably thought that the gifted young actor had many more great performances yet it come, it gave the superhero genre, always at risk of self-parody, a much-needed shot in the arm. There’s also nice work from Maggie Gyllenhaal, injecting some life into the love interest, and Aaron Eckhart gets a rare opportunity to play against type as Harvey Dent. Altogether, there’s a lot more life in it than in the current incarnation of the franchise.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife, 7.05pm, BBC3, Wednesday, October 15
Another hard act to follow, 1984’s Ghostbusters saw some unfortunate attempts at sequels, one of which made it to the big screen, before hitting the nail on the head with this. The trick proved to be bringing back the original stars only in minor supporting roles, and focusing instead on Egon’s grandchildren, ably played by Finn Wolfhard and the extraordinary McKenna Grace, who have inherited his ramshackle small town property and, along with it, the responsibility for saving the world. Treating the first film like a documentary and paying affectionate treatment to deceased star Harold Ramis, it effectively conjures up nostalgia but has plenty of irreverent spirit of its own. There are some great chase scenes, a good deal of humour and a whole lot of adventurous fun.
Bridge Of Spies, 9pm, Film4, Thursday, October 16
Amber Wilkinson writes: If spy swapping sounds like a study of bureaucratic and dusty dullness, Steven Spielberg will soon banish those thoughts with this Cold War thriller that positively throbs with tension, while bringing much more humanistic warmth to the material than you might expect. Tom Hanks, who always feels somehow born to play his roles, takes on another cracker here, as insurance lawyer James Donovan, who finds himself called in to defend a Russian spy (Mark Rylance) and finds himself, by baby steps, involved in a prisoner exchange. His well-calibrated everyman is matched, step-for-step by Rylance, who puts in a wryly enjoyable performance. Spielberg, meanwhile, finds delight in detail and again proves he's a master craftsman by keeping things pacy and taut despite the story's sprawling timeline and complexity.
Kind Hearts And Coronets, 11.00am, Film4, Friday, October 17
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.
Hotel Transylvania, 11.15am, E4, Saturday, October 18
Something for the little ones to enjoy this spooky season, this cute animated tale presents monsters in their friendliest form dealing with very human problems – and problem humans. What’s likely to scare them most is the possibility of seeing a kissing scene. in this opening instalment of the franchise, Dracula has arranged a birthday party for his daughter Mavis at the titular establishment, with lots of famous creatures invited, but there’s one unexpected gatecrasher – human backpacker Jonathan. While everyone else is sizing him up as a tasty snack, Mavis has altogether different ideas, which Dracula doesn’t like at all. The paternalist vibe may feel a little odd – she is turning 118 – but there’s some capable comic talent and some awful jokes of the kind that parents will find excruciating and kids will imitate indefinitely.
Amy, 10.15pm, Sky Arts, Sunday, October 19
This Oscar-winning portrait of singing sensation Amy Winehouse who died tragically young, at just 27, is a detailed an intimate portrait. Asif Kapadia - who had previously shown he knew his way around an extensive archive with Senna - tracks Amy from her younger years through to the height of her fame. As one of those from the first generation for whom video was almost always readily to hand, there's plenty of contributions from Amy herself, poignant in her own observations about her self-destructive streak but also fully celebrating her energy and talent.
