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Our movie guy, James Finnegan, has the pick of the movies on RTE/TG4 tonight…
Zulu (Saturday 2.10pm RTE1) is a 1964 British epic war film depicting the Battle of Rorke’s Drift between the British Army and the Zulus in January 1879, during the Anglo-Zulu War.
A garrison of one hundred and fifty British soldiers, under the command of Lieutenant John Chard (Stanley Baker) and his second in command, Gonville Bromhead (Michael Caine in his first starring role) find themselves surrounded by a force of four thousand Zulu warriors.
There are aspects of this film that could be considered racist or imperialistic as viewed through modern sensibilities.
However, the film patiently establishes a cast of characters and insurmountable stakes before unleashing its white-knuckle spectacle, delivering an unforgettable war epic in the bargain.
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In Show Dogs (Saturday 6.35pm RTE1), Rottweiler police dog Max goes undercover in a pampered pet in a prestigious dog show. Max and his human FBI partner (Will Arnett) are investigating the kidnapping of a baby panda by an underground network of illegal animal traders.
So if you can imagine “Miss Congeniality” in a doggie show setting, but not quite as funny you might get an idea of the tone of this undemanding comedy film.
George Clooney and director Steven Soderbergh get their all star cast back together for this crime caper sequel in Oceans Twelve (Saturday 8.45pm RTE2).
The crooks reunite when an old opponent catches up with them and demands they repay the money stolen from him three years earlier.
Naturally the gang respond with yet another ingenious counter plan. What they don’t take into consideration is the intervention of a fellow thief and a sultry Interpol agent.
Also starring Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Andy Garcia, Don Cheadle and Matt Damon, just sit back and enjoy the ride.
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As we await Christopher Nolan’s new film “Oppenheimer” to hit the cinemas, this is an opportunity to see his Second World War drama around the evacuation of Dunkirk (Saturday 9.25pm RTE1).
Allied soldiers from the British Empire, Belgium and France are surrounded by an advancing German army coming at them, and the English Channel behind them.
There is a race to evacuate them during a fierce battle in northern France, with the elements and operational factors working against the Allies.
This stars Kenneth Branagh, Tom Hardy, Mark Rylance, Barry Keoghan, Cillian Murphy, Barry Keoghan and Harry Styles.
Unlike the earlier “Zulu”, this is not a story of derring-do, but a very human and affecting account of the bravery of the ordinary solider in extraordinary circumstances.
In Monster’s Ball (Saturday 9.45pm TG4), a widow forms an intense relationship with a former prison guard. What she does not know is that this guard was involved in her husband’s execution.
This intense drama stars Halle Berry in an Oscar winning performance and Billy Bob Thornton.
Enjoy!
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