The BEST FILM OF THE DAY is by far and away Martin Scorsese’s master work, *Taxi Driver (10pm TCM) but the earlier start gave another good film today’s nod. Anyone with the DIRECTV Channel should grab the chance to see from scratch the excellent English police drama, Happy Valley S1E1 7pm DTV, probably Sally Wainwright’s best-written series.

Today’s Number One Film:

Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead, 9pm Sundance. Watch this if you liked Reservoir Dogs, In Bruges or Haven. Sidney Lumet’s last and perhaps his best film, this heist-gone-wrong flick is superbly done, immaculately paced and features towering performances from Philip Seymour-Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Albert Finney and the very spectacularly nude Marisa Tomei. Dark, tense and worrying from the first frames (although said first frames are easily redeemed by said nude Marisa), the notions of betrayal and fidelity fit snugly into the plan of two brothers to solve their own money problems by robbing their parents’ jewel business. Directed by Sidney Lumet/ UK-USA/ Crime-Drama/117 mins/ Rated R.

JUST NOSED OUT:

**Ex Machina (Drama-Mystery-Sci-fi-Thriller), 6pm HBOC; Mustang (Turkish Drama), 10pm FoxCin; The Jungle Book (Action-Adventure-Animated), 9pm HBOF; Star Trek (Eric Bana Actio-Sci-f), 9pm FoxAct; Creed (Action-Sports), HBO2; Orphan (Horror), 6.56pm HBOP;

BEST Pay Per View BET: Doctor Strange (Superhero), Ch 414

*Starred films have been chosen in the last year. ** Double-starred films have been chosen in the last two months.

Scheduled Internet times often vary on the day, particularly around month-end.