It was one of the main influences on the 2011 modern classic Drive.
Need some distraction this Monday night?
Well, Amazon Prime Video just added 35 big movies to its library, as well as a new must-watch show.
However, for more movie options, here are the films airing on the telly tonight.
The Driver – Legend – 9pm
Our pick for tonight is this 1978 neo-noir crime thriller from writer-director Walter Hill (48 Hrs, The Warriors) that centres on a driver (played by an ice-cool Ryan O’Neal) renowned amongst criminals in Los Angeles for his getaway skills.
However, he comes to find himself the target of a tenacious detective (a live wire Bruce Dern) and must get help from a mysterious woman (a striking Isabelle Adjani) to survive.
While it was a critical and commercial disappointment upon release, The Driver has grown in popularity in the decades since thanks to its visceral car chases, its mean and lean storytelling, its gritty yet stylish depiction of nighttime LA and its terrific performances.
It has been cited as an influence on the work of filmmakers like Edgar Wright, Quentin Tarantino and Nicolas Winding Refn, particularly the latter’s similar in tone Ryan Gosling-starring movie Drive.
You can check out a very cool trailer for The Driver made for its recent 4K restoration below.
Clip via Studio Canal
The Dark Knight – Sky Showcase – 9pm
Simply one of the best, if not the best, superhero movies ever made.
Kingsman: The Secret Service – Film4 – 9pm
The fun first entry in the spy trilogy.
Gran Torino / Pale Rider – ITV4 – 9pm / 11.25pm
A Clint Eastwood double bill.
Dirty Harry – Turner Classic Movies – 9pm
Clint stars again, this time as a cop on the trail of a serial killer in this seminal action thriller.
Sacrifice – Horror Xtra – 9pm
This low-budget Norway-set tribute to H.P. Lovecraft is very flawed but not without some fun, including the appearance of cult horror icon Barbara Crampton (Re-Animator) in a supporting role.
BlacKkKlansman – TG4 – 9.30pm
Director Spike Lee (Da 5 Bloods, Malcolm X) helms this incredible black comedy crime thriller based on the wild true story of an African-American police officer (John David Washington) who managed to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan.
The Equalizer 2 – RTÉ One – 9.35pm
John David Washington’s father Denzel stars in this sequel to the hit movie reboot of the classic ’80s crime show.
Ryan O’Neal in our pick for tonight – The Driver
Can’t Come Out to Play – Horror Xtra – 10.50pm
A young boy (Charlie Tahan) discovers that his parents (Michael Shannon and Samantha Morton) are hiding a shocking secret in this creepy thriller.
St. Agatha – Legend – 10.50pm
Darren Lynn Bousman (the Saw franchise) directs this 2018 religious horror.
Evil Dead – Sky Sci-Fi – 11pm
With the release last week of the first trailer for the upcoming Evil Dead movie – which has a strong Irish connection – what better time to check out this solid 2013 reboot of the franchise?
Alfie – Turner Classic Movies – 11.10pm
Michael Caine plays a self-centred womaniser in this acclaimed ’60s comedy-drama.
Daredevil – Film4 – 11.40pm
A so-so superhero flick that is worth checking out for a wild villainous turn from Colin Farrell.
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