Freeview films of the day : monday 3rd of February

Double Indemnity (1944 103min.) [Film4 2.05pm &+1]

Classic film noir, starring Barbara Stanwyck, Fred MacMurray and Edward G Robinson. "I killed him for money, and for a woman." A dying man records his murder confession before time runs out.

One of the oustanding films of the film noir genre, everything about it is as near to perfect as possible. The script (by Billy Wilder and Raymond Chandler, from a book by James M.Cain) crackles, pops and fizzes with tremendous one-liners, Wilder directs with economy and style, John F Seitz's black and white cinematography is beautiful and it has a wonderful atmospheric score from Miklos Rozsa.

Barbara Stanwyk defines the cool vamp persona that is a vital part of the genre's makeup, Fred MacMurray is the everyman sap caught up in the double and triple crossing, risking everything for misplaced love and Edward G Robinson mooches about chewing a cigar and representing the "real world" where events like this just don't happen.

Glorious piece of Hollywood mainstream film making from it's golden period.


Black Swan (2010 103min.) [Film4 9.00pm &+1]

Psychological thriller starring Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis and Vincent Cassel. When aspiring ballerina Nina Sayers finally wins the coveted role of the Swan Queen in Swan Lake, it's a dream come true. But while her demanding choreographer thinks Nina is perfect for the role, he has reservations about her ability to portray the Queen's alter ego, the Black Swan - a part that comes naturally to her sensuous rival Lily. As jealousy consumes Nina, her hold on reality becomes increasingly blurred.

Darren Aronofsky's neo-giallo is a dark, hypnotic study of obsession set in the world of ballet.
The camera moves are superb : creeping hand-held shots, swooping crane , intense close-ups and a whirling camera right in amiong the dancers.

The story is a little overblown in places but Portman is excellent in the lead and there's a terrific came by Winona Ryder.
Very intertesting piece of work.