The Taste of Things to Romancing the Stone: Top Films on TV This Week
This week's television lineup offers a delectable selection of films, perfect for viewers seeking romance, adventure, and suspense. From an award-winning French culinary romance to a classic 80s rom-com, there's something for everyone. Here are the seven best films to watch on TV this week.
The Taste of Things
Skip the Valentine's Day restaurant booking and treat your beloved to this filmic feast instead. French-Vietnamese filmmaker Tràn Anh Hùng, known for The Scent of Green Papaya, won Best Director at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival for this study of a slow-simmering love affair. The story follows French gourmand Dodin, played by Benoît Magimel, and his cook Eugénie, portrayed by Juliette Binoche. They spend their days at Dodin's country estate, dreaming up new dishes to wow his coterie of dining companions. Hung's unhurried camera savours every delicious morsel, but even a nine-course meal cannot last forever. Catch it on Saturday 14 February at 9.35pm on BBC Four.
Predator: Badlands
Director Dan Trachtenberg continues his resurrection of the 80s sci-fi monster franchise with this Elle Fanning-starring banger. Though the series began eight movies ago with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Badlands is the first Predator movie to feature an actual Predator, played by Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, as protagonist. He travels to a distant planet to prove his mettle by taking on the Kalisk, the only creature in the universe Predators fear. But he won't survive without his android guide Thia, portrayed by Fanning. Available now on Disney+.
Romancing the Stone
Screenwriter Diane Thomas was working as a cocktail waitress in Malibu when she wrote this surprise box office hit. This rollicking rom-com jungle jaunt has it all: man-eating crocodiles, lost treasure, and Danny DeVito in a panama hat. Kathleen Turner stars as Joan Wilder, a lonely Manhattan romance novelist who travels to Colombia to rescue her kidnapped sister. She falls in love with an exotic bird smuggler named Jack T Colton, played by Michael Douglas, survives several mudslides, dances a flirtatious fandango, and has the adventure of a lifetime. Watch it on Saturday 14 February at 3pm on Film4.
Bone Lake
Diego, played by Marco Pigossi, and Sage, portrayed by Maddie Hasson, arrive at their large, lakeside holiday rental, only to discover it's been double-booked by Will, played by Alex Roe, and Cin, portrayed by Andra Nechita. After a brief, awkward interaction, the two couples agree to share the space amicably. But this is a fast-paced, erotic thriller from horror-flick director Mercedes Bryce Morgan, so the peace won't last long. Tune in on Saturday 14 February at 9.30pm on Sky Cinema Premiere.
Alfie
The existential ennui of the serial seducer is explored in this swinging 60s classic. Michael Caine stars as the titular cockney charmer, who takes women into his bed and us into his confidence with regular, fourth-wall-breaking chats. Alfie's "avin a beautiful little life" until the consequences of his own actions catch up with him. At this point, the saucy sex comedy develops a social-realist conscience, given voice by that Cilla Black theme song. Catch it on Saturday 14 February at 12.55am on Sky Cinema Greats.
Shadow of a Doubt
This is the connoisseur's choice of Hitchcock pictures, and the master of suspense himself picked it as his personal favourite on multiple occasions. The story concerns Charlotte "Charlie" Newton, played by Teresa Wright, a teenage girl whose life in the idyllic small town of Santa Rosa, California is safe but dull until her charismatic, namesake relative, Uncle Charlie, portrayed by Joseph Cotten, comes to stay. He appears to be the perfect house guest, except for all that ranting about "rich widows." Watch it on Wednesday 18 February at 11am on Film4.
I Know What You Did Last Summer
What did you do last summer? If it didn't include catching this reboot of the slasher franchise, then you missed out on a fun fusion of 90s nostalgia and Gen Z drip. Freddie Prinze Jr and Jennifer Love Hewitt reprise their roles, while The Studio's Chase Sui Wonders and It Girl Gabbriette head up the new cast. It's been 27 years since the errant youth of Southport, North Carolina were first held accountable for their negligence, and now the hook-handed fisherman is back. Tune in on Friday 20 February at 7.50am and 8pm on Sky Cinema Premiere.
