Saturday July 29
Tron
(Steven Lisberger, 1982)
2.05pm, BBC2
Computer whizz-kid Jeff Bridges is trapped in cyberspace battling everything villainous David Warner can throw at him in this expensive Disney reworking of The Wizard Of Oz. Lisberger blends early but impressive computer-generated-animation with the live action, but there's no tin man or cowardly lion to engage the emotions.
Back To The Future
(Robert Zemeckis, 1985)
4.50pm, ITV1
The original of the highly successful three-part series, with batty, bug-eyed scientist Christopher Lloyd sending young Michael J Fox in his DeLorean time-machine back to 1955, where he inadvertently prevents his parents from falling in love - with worrying implications for his own future. Zemeckis directs with wit, energy and an impish sense of fun.
Peggy Sue Got Married
(Francis Coppola, 1986)
5.10pm, Five
Kathleen Turner is captivating in this testing dual role: first as a fortyish wife unhappy with her lot in general, and dud spouse Nicolas Cage in particular; then, having fainted at a high-school reunion, returning to the fresh-faced picture of near innocence she was, circa 1960. Given the opportunity of a second time around, she makes out with the lad she admired from afar, helps Dad out of financial trouble and addresses the problem of the teenage rebel who will become her husband: a charming, wistful comedy.
The Recruit
(Roger Donaldson, 2003)
9.25pm, BBC1
One of those by-the-book spy thrillers where the plot twists and surprises arrive exactly when expected. Still, it's an engaging piece of hokum, with Al Pacino doing his regulation grizzled, husky-voiced CIA veteran putting would-be agent and computer whiz Colin Farrell through his paces at The Farm - a training camp where nothing is what it seems. And that goes for Farrell's rival, Bridget Moynahan, as the spy games give way to the real thing.
Bring It On
(Peyton Reed, 2000)
10.20pm, C4
A lightweight but likable feelgood comedy with Kirsten Dunst as the new captain of an ace team of high school cheerleaders (they're actually better than the footballers they root for). Problems arise when she discovers their success is based on moves stolen from a rival inner-city hip-hop team.
Bedazzled
(Stanley Donen, 1967)
10.55pm, BBC2
Legendary TV duo Peter Cook and Dudley Moore's update of the Faust legend is an erratic but enjoyable comedy. Dud is the lovestruck everyman who does a deal with Pete's devil for the unrequited love of Eleanor Bron: he sells his soul for seven wishes. Remade in 2000 with Liz Hurley and Brendan Fraser.
The Fly
(David Cronenberg, 1986)
11.25pm, Five
Jeff Goldblum is weird scientist Seth Brundle, who tests himself in a molecular transporter and begins to turn from guinea pig into a large, loathsome fly: although wading deeply into visceral special effects, this Kafkaesque remake of a 1958 horror takes wing in the touching romance between Goldblum and Geena Davis.
Firefox
(Clint Eastwood, 1982)
11.35pm, BBC1
Cold war action with Eastwood directing himself as a former Vietnam pilot sent to Moscow to steal the Reds' new fighter plane, the Firefox. His nerves are bad but there's little doubt that when the going gets tough, the tough will get supersonic.
Sunday July 30
Bad Boys
(Michael Bay, 1995)
9.40pm, Five
Sassy, loudmouthed and funny adventure in which a pair of black cops deal out serious violence to a ruthless gang of white drug dealers. The bad boys are Martin Lawrence's steady, married Marcus and Will Smith's wolfish, womanising Mike.
The Truman Show
(Peter Weir, 1998)
10pm, C4
For those who find Jim Carrey a little hard to take, this is an eye-opener: his Truman Burbank is played straight, but he's all the better for it. Truman lives in Seahaven, not knowing he is the subject of a round-the-clock TV show. But doubts start to form ... It's an inspired idea, with superb support from Ed Harris, Laura Linney and Natascha McElhone.
Love, Honour And Obey
(Ray Burdis, Dominic Anciano, 1999)
11.15pm, BBC1
A Lock, Stock-style tale of semi-comic criminal life in London. It's pretty ropey, but full of those faces we like to watch. Jonny Lee Miller is Jonny, a courier easing his way into north London gangster Ray Winstone's mob via childhood mate Jude Law. Ray's about to get wed to Sadie Frost, but Jonny starts stirring up trouble with south London hardman Sean (Sean Pertwee) and his crew.
Isn't She Great
(Andrew Bergman, 2000)
11.40pm, BBC2
Trashy biopic of Jacqueline Susann, with Bette Midler as the rags-to-riches author of Valley Of The Dolls and all. Life wasn't easy - she started out as a (bad) actress, suffered breast cancer, had a difficult time with an autistic son - but it's all reduced to phony Hollywood melodrama in this vapid enterprise. The 1970s costumery is great, though.
Monday July 31
The Music Man
(Morton DaCosta, 1962)
1pm, BBC2
DaCosta's musical is one of the most exuberant and purely enjoyable of them all. Much of this is down to the infectious energy of Robert Preston as smooth-talking conman Professor Hill, who arrives in River City, circa 1912, intent on making a killing as a bogus musician.
The Left Handed Gun
(Arthur Penn, 1958)
1.35pm, Five
This excellent psychological western, adapted from a Gore Vidal story, was a notable debut for director Penn. As William "Billy the Kid" Bonney, Paul Newman took the role envisaged for James Dean, and he's very much the angsty rebel-with-a-cause. He's out to avenge the death of his surrogate father, the kindly rancher Tunstall (Colin Keith-Johnston).
Three Amigos!
(John Landis, 1986)
11.05pm, BBC1
Slapstick western spoof about a less-than-magnificent three. Steve Martin, Chevy Chase and Martin Short play silent-screen cowboy stars who trot off happily to perform at a Mexican village and discover they have been hired to deal in lead rather than blanks - tackling Alfonso Arau and his bandits.
Tuesday August 1
Girl From Rio
(Christopher Monger, 2001)
11.35pm, BBC1
Coming after The Englishman Who Went Up A Hill But Came Down A Mountain, this is writer-director Monger's second attempt to create a modern-day Ealing comedy, but it doesn't really come off. Hugh "House" Laurie is a samba-dancing bank clerk whose wife leaves him for the boss, so he steals the loot and heads for Rio in search of hot samba chica Vanessa Nunes. A gentle entertainment.
Wednesday August 2
The Kentuckian
(Burt Lancaster, 1955)
12.50pm, C4
Lancaster also stars in his first shot at direction, an exuberant western adapted from a Felix Holt novel. He plays a pioneer moving with his son to rough, tough Texas and becoming embroiled in the feud between two women - Dianne Foster, Diana Lynn - with whipcracking Walter Matthau the villain.
Street Fighter
(Steven E De Souza, 1994)
7.15pm, Five
Videogame adaptation with Jean-Claude Van Damme leading a squad of martial artists against the impregnable (sure it is) fortress of renegade General Bison (a final, camp performance from Raul Julia). Also Simon Callow, Wes Studi, and a lass with a bazooka called Kylie Minogue.
Outbreak
(Wolfgang Petersen, 1995)
9pm, Five
Aids-generation thriller in which Dustin Hoffman's army medic tries to contain a deadly virus that has arrived in California from Africa: but sinister General Donald Sutherland has a different agenda. Petersen ends up in action mode, but the cast - including Rene Russo, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Spacey, Cuba Gooding Jr - keeps it very watchable.
Under Siege
(Andrew Davis, 1992)
10.40pm, BBC1
Tough cookie Steven Seagal leads this furious action movie as a navy cook who starts dishing out the rough stuff when a gang of terrorists led by Tommy Lee Jones and Gary Busey hijack, Die Hard-like, a US warship. Davis handles the violence in narrow shipboard corridors skilfully.
She's So Lovely
(Nick Cassavetes, 1997)
11.20pm, BBC2
Nick, son of the great indie director John Cassavetes, sets out in the old man's footsteps by borrowing one of his scripts about the troubled relationship between two disturbed people. Sean Penn's Eddie is locked away in a psychiatric hospital for 10 years; when he gets out he expects his wife Maureen (Robin Wright Penn) to come back to him, but she's settled down with steady Joey (John Travolta).
Thursday August 3
Day Of The Outlaw
(Andre De Toth, 1959)
1.05pm, C4
Great, bleak, hate-filled western with Burl Ives as leader of an outlaw gang that takes over a remote, snowbound town but meets its match in Robert Ryan's steely-eyed rancher. Aided by Russell Harlan's harsh black-and-white photography, De Toth creates a deathly sense of menace.
Red Corner
(Jon Avnet, 1997)
11.05pm, BBC1
Richard Gere's executive is doing big business in China, but after spending a night with a beautiful woman wakes in the morning to find her dead. Suddenly our heroic American abroad is framed for murder. But luckily, along comes another beautiful woman (Bai Ling) and this one's a lawyer who believes he's innocent. Kafka it ain't.
My Name Is Joe
(Ken Loach, 1997)
2.30am, C4
Loach's romance between the unemployed, alcohol-dependent Joe (Peter Mullan) and middle-class social worker Sarah (Louise Goodall) beautifully points up social rifts in 1990s Britain. Joe is getting by, coaching a local football team, but has to take another job - running drugs - to help heroin addict Liam (David McKay) out of the clutches of the local crime boss. Perceptive, tender and funny.
Friday August 4
Old School
(Todd Phillips, 2003)
10.35pm, BBC1
Three miserable thirtysomething pals decide to liven up their lives by opening their own fraternity house - a chance to act like irresponsible college kids. You'd think, with Luke Wilson, Will Ferrell and Vince Vaughn as the trio, you'd have a wild time, but it's an oddly subdued party.
Blue Car
(Karen Moncrieff, 2001)
11.35pm, BBC2
An affecting tale of schoolgirl Meg (Agnes Bruckner), who is struggling with family relations and the absence of her gone-awol dad. It's a fragile, sensitive performance, matched by David Strathairn as Auster, her English teacher turned mentor - but he has ulterior motives. A subtle, wise, and worrying film.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
(Fran Rubel Kuzui, 1992)
12.05am, BBC1
The movie that launched the long-lived TV series and created a fantasy icon. Kristy Swanson plays the nubile San Fernando Valley girl who is accosted by creepy Merrick (Donald Sutherland) and told it is her mission in life to slay vampires: soon she's into the stakes-and-kicks with a vengeance.
