Monday (30/5) 21:00 5 Action The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
Record three time best actor Oscar winner Daniel Day Lewis brings his legendary commitment and method acting to Michael Mann's authentic tale of tribal strife in the early years of English colonisation of America. Day Lewis lived off the land, eating only what he could catch in preparation for the role of native Hawkeye, who falls for the daughter of the English colonel Munro, played by Madeleine Stowe. Wes Studi supports.
Thursday (2/6) 21:00 Great Movies The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
Wes Anderson directs an all star cast in the film that helped put him on the map. His third feature tells the story of a family of misfits, the Tenenbaums, headed by Gene Hackman and Angelica Huston as mother and father, with Gwynety Paltrow, Ben Stiller and Anderson regulars Luke and Owen Wilson alongside Bill Murray. The family try and come to terms with looming bereavement and the lasting dynamics that make them all so unique. Dialogue and visuals can sometimes be the star of the show, as is often the way with Anderson.
Thursday (2/6) 23:40 BBC1 Brooklyn (2015)
Wonderful, thoughtful drama examining real life under the heartbreaking reality of moving away from home to find your place in the world but living without your family close to you. Saoirse Ronan is exceptional as Eilis, who moves to Brooklyn from Ireland, in a bid to expand her horizons. Ronan consistently finds the perfect emotional tone scene after scene, her performance peaks with a wonderful moment of her receiving a letter from home. This would make a sublime double feature with Todd Haynes' Carol, also of 2015.
Tuesday (31/5) 23:05 ITV4 Collateral (2004)
Released in the same year, 2004, as his Oscar winning turn as Ray Charles, Jamie Foxx plays an unsuspecting, mild mannered taxi driver with dreams of retirement who collects a customer that pushes him to his limits. The customer, an assassin, is played by Tom Cruise at almost his least Tom Cruisey in Michael Mann's impressive tense action thriller.
Friday (3/6) 21:00 Great Movies The Darjeeling Limited (2007)
Anderson uses his trademark style and considerable pedigree to pull in another long list of talented performers for another typically quirky tale of three brothers (Adrian Brody, Owen Wilson and Jason Schwarzman) on a soul searching journey across India to reunite and reconcile with their estranged mother, played by Angelica Huston. This may not be the most perceptive and memorable of Anderson's work, but for fans of his, there is plenty to enjoy.
Monday (30/5) 23:15 5 Action Papillon (1973)
This classic prison break drama was remade in 2017 in predictably unremarkable fashion. Although the original offers a slightly underwhelming experience, it is worth it for the work of Dustin Hoffman and Steve McQueen alone. They form an unlikely alliance and make their escape attempt together, fleeing overly physically and mentally harsh conditions. Franklin J Schaffner followed his Planet of the Apes (1968) and Patton (1970) with this, which I think should probably qualify as his golden period.
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