Pick of the week: Citizenfour (DR2, Tue 20:40)
As the winner of the Oscar for best documentary, the chilling Citizenfour is a tour-de-force of its genre, garnering an impressive 88 on Metacritic.
Here, we are treated to a new form of cinematic journalism, revealing the story of whistle-blower Edward Snowden and his efforts to disclose information on the intrusive post 9/11 US eavesdropping industry.
The story begins as Poitras receives an encrypted email from the enigmatic stranger Citizenfour, later identified as Snowden. In this email, he offers inside information about the illegal wiretapping practices of the NSA.
Five months later, accompanied by two other journalists, Poitras sets off to Hong Kong to meet Snowden.
Much of the filming takes place in a dark Hong Kong hotel room following the eight tense days during which Snowden’s revelations are first made public.
The film is a bold and engaging real life thriller, unfolding minute by minute in a bizarre union of art and cinematic journalism. It’s tense and unnerving, and it’s guaranteed to leave you hanging on the edge of your seat.
Also new:
An event that could easily go unnoticed affects the lives of four people, linking their fates in an unexpected manner in One Night (DR2, Sun 20:00). The four-episode mini-series presents the story from four different characters’ points of view.
You could find a billion points of view and they would all agree that Ayrton Senna was one of the greats. Take on an adrenaline-pumping ride through a career destined for a tragic, premature ending in Senna (3+, Sun 09:00).
Elsewhere, get your weekly dose of weird with a ‘psychic surgeon’ in Gary: Young, Psychic and Possessed (DR2, Sat 16:00), a stuffed cat-copter in All Creatures Great and Stuffed (DR3, Mon 21:00) or magic tricks on celebrities in Tricked! (SVT4, Sat 20:00); and if that doesn’t do it for you, maybe some insight on surveillance in United States of Secret (DR2, Tue-Thu 23:00), an overview of West coast architecture in Coast Modern (DRK, Thu 22:00)or an answer to the eternal question of what’s better for your body in Horizon: Sugar vs Fat (DR2, Sun, 20:00) will do the trick. (AI)
Coming soon: Powers
Super powers aren’t always used for good; they can also serve as a catalyst for the evil within humans.
Based on the comic book series of the same name, this show sees Detectives Walker (Sharlto Copley) and Pilgrim (Susan Heyward) investigate crimes and solve murders committed by ‘Powers’ – superhuman beings.
Walker’s nemesis Wolfe (Eddie Izzard) isn’t making his job any easier. Did he murder Retro Girl, the victim of the first case the duo must solve? (MD)
Sport of the week:
So, after all the drama, Mags is back in Formula 1, frothing at the bit to go one better than his second place at last year’s Australian Grand Prix (3+, Sun 05:00). Burnley might also fancy their chances following their 2-2 draw at Man City in the PL in December (K6, Sat 18:00), while the CL (3+, Wed 20:00) always has its fair share of underdogs. (BH)
Film of the week:
Joaquin Phoenix could found a religion – and we would follow it. So he’s clearly at home in Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master (SVT2, Fri 22:15), a loose depiction of Scientology founder L Ron Hubbard (Philip Seymour Hoffman). Elsewhere, period romance Firelight (DR1, Sat 00:05) is well worth your time, as is Colombiana (DR1, Fri 21:50) if you’re a teenage boy. (BH)
