West Herts Drivetime With Danny Smith

It's a new week for the Film Club, and Charlotte is following last weeks 2000-2003 films by spending this week celebrating 2004-2007!Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams both star in this romance-drama in which a mill-worker and a rich girl fall in love, but her parents don't approve. When he goes away to fight in the second World War, she ends up with another man, but they soon discover their romance is far from over.

The Radio Verulam Film Guide: Friday 18th May 2018 Simon was excited for a birthday party later tonight, so he talked about films with the same amount of enthusiasm as normal.Friday The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) 10.00pm – 12.20am ITV4 Saturday The Damned United (2009)10.35pm – 12.05am BBC2 Sunday The Heat (2013)9.00pm – 11.20pm Film4 Monday Spy (2015)9.00pm – 11.20pm Film4 Tuesday Pulp Fiction (1994)9.00pm – 12.00am Film4 Wednesday Payback (1998)10.00pm – 12.10am ITV4   Thursday The Martian (2015)9.00pm – 11.45m 4Seven

Charlotte finishes a week of the best of 2000-2003 with 'Bruce Almighty'.This 2003 comedy stars Jim Carrey as the titular Bruce Nolan, a Newsroom personality who blames God when he loses out on his dream anchorman position. Soon after, God (Morgan Freeman) actually contacts Bruce and offers him all of his powers if he thinks he can do a better job. Bruce accepts and goes on a spree, using his new-found abilities for selfish, personal use until he realizes that the prayers of the world are going unanswered.Jennifer Anniston and Steve Carrell also star.

Today's Film Club looks at British post-apocalyptic thriller '28 Days Later' from 2002.A courier wakes up from a coma a month after an infectious virus strikes, and finds the city of London devoid of life aside from the zombie-like victims of the ‘Rage Virus’. He soon unites with another group of survivors and joins them on a perilous journey to what he hopes will be safety.Directed by Danny Boyle, it stars Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, Brendan Gleeson and Christopher Eccleston.

Charlotte's Film Club continues with the focus of early 2000s cinema with the 2001 cult classic 'Donnie Darko'.After surviving a freak accident, Donnie (Jake Gyllenhaal) begins to explore what it means to be alive, and in short order to be in love, he uncovers secrets of the universe that give him a tempting power to alter time and destiny.Jenny Malone, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Drew Barrymore also star.

Another Film Club kicks off today, and Charlotte wants to look at releases between 2000 and 2003. Up first is 'What Women Want' from 2000.Mel Gibson stars as an advertising executive who acquires the ability to hear anything women are thinking. Seeing an opportunity, he attempts to use this power to bring about the fall of his female boss, but the more he finds out about her, the more he finds himself falling in love!Nancy Meyers directs, and Helen Hunt also stars. 

Our final Car Film this week is the fourth entry of the 'Fast & Furious' franchise.Vin Diesel's Dominic Toretto and Paul Walker's Brian O'Connor cross paths once again in this new entry to the franchise, which sees the two put aside their rivalries temporarily to investigate the death of Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), one of Torreto's old gang members. 

More 'Car Films' this week, with today being all about the apocalyptic classic 'Mad Max'.In a future in which oil has become a limited resource, the world has degenerated from war and a huge rise in crime. Mel Gibson stars as Max, an officer of the Main Force Patrol, a group trying desperately to keep the peace. When his wife and child are hunted down by a gang of raiders, Max is driven on a vendetta that will see him cross the line however. 

Charlotte's next Car related pick for the Film Club is 'Drive', the crime thriller from 2011.Ryan Gosling is the mysterious Driver, a skilled Hollywood stuntman who moonlights as a getaway driver for criminals. Despite hosting a cold exterior, Driver finds himself warming to his neighbour (Carey Mulligan) and her son while not at work. However, when her husband gets free from prison and enlists Driver's help for a heist, the two will will be thrown into real danger.Bryan Cranston, Oscar Issacs, and Ron Perlman also star. 

It's time for a speedy, pulse-pounding Film Club this week, as Charlotte looks at Films featuring cars. Starting off the week is 'Speed' from 1994.Keanu Reeves stars as a cop who must save a bus full of passengers when a bomb is planted on the vehicle that will cause it to explode if it drops below 50 miles per hour. With the help of a spunky passenger played by Sandra Bullock, will a way be found to stop the bus safely?Along with Reeves and Bullock, Dennis Hopper and Jeff Daniels star.

On the 8th Birthday of the West Herts Drivetime show, Simon presented his choice of free-to-air movies with his usual enthusiastic gusto!FridayThe 6th Day (2000)9.00pm – 11.20pmHorrorSaturdayCasablanca (1942)3.00pm – 5.00pmITV3SundayMegamind (2010)2.30pm – 4.25pmChannel 4MondayNotting Hill (1999)10.20pm – 12.30amITVTuesdayKilling them softly (2012)11.25pm – 1.15amFilm4Wednesday28 Weeks Later (2007)9.00pm – 11.00pmHorrorThursdayDiary of a Teenage Girl (2015)11.15pm – 1.20amFilm4

Simon's picks for the week from 27th April 2018FridayProject Almanac (2014)9.00pm – 11.10pmFilm4SaturdayOverboard10.05pm – 12.15am (1987)ITVSundayChappie9.00pm – 11.25pm (2015)5STARMondayTaxi Driver1.30am – 3.50am (1976)Film4TuesdayThe Fugitive9.00pm – 11.40pm (1993)ITV4WednesdayDrowning by Numbers (1988)1.30am – 3.55amFilm4ThursdayMan In The Saddle2.45pm – 4.30pm (1951)Film4

And the final environmental film pick by Charlotte this week is drama "Deepwater Horizon".Another film based upon real events, the film follows the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, igniting a massive fireball that kills several crew members. Chief electronics technician Mike Williams (Mark Wahlberg) and his colleagues find themselves fighting for survival as the heat and the flames become stifling and overwhelming.

More Environmental themed Films this week, as today Charlotte focuses upon "127 Hours".The 2010 Danny Boyle film is based on the real-life experience of Aaron Ralston, the canyoneer who was trapped for days in a crevice, and left with no choice but to sever his own arm.Stars James Franco, Kate Mara and Amber Tamblyn. 

Charlotte's Film Club continues to look at environmental themes this week, with today being all about the Great Mountain "Everest".Released in 2015, this film is based upon the real-life stories of two climbing expeditions on the final ascent toward the summit of Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth. A violent storm strikes the mountain, challenging the teams with some of the most impossible conditions imaginable.Jake Gyllenhaal, Josh Brolin, Jason Clarke, Sam Worthington, and Keira Knightley star.

It's a Monday, which means its time for Charlotte to set a new theme for the week! Today we begin looking at 'Environmental Films', starting with 1997 thriller "Dante's Peak".Pierece Brosnan stars as Volcanologist Harry Dalton, who works with Mayor Rachel Wando (played by Linda Hamilton), to finally convince the unbelieving populace of a small town that the a huge event is coming one, and an evacuation is needed.When the two release the Mayor's children are still waiting on the mountainside of the active volcano, they have to race against the clock to save them. 

Charlotte closes off this week of her most recently watched films with 'Rogue', a thriller from 2007.A rugged travel-journalist joins a cruise along a crocodile-infested river, and if dealing with fellow travellers wasn't already enough, soon he must match wits against an enormous 25-foot crocodile far smarter than the average.Sam Worthington, Radha Mitchell and Michael Vartan star. 

Today on the Film Club, Charlotte looks at 'Captain America: Civil War', the third instalment of the Captain America series released in 2016, in preparation for the upcoming release of the latest Avengers Film.Captain America and Iron Man are forced to opposing sides as The Avengers fracture over whether they should be controlled by the government, or act under their own free will after the events of the previous films.The expansive cast features Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Jeremy Renner, Paul Rudd, Paul Bettany, Don Cheadle, Elizabeth Olsen, Chadwick Boseman, Martin Freeman and many many more, with Joe and Anthony Russo returning to direct.     

Here are Simon's recommended films on free-to-air TV for the forthcoming week:FridayBuena Vista Social Club9.00pm – 10.40pmBBC4SaturdayTestament of Youth10.05pm – 12.05amBBC2SundayTrainwreck9.00pm – 11.30pm5STARMondayAngel and the Badman12.40pm – 2.45pmFilm4TuesdayEnemy Mine7.55pm – 10.00pmFilm4+1WednesdayDark Places9.00pm – 11.15pmFilm4ThursdayNever Been Kissed6.55pm – 9.00pmFilm4

Charlotte continues to focus on some of the more recent Films she's seen this week, today looking at recent horror release 'A Quiet Place'.The arrival of a monstrous race of creatures that hunt based on sound leaves humanity scattered and alone in the near future. In order to survive, a family lives in total silence on a farm, where the slightest noise can attract the predators.John Krasinski and Emily Blunt star.