One of the best action movies ever is on TV tonight
This classic allowed one of cinema’s greatest actors of all time to showcase his funny side.
Our TV movie pick for tonight (Friday, 8 May) is Midnight Run, the classic 1988 buddy action comedy thriller.
The film focuses on down-on-his-luck bounty hunter Jack Walsh (Oscar-winner Robert De Niro, showcasing his comedy chops) as he is hired to find and return bail jumper and former Mafia accountant Jonathan ‘The Duke’ Mardukas (Charles Grodin).
The mission proves increasingly difficult, however, due to various interfering parties (including Dennis Farina, Joe Pantoliano and Yaphet Kotto), a scheming Mardukas and the surprise friendship that develops between the bounty hunter and bail jumper.
Anchored by the terrific chemistry between De Niro and Grodin, crackling dialogue, and a screenplay that blends humour and tension incredibly well, Midnight Run remains the gold standard for action comedies.
The movie is airing on TV tonight on Film4 at 9pm. The film will also be available to stream on Channel 4’s website after the broadcast.
Here are the other movies on TV tonight:
Licence to Kill – ITV4 – 8pm
Timothy Dalton’s second and final outing as James Bond.
Olympus Has Fallen – Sky One – 9pm
Gerard Butler plays a disgraced Secret Service agent who must protect the US President (Aaron Eckhart) when terrorists invade the White House.
A gorgeous-looking, if flawed, fantasy epic starring Henry Cavill.
Blitz – Legend Xtra – 9pm
In this fun action thriller, Jason Statham and Paddy Considine play cops hunting for a serial killer (played by Aidan Gillen) murdering police officers in London.
Murder on the Orient Express – RTÉ One – 9.35pm
Kenneth Branagh directs and plays the lead role of gentleman sleuth Hercule Poirot in this adaptation of Agatha Christie’s iconic train-set mystery novel.
Peter Dinklage is Cyrano de Bergerac in this romantic drama musical.
One of the least well-regarded entries in the action sci-fi franchise.
Unforgiven – TG4 – 10.20pm
Clint Eastwood directs and stars in this Oscar Best Picture-winning revisionist Western.
Universal Soldier: Regeneration – Legend Xtra – 11.05pm
A decent direct-to-DVD sequel in the Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren-led action sci-fi franchise.
Highlander III: The Final Dimension – Legend – 11.25pm
The third instalment in the soon-to-be rebooted action-adventure fantasy film series.
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