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TV films of the week: Jan 14 - 20

11/ 1/2006

STILL skint? Fear not as the TV schedulers have pencilled in a clutch of crackers to carry you through to pay day. Find out more, here:

Saturday, January 14

SYLVIA *** (BBC Two, 9.10pm) Premiere. Well-cast biopic of troubled poet and novelist Sylvia Plath whose creativity was deeply affected by her long and ultimately futile battle with depression. The film explores the impact of her mental state on her turbulent marriage to Ted Hughes, culminating in her eventual downward spiral into despair.

Gwyneth Paltrow gives a stunning performance in the lead role, while Daniel Craig co-stars as Plath's spouse. Jared Harris and Amira Casar also appear. (2003)

CADDYSHACK *** (Five, 11.15pm) Harold Ramis's cheerfully brash comedy focusing on the weird and wacky characters at a plush golf club, including a laid-back professional player, an obnoxious millionaire, the snobby club president and a motley collection of teenage caddies.

Bill Murray completely steals the limelight in a hilarious turn as a psychotic groundskeeper engaging in a desperate fight to the death with a canny gopher. Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, Michael O'Keefe, Ted Knight and Sarah Holcomb co-star. (1980)

THE OMEN **** (BBC One, 11.50pm) Richard Donner's unsettling, influential horror thriller, starring Gregory Peck as the US ambassador to London who discovers he and wife Lee Remick have adopted the baby from Hell - literally.

Billie Whitelaw co-stars as an evil nanny sent to care for the little devil, with David Warner as a photographer who loses his head when he gets too close to the truth. (1976)

Sunday, January 15

VON RYAN'S EXPRESS *** (BBC Two, 8pm) A courageous American colonel with a never-say-die attitude is held in a PoW camp, but boldly sets out to lead a group of Allied prisoners in a daring mass escape bid - by hijacking a freight train and fleeing through occupied Italy to Switzerland.

This World War Two action adventure ought to keep viewers on the edge of their seats thanks to the rollicking good storytelling. Frank Sinatra, Trevor Howard, Brad Dexter and James Brolin star. (1965)

ROMEO MUST DIE *** (Channel 4, 10pm) Jet Li takes the title role in this loose modern-day retelling of Romeo and Juliet. The 'star-cross'd lovers' - in this case a gangster's daughter and a high-kicking ex-cop - meet disapproval from all angles. Martial arts mayhem ensues as the embittered former lawman finds himself up against figures from America's underworld. Stylish but frequently over-simplified adventure, with Aaliyah, Isaiah Washington and Russell Wong. (2000)

UNHOOK THE STARS *** (BBC Two, 12.10am) A lonely woman learns a valuable lesson about the importance of family when she becomes involved in caring for a neighbour's son.

Her impromptu education takes another unexpected turn during a visit to a seedy bar - which leads her into an unlikely romance with a kind-hearted trucker.

Slushy sentimental drama, with solid turns from a strong cast, which includes Gena Rowlands, Marisa Tomei and Gerard Depardieu. (1996)

Monday, January 16

MY DARLING CLEMENTINE **** (Channel 4, 1.15pm) Classic John Ford Western following the adventures of legendary gun-slinging marshal Wyatt Earp as he tries to clean up the lawless city of Tombstone.

Ford's direction proves as gripping as ever, with breathtaking landscapes and emotional confrontations throughout, while Henry Fonda has never been better as the heroic lawman, supported by Victor Mature on top form as his sidekick Doc Holliday. (1946)

THE GLIMMER MAN ** (Five, 10pm) Steven Seagal stars as a secret agent-turned-cop who reluctantly joins forces with colleague Keenen Ivory Wayans to tackle a murderer with a penchant for slaughtering entire families.

However, when the killer strikes rather too close to home, the duo realise there's something even more sinister going on than they first thought. Action-packed thriller, with Bob Gunton, Brian Cox and Michelle Johnson. (1996)

MAN ON THE MOON *** (BBC One, 11.35pm, BBC One Irish, 12.05am) Rubber-faced funnyman Jim Carrey gives an outstanding performance in this sadly often overlooked bittersweet biopic of comedian Andy Kaufman.

The film explores his life as an entertainer who brings pleasure to audiences across America in the 1970s, but who fails to find fulfilment in his personal affairs - leading to his tragic death at the age of just 35. With Danny DeVito, Courtney Love and Paul Giamatti. (1999)

Tuesday, January 17

BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK **** (Channel 4, 1.30pm) A disabled war veteran sets out to find a Japanese farmer to present him with his son's medal, only to encounter unexpected hostility from the residents of a small desert town.

It seems they have a secret to protect - and they're willing to go to any lengths to do so. Taut, suspense-filled drama starring Spencer Tracy in one of his finest roles, ably supported by Robert Ryan, Ernest Borgnine and Lee Marvin. (1955)

UNEXPECTED JOURNEY ** (Five, 1.45pm) Premiere. A single mother is devastated to learn her seven-year-old twins are autistic, and vows to do whatever it takes to give them a normal life, despite the apparent lack of interest from the authorities.

Middling made-for-TV drama which is nevertheless worth a look on a bad day for movies. Mary-Louise Parker, Aidan Quinn and Jake Cherry head the cast. (2004)

THE LADY FROM YESTERDAY *** (Five, 3.40pm) A Vietnamese woman brings turmoil into the life of the happily married American executive she had an affair with years before. It's bad enough that she turns up out of the blue - but to make matters worse, she's accompanied by their son.

Compelling emotional drama, starring MASH veteran Wayne Rogers, alongside such solid performers as Bonnie Bedelia and Tina Chen. (1984)

Wednesday, January 18

THE INDIAN FIGHTER *** (Channel 4, 1.25pm) A scout hired to take a wagon train through Sioux territory hopes to maintain good relations with local Indians. Unfortunately, the actions of a few foolhardy individuals look set to shatter the tentative peace, and a planned robbery could spark all-out war.

Stunning Western from director Andre De Toth, with Kirk Douglas giving a solid performance in the lead, alongside Walter Matthau, Elsa Martinelli and Lon Chaney Jnr. (1955)

OCEAN'S ELEVEN **** (ITV1, 9pm, concludes after the news at 11pm) George Clooney stars as an ex-con determined to pull off a seemingly impossible casino robbery - and win back wife Julia Roberts - aided and abetted by a host of famous faces.

Steven Soderbergh's stylish remake of the 1960 Frank Sinatra crime comedy surpasses the original, thanks not only to the great cast but also the inventive plotline. Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Bernie Mac, Elliott Gould, Shaobo Qin, Carl Reiner and Don Cheadle co-star. A sequel, Ocean's Twelve, followed in 2004. (2001)

REGARDING HENRY *** (Five, 9pm) Harrison Ford plays an unscrupulous New York lawyer who'll do whatever it takes to succeed, and doesn't care who he tramples on in the process.

He's forced to start life afresh after a shooting incident leaves him brain-damaged and dependent on those he's treated badly for so long. Mike Nichols' emotional and moralistic drama, co-starring Annette Bening, Bill Nunn, Mikki Allen and Donald Moffat. (1991)

Thursday, January 19

THE GUNFIGHT AT DODGE CITY *** (Channel 4, 1.25pm) An outlaw reforms and becomes the sheriff in a frontier town, hoping to track down those responsible for the murder of his brother.

However, he is soon torn between two women - and things become even more complicated by the sudden arrival of his former cronies and a revelation about the identity of his sibling's killer. Western, starring Joel McCrea, Julie Adams, John McIntire, Nancy Gates and Richard Anderson. (1959)

THE TRACKER: THE BREACH ** (Five, 3.30pm) Premiere. A hard-as-nails alien investigator is sent to Earth on the trail of a horde of murderous, intergalactic fugitives. Disguised as a human, he sets out to track his targets - although even his most determined efforts to capture them seem doomed to failure.

This sci-fi adventure was cobbled together from a short-lived TV series, and although it's not the greatest movie ever made, it's still a lot of fun. Adrian Paul, Amy Price-Francis and Geraint Wyn Davies star. (2003)

THE BROTHERS *** (Channel 4, 3am) Premiere. A quartet of male friends are happy playing the field with no responsibilities and no-one to think about but themselves.

Sadly, their lives are turned upside down when the wildest of their number falls head-over-heels in love, and even decides to get married - prompting the rest of them to question the choices they've made. Sharp, believable comedy, starring Morris Chestnut, Shemar Moore, DL Hughley and Bill Bellamy. (2001)

Friday, January 20

POLICE STORY *** (Five, 9pm) Jackie Chan directs, stars and performs all his own stunts in this top-notch action-packed kung-fu comedy about a tough policeman assigned to protect a key witness in a drugs trial.

Credited as being the film that finally made Americans sit up and take notice of Chan's antics, Police Story also led to a brush with death for the Hong Kong superstar, when a stunt went badly wrong. Brigitte Lin and Maggie Cheung co-star. (1985)

RUMBLE IN THE BRONX *** (BBC One, BBC One Wales, 11.05pm, BBC One Irish, BBC One Scot, 11.35pm) Jackie Chan arrives in the Bronx for the wedding of his uncle, who has just sold his market store to a pretty young entrepreneur, so the hero agrees to stick around to help her get things running.

Unfortunately, they soon fall foul of a local gang of bikers and fists start flying. Ideal high-kicking entertainment for Chan fans and novices alike, with a perfectly pitched balance of drama and slapstick. Anita Mui, Francoise Yip and Bill Tung co-star. (1995)

PRINCE OF DARKNESS *** (Channel 4, 11.35pm) A priest discovers a mysterious canister in the cellar of his small church, so asks a group of science students to investigate the bizarre object.

It contains a strange substance that has a terrifying supernatural effect on all who come near it - so it's not a massive shock to discover the volatile matter is actually the essence of evil. John Carpenter's effective chiller, starring Donald Pleasence, Jameson Parker and Victor Wong. (1988).