Upcoming films on TV

Sunday (24/7)            22:30   BBC1          

The Mule (2018)

Legendary actor come filmmaker Clint Eastwood continues his late career flourish of very accomplished storytelling and once again directs a well made, impressively effective, admirable thriller with considerable skill and restraint in his trademark economic style. This time he stars as Earl Stone, an elderly man duped into drug running for the Mexixan cartel. He looks innocent to the patrolling cops, so has some success whilst also trying to rekindle ties with his estranged family.

Sunday (24/7)         00:35   BBC2                      Escape from Alcatraz (1979)  

This late 70s classic gives an in-depth, engrossing portrayal of prison life following new fish Frank, played by Clint Eastwood. He is Moved to the infamous top security facility and told that nobody has ever escaped, so as desperation builds, he dedicates his considerable intelect to breaking out, culminating a daring and ingenious plan. Certain story elements will be familiar to fans of the genre high watermark The Shawshank Redemption - which has a very similar storyline, but this focuses more on the mechanics than the character dynamics.