Monday Movie Mania.
That’s what they should call it, anyway.
It’s Monday, it’s cold, let’s cut to the chase.
Here are the most arresting movie options on your TV screen on Monday, 4 October…
A Knight’s Tale – Film4 – 6.25pm
Heath Ledger charms as a lowly squire who jousts his way to glory.
Universal Soldier: The Return – Turner Classic Movies / TCM – 9pm
A franchise as hard to kill as the cyborg-assisted soldiers themselves.
Catch Me If You Can – Film4 – 9pm
Our lead choice tonight is an extremely satisfying, confident and cool caper that also boasts serious dramatic punch.
Steven Spielberg directs Leonardio DiCaprio’s relentless con artist on the run from Tom Hanks’ dogged FBI agent. There’s even time for Christopher Walken to steal some scenes.
Really, it’s DiCaprio’s show. Of course, he wouldn’t win an Academy Award until over a decade later for his committed turn in brutal survivalist thriller The Revenant, but you can probably trace the ‘Give Leo an Oscar’ campaign all the way back to his work here.
Lady Bird – TG4 – 9.30pm
Saoirse Ronan deservedly received major awards attention for her portrayal of an artistic teenager struggling with adolescence and her difficult relationship with her mother in this winning comedy-drama from 2017.
Laurie Metcalf and Timothée Chalamet offer support, while Greta Gerwig provides steady direction throughout.
A pretty great movie option, as Monday evenings go.
The Matrix – ITV4 – 10pm
Where it all began for Neo, Trinity and Morpheus.
The Andromeda Strain – TCM – 10.45pm
Scientists race against time to find a cure for a lethal virus.
Sounds relatively familiar, though this virus is extraterrestrial.
Hunger – Film4 – 1.55am
Michael Fassbender dominates the screen with an intense performance in Steve McQueen’s tough account of the last days of Bobby Sands.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
