.
Our movie guy, James Finnegan, picks some films on TV today for your enjoyment…
Our movie guy, James Finnegan, picks some films on TV today for your enjoyment…Any weekend film review piece that starts and ends with a Sean Connery performance can’t be bad!
John Huston’s The Man Who Would Be King (Saturday 3.15pm RTE One) is a grand adventure starring Connery and Michael Caine, with Christopher Plummer as Rudyard Kipling. Maurice Jarre’s sweeping score perfectly matches the film’s epic tone.
.It tells the story of two British ex-soldiers who travel to remote Kafiristan, seeking fortune and glory. Their daring exploits lead to unexpected power, but also to hubris and tragedy.
Huston’s direction blends humour, camaraderie, and moral weight, making this both a rousing adventure and a cautionary tale about ambition and the limits of friendship.
Continued below…
Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse (Saturday 6.35pm RTE One), directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson, is a dazzling animated sequel that pushes visual storytelling to new heights.
Shameik Moore voices Miles Morales alongside Hailee Steinfeld, Oscar Isaac, and Jake Johnson. Daniel Pemberton’s energetic soundtrack perfectly matches the film’s kinetic style.
The story follows Miles as he reunites with Gwen Stacy and journeys through the multiverse, meeting countless Spider-People while facing a dangerous new threat.
It is bold, heartfelt, and visually breathtaking from start to finish.
Directed by George Clooney, The Boys in the Boat (Saturday 9.15pm RTE2) tells the inspiring true story of the University of Washington rowing team’s journey to the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
Joel Edgerton delivers a grounded performance as coach Al Ulbrickson, while Callum Turner shines as determined rower Joe Rantz.
The stirring score by Alexandre Desplat perfectly complements the film’s emotional beats. It captures both the grit of training and the grandeur of competition.
This is a heartfelt, visually stunning sports drama that celebrates resilience, teamwork, and the human spirit against overwhelming odds.
Continued below…
Blue Valentine (Saturday 9.30pm TG4) directed by Derek Cianfrance, is a raw and intimate portrait of love’s rise and fall.
Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams deliver deeply moving performances as Dean and Cindy, a couple navigating the tender beginnings of their romance alongside the painful unravelling of their marriage.
The haunting soundtrack, composed by Grizzly Bear, perfectly underscores the film’s emotional weight.
Told through interwoven timelines, it captures both the magic of first love and the quiet devastation of its loss, leaving a bittersweet ache long after.
The Name Of The Rose (Sunday 12.20am RTE One), directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud, is a gripping medieval mystery starring Sean Connery, Christian Slater, and F. Murray Abraham.
The haunting soundtrack by James Horner perfectly complements the film’s dark atmosphere.
It transports viewers to a 14th-century Italian monastery where a series of mysterious deaths sparks suspicion of heresy.
Connery’s wise yet sharp-witted William of Baskerville and Slater’s naive novice Adso unravel a dangerous web of secrets, forbidden knowledge, and religious intrigue.
It is an intelligent, atmospheric thriller that blends history, suspense, and philosophical depth beautifully. Enjoy!
