A must watch for fans of both crime movies and war movies.
Our TV movie pick for tonight (Friday, 10 May) is Dead Presidents, the 1995 crime thriller directed by The Hughes Brothers (The Book of Eli, Menace II Society).
Set in the ’60s and ’70s, the film focuses on Anthony (Larenz Tate, Menace II Society), a young man who enlists in the US Marine Corps and winds up serving a nightmarish tour of duty in Vietnam.
“Returning to his Bronx home, the nightmare continues for Anthony and his friends as they suffer the indignities of trying to find steady work and provide for their families in a flagging economy,” the plot synopsis reads.
“As desperation takes hold, Anthony teams up with Skip (Chris Tucker), a drug addict, and Kirby (Keith David), a small-time crook, to pull off a bank heist that will give them all a chance for a better life.”
Also featuring amongst its cast such recognisable faces as Bokeem Woodbine (Ripley), Freddy Rodríguez (Planet Terror), Martin Sheen (Apocalypse Now), Michael Imperioli (The Sopranos) and Terrence Howard (Prisoners), Dead Presidents works as a stylish period crime epic in the vein of Martin Scorsese.
But it also doubles as a truly harrowing portrayal of both the horrors of the Vietnam war and the struggles black and Latino veterans of the conflict faced upon returning home.
The movie is airing on TV tonight on Film4 at 11.10pm and is also available to rent on Apple TV and Google Play.
Check out the trailer for Dead Presidents right here:
Here are the other films on TV tonight:
The Iceman – Film4 – 9pm
Michael Shannon plays real-life hitman Richard Kuklinski in this solid crime thriller.
The Escapist – Legend – 9pm
In this very good thriller drama we’ve recommended before, a prisoner (Brian Cox) 14 years into a life sentence hatches a plan to escape upon receiving upsetting news about his daughter.
The Longest Yard – Virgin Media One – 9pm
Another prison-set flick, this is the remake of the ’70s sports comedy starring Adam Sandler.
The Predator – E4 – 9pm
The not very well-regarded 2018 entry in the legendary action horror franchise.
From Noon till Three – TG4 – 9.15pm
Friday night is Western night on TG4. This one from the ’70s stars Charles Bronson.
Philomena – RTÉ2 – 10pm
Judi Dench and Steve Coogan headline this powerful drama based on the true story of Irish woman Philomena Lee’s 50-year search for her adopted son.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Comedy Central – 10.30pm
The ’90s comedy horror that inspired the much more beloved series of the same name.
The Wall – Legend – 11pm
Aaron Taylor-Johnson and John Cena star in this war thriller as two American soldiers trapped by an Iraqi sniper.
The Sun is Also a Star – RTÉ One – 11.15pm
In this 2019 teen romance, a young couple (Charles Melton and Yara Shahidi) fall in love while one of their families faces deportation.
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