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Movies & TV

02nd Feb 2023

One of the best prison films of all time is among the movies on TV tonight

Stephen Porzio

Escape from alcatraz

It’s from the director of Dirty Harry.

It is Thursday, meaning the weekend ain’t here yet sadly.

That said, you can kick back tonight with some light entertainment.

Netflix just added one of the best sitcoms of recent years to its service, which you can read about right here.

But if that is not for you, here are the movies on TV this evening.

Escape from Alcatraz – Turner Classic Movies – 9pm

Our pick for tonight is this 1979 movie starring Clint Eastwood as Frank Morris, a criminal sent to Alcatraz – one of the most secure prisons of its time.

While it is believed that no one could ever possibly escape from the jail, Frank and two others hatch an ambitious plan to do just that.

Based on true events, Escape from Alcatraz’s tight screenplay, tense direction from Don Siegel (Dirty Harry, The Beguiled) and typically commanding central turn from Eastwood result in one of the best prison movies ever.

The Imitation Game / Defiance – BBC Four – 9pm / 10.50pm

It is a World War II drama double bill on BBC Four.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind – Film4 – 9pm

An everyday blue-collar worker (Richard Dreyfuss) finds his life changed after an encounter with a UFO in this legendary sci-fi from Steven Spielberg.

Exorcist: The Beginning – Legend – 9pm

This prequel to The Exorcist from director Renny Harlin (Cliffhanger, Die Hard 2) has a 10% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Escape from Alcatraz

Clint Eastwood in Escape from Alcatraz

Alien 3 – ITV4 – 10.15pm

Another prison movie, except this time with Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) facing off against a xenomorph, Alien 3 is the most underrated entry in the sci-fi horror franchise.

Scanners – Horror Xtra – 10.45pm

This early sci-fi horror from filmmaker David Cronenberg (The Fly, Videodrome) about psychics who can make people’s heads explode boasts incredible special effects and is set to be rebooted as a TV series for HBO.

Out for Justice – Turner Classic Movies – 11.20pm

Steven Seagal is out for justice in this ’90s action flick.

Area 51 – Film4 – 11.45pm

Director Oren Peli’s found-footage follow-up to smash hit Paranormal Activity was not as well received, earning a 13% Rotten Tomatoes score.

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