Top films to watch week beginning Saturday, May 9

Saturday

Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019) **** (Sky Cinema Premiere, 11.15am & 8pm)

Having being given the mighty responsibility of rebooting the Star Wars franchise with The Force Awakens back in 2015, director JJ Abrams is now given the even bigger task of putting the entire nine-movie saga to bed. This time round, an old enemy resurfaces to help Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) in his mission to track down the Resistance. Meanwhile, Rey, Finn, Poe and the others set off in search of a tracker that will help lead them to the First Order's deadly new base - a mission that ends with Rey facing the truth about her family. All the old favourites return, including Daisy Ridley (Rey), John Boyega (Finn) and Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron), with Richard E Grant popping up as a nasty First Order commander and General Leia returning one last time thanks to the wonders of CGI.

Darkest Hour (2017) ***** (BBC1, 7.30pm)

On May 9 1940, Labour leader Clement Attlee demands that Neville Chamberlain stands down as prime minister. King George VI subsequently invites Winston Churchill to form a government at a critical juncture in the fight against Hitler. Darkest Hour is a handsomely crafted character study, which elegantly dramatises the 27 tumultuous days that led to Churchill's impassioned cry for the British to fight on the beaches. Oscar-winner Gary Oldman conjures a mesmerising embodiment of the statesman.

Gangster Squad (2013) *** (ITV, 10.30pm)

One-time boxer Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn) rules the roost in 1940s Los Angeles. Police chief Bill Parker (Nick Nolte) is powerless to stop the rise of Cohen's criminal fraternity so he approaches Sergeant John O'Mara (Josh Brolin) to establish a covert team of officers, who are willing not only to bend the law but also to break it in order to restore order. O'Mara recruits his good friend Sergeant Jerry Wooters (Ryan Gosling) for this dangerous assignment but the mission is compromised when suave ladies' man Wooters falls under the spell of Cohen's squeeze, actress Grace Faraday (Emma Stone). Gangster Squad ultimately trades style over substance but Fleischer's dramatisation of bullet-riddled history has its undeniable pleasures, including the chemistry between Stone and Gosling.

Chappaquiddick (2017) **** (BBC2, 10.45pm) Premiere

This fact-based drama focuses on the events of July 1969 when Senator Ted Kennedy (Jason Clarke), brother of the assassinated John and Robert and himself tipped as a potential future president, drove his car into a pond, killing his passenger Mary Jo Kopechne (Kate Mara). The film's take on the aftermath of the accident didn't go down well with some of Kennedy's supporters, and it also leaves many questions unanswered. However, Chappaquiddick wisely resists the urge to sensationalise the scandal, and it also features a convincing lead performance from the underrated Clarke.

Sunday

Stuber (2019) *** (Sky Cinema Premiere, 10.05am & 6.20pm)

Mild-mannered Uber driver Stu get more than he bargained for when his latest passenger turns out to be an aggressive cop on the lookout for a vicious killer. Having just come out of laser eye surgery that morning, detective Vic is still virtually blind and cannot drive himself. But there's a crime emergency to be dealt with - catching the heroin dealer who murdered his former partner - and before long the mismatched pair find themselves on a wild day of stakeouts and shootouts. Action comedy, starring Dave Bautista and Kumail Nanjiani, with appearances from Karen Gillan, Mira Sorvino and Betty Gilpin.

Madagascar (2005) *** (Channel 4, 5.50pm)

Alex the lion (voiced by Ben Stiller), Marty the zebra (Chris Rock), Melman the hypochondriac giraffe (David Schwimmer) and Gloria the hippopotamus (Jada Pinkett Smith) have lived in captivity since birth, in the plush surroundings of New York's Central Park Zoo. After a disastrous brush with the penguins, the quartet is shipped off to Africa, but end up stranded on the exotic island of Madagascar, where they befriend ring-tailed lemur King Julien the 13th (Sacha Baron Cohen) and his second-in-command Maurice (Cedric The Entertainer). Suddenly, the day-to-day routine of zoo life doesn't seem so bad after all in this charming and intermittently amusing computer-animated comedy about the value of friendship.

John Wick (2014) **** (5*, 9.00pm)

Infamous hit-man John Wick (Keanu Reeves) holsters his weapons for good to marry Helen (Bridget Moynahan). Shortly after terminal illness upends the fairy tale, John receives a present from his late wife: an adorable beagle puppy called Daisy. One night, Russian playboy Iosef Tarasov (Alfie Allen) and his underlings break into John's home, beat him to a pulp and kill Daisy. This act of senseless brutality fuels John's lust for revenge. John Wick is a blood-soaked action thriller laced with macabre humour, and Reeves is well-equipped for the physical demands of the balletic fight sequences.

The Thomas Crown Affair (1999) *** (BBC1, 10.30pm)

The 1968 Steve McQueen movie is given a makeover, with Pierce Brosnan taking the title role. A bored billionaire (the heart bleeds, all that money and nothing to do), Thomas Crown decides – just for a laugh – to steal a valuable Monet piece from the New York Museum. However, Catherine Banning's (Rene Russo) insurance company underwrite the painting, and the feisty woman is determined to retrieve it from the crook. You can guess the rest – bad boy billionaire meets sexy wannabe detective, and romance blossoms, but both have their own motives. The chemistry between the pair makes for a thrilling and absorbing plot, doing the original movie justice without losing any of its intrigue or gutsiness.

Monday

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014) *** (Film4, 9.00pm)

Chris Pine follows in the footsteps of Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford and Ben Affleck by taking on the role of soldier-turned-CIA analyst Jack Ryan. His job is to look for irregularities in overseas finance transactions that could tip the wink to future terrorist activity. When his findings suggest an imminent strike that could cripple the US economy, Jack is promoted to a field agent and dispatched to Moscow to probe enigmatic businessman Viktor Cherevin (Kenneth Branagh, who also directs), who seems to be at the centre of the diabolical plot. Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit is an old-fashioned espionage thriller with some briskly edited action sequences.

The Last of the Mohicans (1992) **** (Paramount Network, 9pm)

Director Michael Mann's take on James Fenimore Cooper's classic historical adventure features a gutsy performance by unlikely action hero Daniel Day-Lewis. The tale follows the life of an orphaned settler in North America who is adopted by the last member of a native tribe following the death of his family. As the child grows to maturity, he becomes a frontiersman whose reputation spreads far and wide - but when he rescues and falls in love with a British officer's daughter (Madeleine Stowe) during the Anglo-French War, he angers a Huron war chief, who vows to take revenge.

Tuesday

Wind River (2017) **** (Film4, 9.00pm)

Cory Lambert (Jeremy Renner) works as a tracker for the US Fish and Wildlife Service on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming. During one sortie into the wilderness, Cory stumbles upon the frozen body of 18-year-old Natalie Hanson (Kelsey Chow). Rookie FBI agent Jane Banner (Elizabeth Olsen) arrives soon after from the Las Vegas office to take charge of the investigation. The lawmakers join forces with tribal police chief Ben (Graham Greene) to dole out justice on behalf of the victim's grief-stricken father (Gil Birmingham). Wind River is an impeccably crafted survival thriller of the fittest, photographed against breathtaking backdrops.

Get Carter (1971) ***** (ITV4, 9.00pm)

Jack Carter (Michael Caine) isn't a happy man. He's not the sort you should cross either. When his brother is killed in their hometown of Newcastle, Jack journeys north to take revenge. Vindictive, ruthless and determined to get his man, he investigates the area's underworld, uncovering a complex case of lies, backhanders and double-dealings involving a series of unsavoury characters. Despite being a flop on its initial release, Get Carter is a gritty, low-budget masterpiece which continues to win new fans. It's a must-see for newcomers, but even if you've seen it a thousand times, it's still worth a look. At any rate, you'll be quoting its best-known lines for weeks afterwards.

Wednesday

Moonlight (2016) **** (Film4, 9.00pm)

Twelve-year-old Chiron (Alex Hibbert) is one of the smallest boys in his year and an obvious target for bullies. Any beatings pale next to the pain inflicted by his mother Paula (Naomie Harris), who is a slave to her drug habit. Her neglect drives Chiron into the arms of Paula's dealer, Juan (Mahershala Ali), and his girlfriend Teresa (Janelle Monae), who try to provide a stable home environment as the lad contends with growing pains. Chiron grows into an awkward 16-year-old (now played by Ashton Sanders) and recognises his attraction to best friend Kevin (Jharrel Jerome). Many years later, Chiron (now played by Trevante Rhodes) and Kevin (now played by Andre Holland) are reunited. Writer-director Barry Jenkins' Oscar-winning drama is an extraordinary film of naked emotion, broken dreams and deep longing.

Chef (2014) *** (Film4, 11.10pm)

Carl Casper (Jon Favreau) is the star chef at a Los Angeles restaurant owned by Riva (Dustin Hoffman). Prestigious food critic Ramsey Michel (Oliver Platt) makes a reservation and Carl excitedly plans a new tasting menu. However, Riva forces Carl to revert to his signature dishes and Ramsey pens a scathing review, which berates Carl for resting on his laurels. The argument between chef and critic spirals out of control and Carl publicly quits his job and heads to Miami with ex-wife Inez (Sofia Vergara) and their young son Percy (Emjay Anthony). In familiar surroundings, Carl transforms a worn-out truck into a mobile eaterie par excellence. Written and directed by Favreau, Chef is life-affirming drama that wears its heart on its olive oil-spattered sleeve.

Thursday

Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) ***** (Film4, 9.00pm)

Posh English Charles (Hugh Grant) seems destined always to be the best man at weddings and never the groom. However, he finally finds the stirrings of true romance after a one-night stand with beautiful American Carrie (Andie MacDowell). After going their separate ways, he realises he wants to be with her – but fate seems to intervene at every turn. The first collaboration between writer-director Richard Curtis and Grant was the movie that put them both on the map. This hilarious romantic comedy makes full use of Grant's natural charm and boasts a superb cast giving their best. In fact, the only weak link might be MacDowell, especially when compared with Kristin Scott Thomas's acerbic Fiona.

RoboCop (1987) **** (ITV4, 9.00pm)

In the future, the city of Detroit is on the brink of collapse due to crime and financial problems. The corporation Omni Consumer Products steps in to take over the police department, with a plan to unleash their robot officers on the population. Their first prototype isn't up to the job, but they get a second chance when human officer Alex Murphy (Peter Weller) is killed in the line of duty and then rebuilt as a cyborg. However, some of his old memories remain, prompting him to try to track down the criminals who killed him. Director Paul Verhoeven's satirical, blackly funny and very violent sci-fi thriller deserves its cult status.

Friday

We're the Millers (2013) *** (ITV2, 9.00pm)

Small-time drug dealer David Clark (Jason Sudeikis) attempts to save a homeless girl, Casey (Emma Roberts), from being mugged. In the process, he loses his entire stash of ill-gotten gains and reluctantly agrees to clear his debts by picking up a small consignment of drugs from Mexico. To throw customs officers off the scent, David approaches sassy stripper Rose (Jennifer Aniston) to pose as his wife and recruits Casey and next-door neighbour Kenny (Will Poulter) to portray their kids. Sudeikis delivers the one-liners with aplomb in this comical road movie, but the revelation is British star Poulter, who melds sweetness, vulnerability and goofiness to winning effect.

Election (1999) **** (BBC1, 11.15pm)

Over-achieving, unstoppably enthusiastic high-school student Tracy Flick announces she's running for class president – an idea that fills teacher Jim McAllister with dread. So, in a bid to halt her seemingly inevitable rise to victory, he convinces dim-but-popular athlete Paul to stand against her. However, when Paul's rebellious sister decides to throw her hat into the ring as well, Jim's plot begins to spiral out of control. Director Alexander Payne pulls off a sharp, dark comedy that takes a satirical look at more than just high-school politics. Viewers of a certain age will find the sight of Matthew Broderick (aka quintessential cocky Eighties teen Ferris Bueller) playing a crumpled teacher especially poignant, but it's Reese Witherspoon who runs away with the movie – she pulls off the difficult trick of making Tracy seem terrifying and oddly vulnerable at the same time.