Badlands, Parenthood, Run Fatboy Run, Layer Cake, The Long Kiss Goodnight: films on TV today

Terrence Malick is as legendary for his glacial work rate as he is for the majesty of his films (seven as director over 42 years if you include his newest, Knight of Cups, released next year). Badlands was his feature debut, a critical sensation at the time, and a cornerstone of “New Hollywood” cinema today. Nominally, it’s the late-50s-set tale of a baton-twirling South Dakota teenager (Sissy Spacek) who falls under the spell of a James Dean lookalike (Martin Sheen). They escape her ogre of a father (Warren Oates) and run off to Montana together on a disturbingly random killing spree, like an Eisenhower-era Bonnie and Clyde without the bluegrass music. Exquisitely shot and sparingly scored, Badlands is a meditation on many facets of American culture: guns, cars, rock ’n’ roll, teenagers, outlaws, the wilderness, manifest destiny. Acted with a rare lack of self-consciousness by the two leads, it’s a story of boy-meets-girl that just happens to be mythic in scope. An essential.

Parenthood ★★★★
6.35-9.00pm Movie Mix

Kids, eh? Steve Martin stars as the harassed dad trying to do right the right thing, but discovers that offspring have an annoying habit of doing whatever they please.

Run Fatboy Run ★★★
7.00-9.00pm Film4

Simon Pegg squeezes into some very small shorts for this cheeky underdog tale that sees him sign up for a marathon to prove his love for Thandie Newton.

Layer Cake ★★★
9.00-11.15pm 5★

Before Bond, Daniel Craig whet his appetite with this polished thriller, playing a London gangster who wants a bigger slice of the pie - or cake, as the case may be.

The Long Kiss Goodnight ★★★★
10.00pm-12.25am ITV4

Geena Davis goes platinum blonde and her backbone is pure steel as the suburban mum who doubles as a ruthless assassin for the CIA.

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