This week's television schedule offers a compelling mix of historical drama, musical biography, and classic cinema, providing something for every film enthusiast. From a gripping account of the post-war Nuremberg trials to a poignant look at the life of Amy Winehouse, here is your essential guide to the seven best films airing across various channels and streaming services.
Nuremberg: A Chilling Battle of Wills
Premiering on Friday at 12.20pm and 8pm on Sky Cinema Premiere, James Vanderbilt's Nuremberg arrives more than eight decades after the historic trials of top-ranking Nazis. The film delivers an intense perspective on the proceedings, focusing not on the courtroom spectacle but on the psychological duel between American psychiatrist Douglas Kelley (Rami Malek) and the principal defendant, Hermann Göring (Russell Crowe).
Tasked with assessing the mental state of the accused, Kelley finds himself outmatched by Göring's chillingly smug intellect and formidable will. While Michael Shannon delivers a strong performance as US judge Robert Jackson, the film's most electrifying moments occur when Malek and Crowe share the screen, their head-to-head confrontations making the drama truly click. The film includes a harrowing sequence of authentic death camp footage, grounding its narrative in stark historical reality.
Back to Black: Capturing a Musical Icon
On Sunday at 10pm on BBC Two, Sam Taylor-Johnson's biopic Back to Black turns the spotlight on the late, great Amy Winehouse. Marisa Abela takes on the formidable challenge of portraying the iconic singer, delivering not only a sensitive performance but also a vocal impersonation of impressive style and gusto.
The film traces Winehouse's meteoric rise from young London talent to global star, and her subsequent tragic struggles with alcoholism and bulimia. While her music provides the soundtrack, the central thrust of the drama lies in her intense, often toxic relationship with Blake Fielder-Civil (Jack O'Connell) and her complex family dynamics, particularly with her nan (Lesley Manville) and father Mitch (Eddie Marsan).
More Cinematic Highlights
The week's selections also include several other notable films. On Wednesday 7 January at 3.30pm on Talking Pictures TV, Jacques Tati's classic comedy Trafic offers a witty satire on our obsession with cars, featuring his beloved Monsieur Hulot character navigating a journey to a Dutch motor show.
Fans of crime drama won't want to miss Sidney Lumet's masterpiece, Dog Day Afternoon, starring Al Pacino and John Cazale. It airs on Thursday 8 January at 10.55am on Sky Cinema Greats and is based on the true story of a botched Brooklyn bank robbery.
Netflix adds a sun-spangled romantic drama to the mix with People We Meet on Vacation, based on Emily Henry's novel, arriving on Friday 9 January. The documentary The Tale of Silyan provides a sweet, moving blend of natural history and human story, airing on Friday 9 January at 10pm on National Geographic.
Finally, legendary director Ken Loach potentially presents his swan song with The Old Oak. This powerful drama explores the tensions in a depressed Durham mining village when Syrian refugees arrive, focusing on a pub landlord caught in the middle. Catch it on Friday 9 January at 11pm on BBC Two.
