There’s plenty of choice this evening.
At last, the weekend is here. So, why not shake off the stresses of the past few days by checking out one of the great movies on the box tonight.
Below are JOE’s recommendations for this evening.
Red Eye – Turner Classic Movies – 9pm
A woman (Rachel McAdams) is kidnapped by a stranger (Cillian Murphy) on a routine flight. Threatened by the potential murder of her father, she is pulled into a plot to assist her captor in a political assassination.
Directed by horror legend Wes Craven (A Nightmare on Elm Street, Scream), this taut thriller is boosted by a truly menacing performance from one of Ireland’s best actors.
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit – Film Four – 9pm
This spy thriller follows Tom Clancy’s famous character Jack Ryan (played here by Chris Pine) as a young covert C.I.A. analyst who uncovers a Russian plot to crash the U.S. economy with a terrorist attack.
While paling in comparison to previous Jack Ryan films, Shadow Recruit is still watchable. Director Kenneth Branagh also stars as a villainous Russian tycoon and essentially gives the same performance he gave in Christopher Nolan’s Tenet.
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues – E4 – 9pm
With the 1970s behind him, San Diego’s top-rated newsman Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell) returns to take New York City’s first 24-hour news channel by storm.
If you enjoyed the silliness and quotable lines of the first movie, this sequel is more of the same – which in this case is a good thing.
Den of Thieves – Virgin Media One – 9pm
An elite unit of the LA County Sheriff’s Dept. and the state’s most successful bank robbery crew clash as the outlaws plan a seemingly impossible heist on the Federal Reserve Bank.
Essentially Heat-lite, slick action set-pieces, an ingenious central robbery and fun performances from Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr make this a stand-out entry in the heist film sub-genre.
The Producers – BBC One – 10.35pm
A stage-play producer devises a plan to make money by producing a sure-fire flop in this iconic 60’s comedy from Mel Brooks starring Gene Wilder.
You’re Next – Horror Channel – 10.50pm
Our pick for the night, You’re Next centres on an estranged family who come under attack by a group of masked assailants during a family reunion. However, the gang of mysterious killers soon learns that one of the victims harbours a secret talent for fighting back.
Released in 2011, this indie slasher flick breathed new life into the horror sub-genre thanks to its visceral set-pieces, twisty script and darkly comedic tone.
It’s no surprise its director Adam Wingard went onto bigger things, including another cult favourite The Guest, as well as this year’s Godzilla vs Kong.
Girls Trip – Channel 4 – 11.05pm
Following a group of four friends who go to New Orleans to attend the Essence Music Festival in order to reconnect, this comedy earned rave reviews upon release and made a star out of Tiffany Haddish.
Mississippi Burning – RTÉ One – 11.20pm
Two FBI Agents (Gene Hackman, Willem Dafoe) with wildly different styles arrive in Mississippi to investigate the disappearance of some civil rights activists.
Directed by Alan Parker (The Commitments), Mississippi Burning is an incredibly gripping thriller that’s still timely today over 30 years after its release.
As always, Hackman is top-notch.
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