TV FILMS of the week
Channel 5
1
JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 – PARABELLUM Tonight, Channel 4, 9pm
Hitman John Wick (Keanu Reeves, right) has been excommunicated from the Continental Hotel in New York – a membership-only haven for the criminal underworld – by dapper owner Winston (Ian McShane) after he broke the rules and terminated a crime lord on the premises. The High Table, the guild of assassins which imposes a strict moral code on the spilling of blood, authorises a $14m contract on John’s life. John calls in a long-standing marker with a crime syndicate boss (Anjelica Huston) to secure safe passage to Morocco. An adrenaline-pumping hoot, which raises the franchise’s bar on balletic slaughter.
2
YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE Tomorrow, ITV, 4.20pm
When American and Soviet spacecraft go missing, both sides suspect the other – but British Intelligence believes a third party could be involved. Agent 007 (Sean Connery, left) is dispatched to Japan to investigate, where he comes face to face with Blofeld (Donald Pleasence). This is one of the better James Bond outings, thanks to a script by Roald Dahl.
3
LAWRENCE OF ARABIA
Monday, GREAT! movies classic, 4.55pm
British Army lieutenant TE Lawrence (Peter O’Toole, left) is stationed in Cairo during the First World War. Lawrence is told to observe Prince Faisal (Alec Guinness), who is planning to rebel against the Turks. A friendship is forged and Lawrence suggests that the Prince should launch a surprise attack. Sherif Ali (Omar Sharif) and a platoon of men accompany Lawrence on the arduous trek.
4
HOT FUZZ Tuesday, ITV4, 9pm
PC Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg) is one of the Met Police’s shining lights who is transferred to the sleepy backwater of Sandford. “There hasn’t been a murder in Sandford for 20 years,” declares Inspector Frank Butterman (Jim Broadbent). With Constable Danny Butterman (Nick Frost pictured with Pegg), Nicholas soon discovers that Sandford harbours at least one psychopath.
5
THE DUCHESS Wednesday, BBC1, 10.40pm)
Keira Knightley, left, stars as Georgiana, who is married to the older Duke of Devonshire (Ralph Fiennes) with the sole purpose of producing an heir. But the Duke’s philandering ways and complete indifference to his wife leads Georgiana to search for happiness with another man, politician Charles Grey (Dominic Cooper), leading her down a path that can only end in misery for all concerned.
6
MIDNIGHT’S CHILDREN Thursday, BBC4, 8pm
At midnight, fireworks mark the dissolution of the British Raj and the partition of India and Pakistan. A nurse in a maternity hospital switches the name tags of the rich and poor kids, Saleem and Shiva, altering their fates. Shiva is robbed of his affluent birthright and raised in poverty. Meanwhile, a sneeze unlocks Saleem’s ability to telepathically connect with the other children born at midnight.
7
SPREE Friday, Film4, 9pm
Driver for hire Kurt Kuncle (Stranger Things star Joe Keery, left) is desperate to boost the number of followers to his online channel. He wants to ape the popularity of Bobby (Joshua Ovalle), who is now a minor celebrity. Kurt hatches a plan to live broadcast the deaths of irredeemable passengers. This stunt doesn’t give Kurt the overnight fame he craves so he ups the ante.
Have the writers of Home and Away intentionally upped their game as they try to snag the recently departed Neighbours’ viewers? Perhaps it’s just coincidence, but this week is an action-packed one in Summer Bay.
Xander is increasingly persistent with his interest in Rose, confronting Cash for answers about her. Rose is less than impressed, warning him to back off. She is driven straight into the arms of Tex, finding him to be a welcome romantic distraction.
Meanwhile, Felicity is back from the city – with some old friends in tow, whom she introduces to Tane.
Salt’s sale leaves people wondering about the future of the venue, but Mackenzie and Felicity have a plan for a spectacular re-launch – with a live band, who step on a few toes before the big night.