Thursday’s TV tips
A new Russian submarine has been put to sea with a propulsion drive that makes it almost silent in the water.
At first, CIA agent Jack Ryan assumes the Soviets have built a powerful weapon. However, when he realises who is captaining the vessel – the renegade Ramius – he realises the mariner’s intentions may be anything but war-like.
If you can forgive Sean Connery, who plays Ramius, not even attempting a Russian accent, absolutely.
The tight script is laced with dark humour, while a great ensemble cast make what could have been a run-of-the-mill Cold War thriller a treat from start to finish.
Sean Connery, Alec Baldwin, Scott Glenn, Sam Neill, James Earl Jones, Joss Ackland
The last time we saw Billy Bob Thornton, he was scaring the life out of us in Fargo thanks to one of the most sinister performances seen on the box in a long time.
He’s always been an actor who can produce intriguing characters seemingly at the drop of a hat, and can switch genres with ease too. Certainly the role he portrays when he pops up in tonight’s Big Bang Theory couldn’t be more different to that of hired gun Lorne Malvo.
Here he plays a doctor who turns up on Penny’s doorstep after misreading her flirtatious sales technique. She struggles to get rid of him, so turns to her male friends for help.
Meanwhile, Amy and Bernadette embark on what turns out to be a rather passionate discussion about whether or not female scientists should use their sex appeal to win promotions at work.
A New York public transport worker faces the day from Hell when a disgruntled stranger and his cohorts take commuters on the eponymous subway train hostage and start demanding a ransom from city officials.
Although slated by some critics, this version of the Morton Freedgood (aka John Godey) novel has a lot going for it.
Director Tony Scott teamed up once more with Denzel Washington, an actor who excels at playing flawed characters in often extraordinary circumstances.
Reminiscent of Spike Lee’s Inside Man, Washington is as watchable as ever as the transport worker; John Travolta has a great time as the bad guy of the piece, while the much-missed James Gandolfini delivers a fine turn as the Big Apple mayor.
Although some of the blurry slow-motion action shots get on the nerves, this is gripping stuff with some snappy pacing.
Denzel Washington, John Travolta, James Gandolfini
Will Paul Spector get away with murder?
He has done so far, always managing to keep a step or two ahead of Stella Gibson, the detective on his trail. Not that she’s doing a bad job – she knows who he is, she just can’t locate this slipperiest of customers.
He, however, seems to know where she is all the time – and as a result, Gibson suspects he’s witnessed her confrontation with Burns in her hotel room. But what how will Burns react when she tells him?
As if the idea of Spector keeping tabs on her isn’t disturbing enough, she then realises he’s been visiting one of his surviving victims in hospital – but this fact allows her to finally set up a surveillance operation on him.
But the need to find the evidence that will bring about Spector’s arrest intensifies when a body matching the description of Rose Stagg is discovered.
If you’re looking for a show that will lift you out of the doldrums and put a smile on your face, then Crimewatch isn’t the programme to tune into.
Mind you, there is a school of thought that suggests it might make us feel lucky – there but for the grace of God, and all that.
The series celebrated its 30th years on our screens in 2014, and it’s still going strong, helping the police bring criminals to justice via appeals and reconstructions. Here’s hoping the cases featured this month have successful conclusions.
The biggest concerns the disappearance of 14-year-old schoolgirl Charlene Downes from Blackpool 11 years ago. Her body has never been found, and her whereabouts remains a mystery – police hope that a new investigation will help to find her.
Kirsty Young introduces other appeals for information, alongside Matthew Amroliwala and Martin Bayfield.
Given the choice of becoming stronger, smarter or famous, the majority of young girls would opt for fame. Armed with this depressing statistic, Maia take a look at fame in Ireland.
After the success of Maia Dunphy’s What Women Want, the series is back for another entertaining look at the issues, concerns and lifestyles of Irish women. In series two, Maia explores Food, Shopping, Fame and Attraction with her trademark mix of interviews, opinion, facts, stats and humour.
The cult of celebrity shows no sign of slowing down. Given the choice of becoming stronger, smarter or famous, the majority of young girls would opt for fame. Armed with this depressing statistic, Maia takes a look at fame in Ireland. You can be a household name and still have to get the bus so why do so many still pursue it? Is real fame only ever a by-product of talent, or does fame for fame’s sake ever work out?
We always knew that police work wasn’t easy, and that despite criticism from certain quarters over the years, the vast majority of the boys and girls in blue are trying their best to carry out their duties to the best of their abilities.
But watching this caustic drama may have opened some eyes – it certainly hammers home how tough life on the frontline can be.
The fourth episode picks up with recent events still taking their toll on the team.
Finn can hardly wait to use Liz’s handling of the revelations about the Commissioner against her _ it’s his intention to manoeuvre himself into the position of advisor to Deputy Commissioner Inglis.
Meanwhile, as Sharon Franklin concentrates on locating the fugitive bomber, Clarkey puts all his efforts into trying to persuade Davina to leave her husband Banjo, whose suspicions are beginning to have a devastating effect on his work.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
