THE MAN WITHOUT A FACE (1993)
Five, 8pm
In his film-directing debut, Mel Gibson stars as a disfigured recluse who becomes a mentor to a troubled teenager, played by the screen novice Nick Stahl. Gibson milks Malcolm MacRury’s muddled script for maximum melodrama, and many of the performances border on caricature, but overall it’s quietly involving for a first effort. (114 min)
LE BOSSU (1997)
Sky Cinema 1, 10pm
Based on the novel by Paul Féval, a contemporary of Alexandre Dumas, Philippe de Broca’s dashing period drama takes place in Regency France. A proud swordsman, Lagardère (Daniel Auteuil), ends up raising the daughter of his aristocratic employee, the Duke of Nevers (Vincent Perez), after a murky assassination plot in the court of Philippe d’Orléans. Solid, swashbuckling fare. (128 min)
THE FOOTBALL FACTORY (2004)
Film4, 11pm
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Largely set on the football terraces of Chelsea and Millwall, Nick Love’s brash adaptation of John King’s cult novel is a boorish, morally dubious celebration of violent hooliganism. Danny Dyer stars as Tommy Johnson, a cocky young Londoner caught up in lager-fuelled street brawls and tribal gang fights. Low on subtlety but bursting with visceral energy, this is a gritty, guilty pleasure. (91 min)
ALL THE LITTLE ANIMALS (1998)
BBC One, 12.15am
The feature directing debut of Jeremy Thomas, best known as the producer of such acclaimed films as The Last Emperor and Crash, is an unsettling drama about a brain-damaged young man (Christian Bale), his hateful stepfather (Daniel Benzali) and a rich misfit (John Hurt) who dedicates his life to burying dead animals. The fable-like plot is muddled and confusing at times, but intriguing enough. (112 min)