The film is noteworthy for mostly being shot in Dublin.
Our TV movie pick for tonight (Saturday, 1 February) is Haywire, the excellent 2011 action thriller from director Steven Soderbergh (the Ocean’s Trilogy, the currently in cinemas Presence).
The film stars former MMA artist Gina Carano as Mallory Kane, a highly trained operative for a government security contractor whose missions take her to the world’s most dangerous areas.
Not long after Mallory successfully frees a hostage journalist, she’s betrayed and left for dead on assingment in Dublin by someone in her own agency.
“Knowing her survival depends on learning the truth behind the double-cross, Mallory uses her black-ops training to set a trap,” the plot synopsis reads.
“But when things go awry, Mallory knows she’ll die unless she can turn the tables on her adversary.”
Surrounding Carano in Haywire is a bunch of A-list actors including Antonio Banderas, Bill Paxton, Channing Tatum, Ewan McGregor, Michael Douglas and Michael Fassbender.
Upon release, the film was renowned by critics for its supporting cast, its time-shuffling screenplay by Lem Dobbs (The Limey) and the stripped-back way Soderbergh shoots his action scenes – showcasing Carano’s physicality and stunts.
In a recent list, IndieWire called Haywire the 14th best action movie of the 21st century.
Haywire is airing on TV tonight on the channel Legend at 9pm. It is also currently available to watch on NOW Cinema and Sky Cinema.
Here are the other movies on TV tonight:
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle / Jumanji: The Next Level – Film4 – 6.40pm / 9pm
Two Jumanjis!
Top Gun: Maverick – Channel 4 – 8.30pm
Probably the best blockbuster of recent years.
Snake Eyes – RTE2 – 9pm
This 2021 blockbuster is the third instalment in the G.I. Joe movie series.
The Interview / Pineapple Express – Comedy Central – 9pm / 11.15pm
Two Seth Rogen / James Franco-led comedies.
The Bourne Ultimatum – Sky Showcase – 9.30pm
The excellent, hard-hitting third entry in the Matt Damon-led franchise about a former assassin with amnesia.
First Blood – ITV4 – 11pm
Sylvester Stallone’s brilliant first outing as John J. Rambo, a pushed-to-the-edge former Vietnam veteran and highly skilled Green Beret.
Sideways – TG4 – 11.05pm
A depressed teacher (Paul Giamatti) and a past-his-prime actor (Thomas Haden Church) take a trip to wine country in California to celebrate the latter’s impending wedding in this hilarious, emotional comedy-drama.
The Predator – Channel 4 – 11.05pm
The fourth instalment in the main Predator franchise, which got mixed reviews upon release in 2018.
Halal Daddy – RTE2 – 11.15pm
A pleasant Irish comedy about a young British-Indian Muslim man (Nikesh Patel) who moves to Sligo.
The Night House – Film4 – 11.25pm
A great mystery horror thriller we recommended before starring Rebecca Hall.
The Keeper – BBC One – 11.50pm
This well-reviewed drama from 2018 tells the true story of Bert Trautmann (David Kross), the German PoW who became a footballing legend for Manchester City.
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