The Great Beauty, Tootsie, Desperado: films on TV today

The Great Beauty ★★★★
Premiere 11.25pm-2.15am Film4

Italian auteur Paolo Sorrentino’s gorgeously tragic and operatic paean to Rome was my favourite film of 2013 and the best foreign language winner at the Oscars and Baftas. His English-language follow-up, Youth (released Friday) has already won star Michael Caine a European Film Award, although it has failed to tickle the American Academy or Bafta. Either way, both films are about old age and reflection on past lives, a refreshing change from cinema’s obsession with, well, youth.

Tootsie ★★★★
6.45-9.00pm Film4

Dustin Hoffman walks the walk in high heels in this sharp and sassy cross-dressing comedy, which also co-stars Bill Murray and features Geena Davis in her movie debut.

The Specialist ★★★
10.00pm-12.15am ITV4

Sharon Stone hires bomb expert Sly Stallone to avenge her parents' death. But as you'd expect from the woman who cornered the 1990s femme fatale market, things are not as they seem.

Desperado ★★★★
10.50pm-12.55am Movie Mix

This stylish, bloody tale of a guitar-player’s revenge made Antonio Banderas a star. Sultry Salma Hayek gives him a run for his money in the smouldering stakes.

Tender Mercies ★★★★
11.00pm-1.00am True Entertainment

Nominated seven times for an Oscar, Robert Duvall got to take one home for his brilliantly subtle performance in this tender drama about a one-time country singer having another go at love and life.

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