Top 7 Must-Watch Movies on TV This Week

The Danish title, Bastarden (The Bastard), highlights the class conflict embedded in this fierce, fact-inspired period drama. Mads Mikkelsen plays self-made army captain Ludwig Kahlen, who plans to transform the wild heath of 18th-century Jutland into arable land. Despite the king’s endorsement, Kahlen faces violent opposition from local noble Schinkel (Simon Bennebjerg), who uses his power and wealth to thwart the upstart. The film feels like a western, with Kahlen embodying archetypal qualities similar to those of Gary Cooper and Clint Eastwood: principled and resilient but softened by Romany orphan Anmai Mus (Melina Hagberg) and runaway servant Ann Barbara (Amanda Collin).

Saturday 24 August, 9pm, BBC Four

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Bob Marley: One Love

Your appreciation of Reinaldo Marcus Green’s biopic may depend on your interest in the reggae star’s Rastafarian beliefs, which are frequently expressed. Marley’s faith informed his politics and groundbreaking music, much of which is highlighted in the film. The drama captures a pivotal two-year period (1976-78) during which Marley performed two peace concerts, recorded his famous album Exodus, and was diagnosed with cancer. Kingsley Ben-Adir delivers a respectful portrayal of Bob, with Lashana Lynch providing a stoic performance as Rita.

Out now, Paramount+

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Odette

Filmed just five years after the events it depicts, Herbert Wilcox’s 1950 wartime thriller has an authentic, real-life feel. Acclaimed British actress Anna Neagle delivers a compelling performance as SOE agent and mother of three, Odette Sansom. Going undercover in the south of France under Trevor Howard’s command as Peter Churchill, Odette encounters numerous risks including air drops, night escapes, and interrogations. Her composure remains intact even when German intelligence officer Colonel Henri (Marius Goring) catches on to her.

Saturday 24 August, 10.05am, BBC Two

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Spellbound

Alfred Hitchcock collaborates with Salvador Dalí in this 1945 thriller about psychoanalyst Constance (Ingrid Bergman) and her amnesiac patient, John (Gregory Peck), who may be a murderer. Dalí’s design work for a dream sequence, which is pivotal to unlocking John’s memory loss and the murder, was cut down to two minutes but still contributes to a uniquely surreal atmosphere. Bergman, in her first of three films with Hitchcock, shines as the empathetic Constance, deepening the mystery surrounding the man she loves.

Saturday 24 August, 1pm, BBC Two

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Lawrence of Arabia

David Lean’s epic war adventure, sacrificing historical accuracy for dramatic effect, focuses on British officer TE Lawrence (Peter O’Toole) rather than the Arabs he fought alongside in their 1916 revolt against the Turks. The film presents a profile of a misfit turned hero, blending myth and man amid battles, betrayal, and death. Despite its focus, the movie succeeds as an exhilarating portrayal of Lawrence’s expansive journey.

Sunday 25 August, 11.25am, Sky Cinema Greats

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The Florida Project

Sean Baker’s compelling 2017 drama delves into the lives of low-rent motel residents on a nondescript Florida highway. Seen through the eyes of six-year-old Moonee (Brooklynn Prince), the film effectively portrays childhood. Moonee and her friends turn garish hotels, parking lots, and fast-food concessions into their playground, finding joy in simple mischief. However, adult concerns such as poverty and more sinister woes lurk in the background.

Wednesday 28 August, 1.40am, Film4

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Madame Web

Despite the initial negative buzz, largely due to lead actor Dakota Johnson’s criticisms during the promotional tour, this new Spider-verse film isn’t the disaster some expected. The origin story follows Johnson’s Cassandra Webb, a paramedic who can see the future, and three teenage girls (Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced, Celeste O’Connor) destined to become spider-women. The film feels more like Marvel’s TV series, grounded in everyday urban life with limited action and rare super moments.

Friday 30 August, 11.25am, 8pm, Sky Cinema Premiere

Source: The Guardian