Kimberley is back with the first half of our weekly TV picks. Here’s what to watch this week on free-to-air from Monday through to Wednesday night, as we come around to Australia Day 2015.
Monday
The Manchurian Candidate, One, 9:30pm AEST
The critically acclaimed remake of the 1962 classic, the 2004 Manchurian Candidate features an all-star cast including Hollywood heavyweights Denzel Washington and Meryl Streep. The intense drama explores the brainwashing of American soldiers during the Gulf War, with far-reaching political implications.
Training Day, Go!, 9;30pm AEST
Monday night is clearly Denzel Washington’s night. Washington also stars as a rogue detective in Training Day with Ethan Hawke as the police officer learning from him. The violent events in the film take place across a 24-hour period, as Washington schools his conflicted protégé in the murky reality of the tough streets of Los Angeles.
Tuesday
Transparent, Ch. 9, 10:00 pm AEST
This new series is a must see, with Channel 9 airing back to back episodes of the Golden Globe winning show. Beginning with the pilot, get to know the Pfefferman family as they deal with the revelation that their father Mort (Jeffrey Tambor) is transgender. This series is clever and important viewing, with Tambor giving one of his best performances.
The Fighter, Go!, 10:00pm AEST
Based on the true story of the rise of boxer, Micky Ward, The Fighter is complex, raw and buoyed by the searing performances of Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Melissa Leo. Directed by David O. Russell, the film scored two Oscars in 2011 for the performances of Bale and Leo. The dramatic film is definitely worth viewing.
Wednesday
River’s Edge, SBS 2, 10:15pm AEST
This confronting film raises more questions than it answers, and is as relevant now as it was in 1986. The film follows a group of high school friends as they come to terms with the fact that one of them has killed his girlfriend. Their reactions are surprising and varied. Crispin Glover and Keanu Reeves star in this shocking and often unpleasant film exploring teenage apathy at its worst.
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