Recommendations by Andrew Mercado
FRIDAY
Betty Blue: The Director’s Cut 11pm on SBS
We are sincerely hoping that when SBS2 turns into Viceland, it continues with its cool movie double bills. But in case it doesn’t, there’s always hope that SBS’ main channel might continue with the terrifically curated titles. Such theming could be happening tonight with Grace of Monaco at 8.30pm followed by Betty Blue: The Director’s Cut afterwards. It’s a bit of a stretch, I know, but both movies are set in France and Nicole Kidman’s biopic is so bad that one day it may turn into a cult classic just like Beatrice Dalle’s did when she entranced audiences around the world in 1986.
SATURDAY
Black Mirror streaming on Netflix
The British anthology series returns for a third season and features a slew of guest stars over 12 episodes like Bryce Dallas Howard, James Norton and Kelly Macdonald. Already renewed for a fourth series, and judging by the sample episode I watched, this should satisfy its most ardent fans.
SUNDAY
Killing Reagan 7.30pm on National Geographic
This two-hour telemovie stars Tim Matheson as Ronald Reagan and Sex and the City’s Cynthia Nixon as wife Nancy. It’s based on the book Killing Reagan: The Violent Assault That Changed a Presidency, which was co-written by Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly. It was hugely criticised by multiple historians for distorting events. O’Reilly has turned books about political deaths into quite the business, having also penned books on Killing Lincoln, Kennedy, Patton and Jesus.