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Movies & TV

16th Jun 2022

A brilliant music biopic is among the movies on TV tonight

Stephen Porzio

Our pick for tonight has an 89% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Is it the weekend yet? Not quite.

That said, there are some decent flicks on the box this Thursday night to help pass the time until it arrives.

Here’s your options.

Payback – Turner Classic Movies – 9pm

This action thriller sees Mel Gibson play a man out for payback.

An adaptation of Donald E. Westlake’s novel The Hunter, the book was previously made into the incredible ’60s flick Point Blank starring Lee Marvin.

The Color Purple – BBC Four – 9pm

Steven Spielberg adapts the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name following a black Southern woman (Whoopi Goldberg) who struggles to find her identity over four decades.

The Hitman’s Bodyguard – Film4 – 9pm

One of the most average movies ever made.

Navalny – RTÉ One – 10.15pm

A 2022 documentary revolving around Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and events related to his poisoning.

Speed 2: Cruise Control – ITV4 – 10.20pm

With a 4% score on Rotten Tomatoes, this sequel was pretty much universally loathed.

That said, it did inspire an amazing Father Ted episode so we’re glad it exists.

Clip via All4

The Enforcer – Turner Classic Movies – 11.05pm

Clint Eastwood returns for the third Dirty Harry movie.

Videodrome – Horror Channel – 11.05pm

With legendary filmmaker David Cronenberg’s new movie Crimes of the Future out soon, what better time is there to revisit his body horror classic starring James Woods and Debbie Harry.

Love & Mercy – BBC Two – 11.15pm

Our pick for tonight, this 2014 music biopic focuses on Brian Wilson, co-founder and leader of the legendary rock band the Beach Boys.

Told over two timelines, Paul Dano plays Wilson in the ’60s as he works to complete his seminal record Pet Sounds.

Meanwhile, John Cusack plays him in the ’80s during which Wilson’s relationship with his girlfriend (Elizabeth Banks) is depicted as being threatened by the musician’s shady therapist (Paul Giamatti).

With its excellent cast, beautiful period detail and incredible soundtrack of Beach Boys tunes, it’s no surprise Love & Mercy boasts an impressive 89% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Concrete Plans – Film4 – 11.20pm

In this 2020 British thriller, a motley gang of builders take on a remote farmhouse renovation, only to be ripped off by the aristocratic owner, causing events to spin badly out of control.

The Amazing Spider-Man – Virgin Media Two – 12.50am

The first take on the web-slinger starring Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone.

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