We’ve got you covered for your weekend TV watching, highlighting some gems on broadcast and streaming TV. Today’s list is curated by Andrew Mercado [AM] and Dan Barrett [DB].
FRIDAY
My Father and The Man In Black – SBS at 1:25am
Buried in the middle of the night is this documentary about Saul Holiff, Johnny Cash’s manager throughout the 1960s and 1970s. The doco is told from the perspective of Holiff’s son who uses its runtime to explore his own relationship with his father through the lens of the relationship he had with Johnny Cash. [DB]
The Duke of Burgundy – Streaming on Stan
Strictly for fans of complex, art-house cinema, the film is like a low-fi erotic Merchant Ivory film. It explores a complicated BDSM relationship between two women who also share a passion for the collection and study of butterflies. You may not love the film, but its imagery will stay with you. [DB]
John Wick – Streaming on Stan
If The Duke of Burgundy is way too arty for your Friday night in, give the fantastic Keanu Reeves action film John Wick a look. It’s a revenge action film that is motivated by something that you have never seen an action film do before. Reeves stars as the titular Wick, alongside Willem Dafoe, Bridget Moynahan, Dean Winters, Ian McShane, and Alfie Allen. [DB]
SATURDAY
Red Dawn/River’s Edge/The Basketball Diaries – from 8.30pm on SBS2
A movie triple featuring films with famous male actors in their prime. First up, it’s Patrick Swayze and C Thomas Howell in 1984’s Red Dawn (later remade with Chris Hemsworth but flopping at box office), then it’s Keanu Reeves and Crispin Glover in 1986’s River’s Edge, and finally 1995’s The Basketball Diaries with Leonard DiCaprio and Mark Wahlberg. [AM]
Women He’s Undressed – 6.30pm on Fox Classics
Gillian Armstrong’s incredible documentary hit cinemas last year and shines a light on an underrated Aussie genius Orry Kelly. The Kiama-born Oscar-winning costume designer made clothes for film classics like Casablanca, Gypsy and Some Like It Hot and was rumoured to have had an affair with a Hollywood leading man for many, many years. [AM]
Grosse Point Blank – Streaming on Presto
Highly underrated, this is a perfect Saturday night film. John Cusack is a hitman who is looking to transition to a less morally dubious lifestyle. While attending his high school reunion, he finds that leaving the hitman industry is harder than he expected. It also has a killer soundtrack. [DB]
Indian Summers 8.30pm – BBC First
The second series begins tonight and picks up three years after the first series (coincidentally airing at the same time on ABC). Guest stars this time round include Rachel Griffiths and The Jewel In The Crown’s Art Malik but none can steal a scene quite like Julie Walters can as she continues to scheme and smoke from behind her Raj bar. [AM]
Outcast 8.30pm – FX and Fox 8
Fox has announced a new TV adaptation of The Exorcist to star Geena Davis but I seriously doubt that network TV can do justice to the 1973 movie classic. Instead, I suspect this new cable drama is THE demon possession series to watch this year. It’s from the maker of The Walking Dead and he has promised this will be even more gruesome. And based on the promos currently airing, I don’t think he’s making it up – this looks creepy as. The premiere will simulcast on two Foxtel channels at once. [AM]
SUNDAY
Secret City 8.30pm – Showcase
The brand new Australian miniseries arrives with a first class cast that includes Alan Dale as the Prime Minister, Jacki Weaver as a foul-mouthed Attorney-General, Dan Wylie as a Minister with something to hide, Anna Torv as a Canberra journo and Damon Herriman as her transgender ex-husband. Look out for 7.30’s Chris Uhlmann in a cameo, given it’s based on two (fiction) books he wrote with Steve Lewis. Based on the first episode, this looks like a winner. [AM]
Noah 8.30pm – Ten
This movie re-imagines the Old Testament as a comic book to spice up the story of the flood, the animals and the Ark. In this version, giant tree monsters emerge to help build the Ark since the scriptwriters couldn’t figure out any other way to convince audiences Russell Crowe was capable of doing it with a few lazy sons. One of the strangest and stupidest Bible movies you will ever see. [AM]