The cult film stars the great Denzel Washington.
Saturday is finally here.
And to celebrate, there’s a pretty solid line-up of movies airing on TV this evening.
Here’s our pick of the lot.
Man on Fire – Film4 – 9pm
Our pick for tonight centres on a burned-out ex-CIA operative (Denzel Washington) who swears vengeance on those who committed an unspeakable act against the family he was hired to protect in Mexico City.
Man on Fire’s incredibly quotable screenplay, fiercely empathetic central performance and hyper-kinetic style from director Tony Scott (Top Gun, True Romance) – helping to convey Washington’s character’s inner turmoil – makes the film a standout of the revenge thriller sub-genre.
For more on the movie, check out an earlier article by JOE where we argue it’s an underrated masterpiece here.
Kramer vs Kramer – True Movies – 9pm
This Oscar Best Picture winner tells the story of a couple (Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep) who divorce, detailing how it changes the pair and impacts their young son.
Stake Land – Horror Channel – 9pm
In a world of vampires, an expert vampire hunter and his young protégé travel toward sanctuary in this sadly underseen indie horror.
Quantum of Solace – ITV 4 – 9pm
Daniel Craig returns as Bond in this slightly underrated sequel to Casino Royale.
Fighting – Turner Classic Movies – 9pm
Channing Tatum plays a young counterfeiter introduced to the world of underground street fighting.
Bad Teacher – Comedy Central – 9pm
Cameron Diaz is the titular bad teacher.
Heat – RTÉ2 – 9.05
Al Pacino and Robert De Niro face-off in what is probably the greatest heist film ever made.
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows – Sky Showcase – 9.30pm
Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law return as Holmes and Watson in this sequel, which this writer would argue is better than the original.
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back – Channel 4 – 9.30pm
Tom Cruise embodies Lee Child’s famous literary character in this so-so sequel to a very good movie.
The Five-Year Engagement – TG4 – 9.35pm
In this rom-com, a man (Jason Segal) proposes to his girlfriend (Emily Blunt) but unexpected events keep tripping them up as they look to walk down the aisle together.
Crank – ITV 4 – 11.10pm
In this insane action-thriller, a professional assassin (Jason Statham) learns his rival has injected him with a poison that will kill him if his heart rate drops.
Shampoo – True Movies – 11.10pm
This ’70s comedy-drama co-written by and starring Warren Beatty follows a Los Angeles hairdresser on Election Day 1968, as he juggles his relationships with several women.
The Take – Channel 4 – 11.50pm
Idris Elba and Richard Madden star in this decent action-thriller that also goes by the name Bastille Day in some territories.
Drag Me to Hell – Film4 – 11.55pm
Sam Raimi, the filmmaker behind the original Evil Dead trilogy, returns to horror with this effective chiller about a loan officer (Alison Lohman) who evicts an old woman from her home and finds herself the recipient of a supernatural curse.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
