Our movie guy, James Finnegan, picks a few films to enjoy on TV on Saturday…
We start the weekend with an absolute classic.
In Zulu (Saturday 3.10pm RTE1), Michael Caine delivers a star making performance in this historical drama that follows two British Army Officers leading one hundred and fifty soldiers at the remote Rorke’s Drift outpost against a force of four thousand Zulu warriors in January 1879.
It was directed by Cy Endfield and also starred Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, James Booth, Nigel Green and Patrick Magee with narration by Richard Burton.
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A contemporary interpretation of the traditional musical Annie (Saturday 6.35pm RTE1) is on offer when an orphan goes to live with a wealthy businessman running for election as Mayor of New York, and inspires him to change his cynical ways.
Starring Quvenzhane Wallis in the title role, together with Jamie Foxx, Rose Bryne, Bobby Cannavale and Cameron Diaz as Miss Hannigan, it received somewhat mixed reviews on release.
Destination Wedding (Saturday 9pm RTE2) have Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder as Frank and Lindsay in a romantic comedy as a pair of strangers who meet on their way to a wedding.
They soon discover that they have a lot in common – they both hate the bride, the groom, themselves and each other. However, this being movie land, you will never guess what happens next?
Continuing the unlikely romance story theme, in The Bodyguard (Saturday 9.30pm TG4) Rachel Marron (Whitney Houston) is a famous singer and actress who is targeted by an obsessive fan. She is persuaded to hire a former US Secret Service agent, Frank Farmer, as her bodyguard.
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Frank is working through his own guilt as President Regan was shot on his watch, and naturally as in the film before, the two begin to develop feelings for each other.
Originally written for Diana Ross and Steve McQueen, this film soundtrack became the best selling soundtrack of all time with sales of over fifty million copies worldwide.
Herself (Saturday 10.20pm RTE1) stars Clare Dunne as Sandra, a young mother who escapes her abusive husband and fights back against a broken housing system.
She sets out to build her own home and in the process rebuilds her life and rediscovers herself
Back onto an unconventional love theme, The Next Best Thing (Saturday 10.35pm RTE2), Abbie (Madonna) a straight woman has a one night stand with her gay friend Robert (Rupert Everett) and finds herself pregnant.
They decide to raise the child together, but complications arise when Abbie falls in love and wants to move away, taking the child away with her, which leads to a bitter custody battle.
I cannot let Unforgiven (Sunday 1.15am RTE1) go without a mention. Two gunslingers help a bounty hunter, William Munny, an aging outlaw who takes on one more job, to kill a pair of cowboys who attacked a prostitute.
This multi Academy Award winning Western was directed and stars Clint Eastwood, ably backed up by Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman, Richard Harris, Frances Fisher and Anna Thompson. Enjoy!