It also features one of the best villain performances of all time.
Our TV movie pick for tonight (Friday, 17 January) is Sexy Beast, the legendary 2000 crime thriller from director Jonathan Glazer (Under the Skin, The Zone of Interest).
The filmmaker’s feature debut, it centres around a British ex-criminal named Gal Dove (Ray Winstone) who has served his time behind bars and blissfully retired to a Spanish villa paradise with a wife (Amanda Redman) he adores.
“The idyll is shattered by the arrival of his nemesis Don Logan (Ben Kingsley), intent on persuading Gal to return to London for one last big job,” the plot synopsis reads.
“Desperate not to sacrifice his enchanted existence, Dove is drawn into a shocking battle of wills with Logan, and takes part in a sensational underwater heist, risking everything to protect the woman he loves.”
Also featuring amongst its cast James Fox and Ian McShane, Sexy Beast is an absolute modern classic.
This is thanks to Glazer’s artful expressionistic direction combined with a wickedly funny and dark screenplay by duo Louis Mellis and David Scinto (Gangster No. 1) and a ferocious villain performance for the ages by Kingsley – which earned the actor an Oscar nomination.
The film recently got a prequel series which is streaming via Paramount+.
But if you want to watch the original, it’s on TV tonight on Film4 at 10.50pm.
It should also be available to stream on Channel 4’s website after it airs.
Here are the other movies airing on TV tonight:
Taken – Film4 – 9pm
Liam Neeson plays a man with a particular set of skills…
Looper – Legend – 9pm
In a future where time travel exists but only on the black market, an assassin (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is tasked with killing a man who is actually an older version of himself (Bruce Willis).
Con Air – Virgin Media One – 9pm
“Put… the bunny… back… in the box.”
Beverly Hills Cop II – ITV4 – 9pm
The great Tony Scott helms this stylish action comedy sequel.
Gemini Man – E4 – 10pm
Will Smith plays an assassin who faces off against a younger version of himself (also played by Smith) in this flawed but interesting action sci-fi.
Villain – Legend Xtra – 10.55pm
Craig Fairbrass stars in this solid British crime flick we’ve recommended before.
Piranha 3D – Comedy Central – 11pm
The very fun horror remake about killer fish.
Kursk: The Last Mission – BBC Two – 11.05pm
Colin Firth is among the stars of this disaster thriller about the real-life 2000 Kursk submarine disaster.
Emma – RTÉ One – 11.15pm
Anya Taylor-Joy, Johnny Flynn, Josh O’Connor and Mia Goth are among the cast of this 2020 version of Jane Austen’s novel.
Escape Room: Tournament of Champions – BBC One (except Scotland) – 11.30pm
We recommended the original Escape Room just last week. This sequel is very fun too.
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