10 things to watch in HD (that aren’t football or tennis)

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Blu-ray (out now)
John Le Carre’s genre-defining cold war spy novel was a brilliant, if at times baffling, web of alter egos and secret service back-stabbing. The film – unlikely as it sounds – is even better, with an Oscar-tipped performance from Gary Oldman and subtle lighting that seeps the grey mood of the early 1970s into every frame.

Blackout

BBC One HD, July 2 at 9pm
Christopher Eccleston stars as Daniel Demoys, a corrupt council official in the throes of a mid-life crisis, in this psychological thriller. Demoys hits the bottle, then hits an associate hard enough to put him in a coma, then finds himself lauded as a hero when he prevents a shooting. Naturally, his next step is to run for mayor. Yeah, it gets tense.

The Woman in Black

Blu-ray (out now)
Susan Hill’s spooky novel gets the big screen treatment with a grown-up Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) leading the cast. It’s big on chill-inducing moments and while it could do with a bit more jumpiness, it’s well worth a watch for some summer scares.

Daredevils: Life on the Edge

Channel 4 HD, July 2 at 10pm
Trials cyclist Danny MacAskill’s bike tricks are the stuff of YouTube legend – but mishaps happen, and while he’s recovering from surgery on his knee and his spine, he’s made this documentary about extreme sports fans and what drives them to take the risks they do.

Safe House

Blu-ray (out now)
If you want highbrow, look elsewhere. If, on the other hand, you want to soothe your brain with the comfortably familiar action beats of a Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds buddy crime movie, then you’ll relish this slice of adventure. Inevitably, the titular safe house is anything but.

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