Thursday (17/8) 00:45 Film4
Raging Bull (1980)
A genuine classic and undeniably great, considered by many as the greatest work from the greatest living director, Martin Scorsese. It stars his long time collaborator Robert De Niro in his second Oscar winning, and most demanding role as real life boxer Jake LaMotta, a viciously talented but cripplingly self destructive boxer. It is often hailed as the greatest sports film of all time, although the boxing story itself is more a frame to the remarkable drama of a character study of one of the more memorable characters in the history of film, aided hugely by an early performance from another of Marty's favourites, Joe Pesci, and a wonderful debut from teenage Cathy Moriarty.
Sunday (14/8) 22:00 BBC2
A Star is Born (2018)
The high profile remake of a remake of a remake of the classic love story of a talented singer who gets her big break through an established rock star who spots her talent in a club one night. They perform together and become an item, but their different world perspectives get in the way of their life together. This version delivers an effective drama with committed performances from Bradley Cooper, who also directs, and Lagy Gaga - both of whom sang for real in the film's most memorable scenes of the live performances.
Sunday (14/8) 12:50 Film4 Jason and the Argonauts (1963) (also Friday 16:40)
Greek mythological action epic about a young prince's quest to find a Golden Fleece, and to avenge his father's murder. Perhaps most notable for featuring Ray Harryhausen's masterful pain staking stop-motion animation used for scenes including a marauding bronze giant and the iconic battle sequences with a skeleton army. Impressively, despite the primitive techniques and designs, the classic status remains and none of the charm has been lost. With a score by the legendary Bernard Hermann.
Sunday (14/8) 21:00 Sky Arts
Marnie (1964)
An underappreciated Alfred Hitchcock work starring a returning Tippi Hedren (after Hitch's first choice Grace Kelly turned down the role) who had such a torrid time whilst they made The Birds together a year earlier. She plays Marnie, a beautiful, alluring amateur con artist and thief, damaged by trauma at a young age. Her appeal is too much to resist for Sean Connery's Mark, who senses there is more to her than the exterior, and becomes suspicious yet intrigued. With wonderfully tense moments delivered under the hand of the master of suspense.
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