Matt Posted October 15, 2007 Posted October 15, 2007 Kes is a good film, it's not my cup of tea - but writer Hines and helmer Loach made a brilliant film. It made me think of other Great British films, Brit Flicks that stood out for their snapshot of an era - and brilliant social analysis. Not unlike Kes... Here's five truly incredible British Films that managed to tick the boxes... 1. Scum (1979) Dir: Alan Clarke Written By: Roy Minton Ray Winstone, Phil Daniels, Mick Ford >>>> YOUTUBE CLIP <<<< 2. The Firm (1988) Dir: Alan Clarke Written By: Al Ashton Gary Oldman, Lesley Manville, Philip Davis >>>> YOUTUBE CLIP <<<< 3. Made in Britain (1982) Dir: Alan Clarke Written By: David Leland Tim Roth >>>> YOUTUBE CLIP <<<< 4. Get Carter (1971) Dir: Mike Hodges Written By: Ted Lewis, Mike Hodges Michael Caine, Brit Ekland >>>> YOUTUBE CLIP <<<< 5. Rita, Sue and Bob Too (1986) Dir: Alan Clarke (! - Bit of a trend developing) Written By: Andrea Dunbar Michelle Holmes, Siobhan Finneran, George Costigan
neiladamsheadband Posted October 15, 2007 Posted October 15, 2007 (edited) how about in my lifetime The life of brian(1979) monty python etc The Long Good Friday(1980) - Starring Bob Hoskins and Helen Mirren gregorys girl(1980) j john gordon sinclair Chariots of fire(1981) - , Ben Cross, Nigel Havers, Ian Charleson withnail and I(1986/7) richard e grant mona lisa(1986) bob hoskins the commitments(1991) ANDREW STRONG Four Weddings and a Funeral(1994) starring Hugh Grant, Simon Callow Trainspotting(1996) - starring - ewan Mcgregor, robert carlysle, The full Monty(1997) Robert carlysle and tom wilkinson others tho my sporting life , goodbye mr chips(love that one) , billy liar, clockwork orange, tons more tho Edited October 15, 2007 by neiladamsheadband
tactically_naive Posted October 15, 2007 Posted October 15, 2007 This is England. Still the best film I've seen this year.
Stevie_J Posted October 15, 2007 Posted October 15, 2007 The Family Way Saturday Night and Sunday Morning A Taste of Honey Raining Stones Dead Man's Shoes Odd Man Out Trainspotting Alfie Whistle Down the Wind Spring and Port Wine
boboafc Posted October 15, 2007 Posted October 15, 2007 the carry on films are a british classic too carry on and a real oldie is the lavender hill mob the mob and for diego a real oldie passport to pilmlico
fleetwood Blue Posted October 16, 2007 Posted October 16, 2007 Lock, stock is a classic I.D is quality The long good friday is excellent
Matt Posted October 16, 2007 Author Posted October 16, 2007 While all these films are in many ways very good, do you think they are a decent portrayal of an era in British life? I'll give you Trainspotting and Withnail and I, amongst some others. However, I doubt Life of Brian qualifies. This is England isn't as good as Made in Britain, and due to MiB's closeness to the era it portrays - Made in Britain beats This is England hands down for accuracy.
Inspiral_Carpet Posted October 16, 2007 Posted October 16, 2007 5. Rita, Sue and Bob Too (1986) Dir: Alan Clarke (! - Bit of a trend developing) Written By: Andrea Dunbar Michelle Holmes, Siobhan Finneran, George Costigan Siobhan Finneran was in my Year at School. Her parents owned the Newsagents in Grotton. Do I win a prize? Back on subject, Get Carter would win my vote. One of the greatest films of all time IMO.
Rocky_Latic Posted October 16, 2007 Posted October 16, 2007 2. The Firm (1988) Dir: Alan Clarke Written By: Al Ashton Gary Oldman, Lesley Manville, Philip Davis >>>> YOUTUBE CLIP <<<< I'm not a fan of the ending personally. Spoilt it a bit for me. Made in Britain is a good film. Others of note. Goodbye Charlie Bright. There is also a film called "Too End All Wars" about a Japanese POW Camp, about a group of captured Scottish Soldiers who are forced to build a rail road which stars Ewan McGregor and Robert Carlyle. It also has the token yank in Keifar Sutherland. Not sure if it's Scottish directed or American though I cant believe no one has mentioned arguably the greatest british film of all time. ZULU Quadrophenia as well. Surely Angela's Ashes would be up there if you added Ireland.
Stevie_J Posted October 16, 2007 Posted October 16, 2007 Surely Angela's Ashes would be up there if you added Ireland. As would 'Cal' and 'Sunday Bloody Sunday'.
Frankly Mr Shankly Posted October 19, 2007 Posted October 19, 2007 I'm really into the kitchen sink dramas from the 60's of late. Poor Cow (1967) One of Ken Loach's early efforts showing the dark, seedy side to swinging London in the 60's. Absolutely stunning turn by Carol White and also John Bindon, as a mobster (who he was in real life, dying of a drug overdose in poverty during the 80's). Also, another which hasn't been mentioned here is Billy Liar (1963). If ever a film wasn't better casted it is surely this one. Every character in it is simply perfect but it's really Tom Courteney that steals the show with a brilliant turn as a daydreaming boy trying to turn his ridiculous thoughts into a reality which is a joy to watch. Julie Christie is really foxy in it and it has a wonderfully thought-provoking ending. Very much an influence on Morrissey and it's easy to tell. Also, honoury mentions for: A Room For Romeo Brass, TwentyFourSeven, Dead Mans Shoes, This Is England (all by Shane Meadows. Stunning.) Rita, Sue & Bob Too (Absolute genius, but this was WELL naughty when it came out!) The Long Good Friday (There simply isn't a better mobster film IMO) Get Carter (heh Alf Roberts; car park! Not quite as good as TLGF, but still genius) The Wicker Man (One of the most downbeat endings in a film ever) Gregory's Girl (Every schoolboy can relate to this!) A Kind Of Loving (More great Kitchen Sink) Georgie Girl (ditto) Small Faces (Underrated Glasgow-set coming of age film) Trainspotting (Don't tell me you've never seen it?) Nil By Mouth (A film version of a smack between the eyes! Amazed this was actually acted!) Straw Dogs (Deliverence if it were in Cornwall!) Shaun Of The Dead, Hot Fuzz (Great fun) Regeneration (One of the most impacting films for WW1) Made In England (This Is England but actually made at the time. A great modern history example) Brighton Rock (One of the first ever British Gangster films) Ice Cold In Alex (Personally, the best british war film ever made) Meantime (Mike Leigh at his best with an all star 'before they were famous' cast) My Summer Of Love (Very absorbing with Paddy Considine shining) Sexy Beast (Rare you'll see a more powerful performance than Ben Kingsley in this) Withnail And I (A student classic!) The Italian Job (Institutional)
Diego_Sideburns Posted October 20, 2007 Posted October 20, 2007 I'm really into the kitchen sink dramas from the 60's of late. I recommend to you Saturday Night and Sunday Morning from 1960.
Matt Posted October 20, 2007 Author Posted October 20, 2007 This Sporting Life - 1963 - Lindsay Anderson/David Storey. With Richard Harris and Wakefield Trinity!
chickers Posted October 20, 2007 Posted October 20, 2007 (edited) what about quadraphenia (sp) Edited October 20, 2007 by chickers
Frankly Mr Shankly Posted October 20, 2007 Posted October 20, 2007 I recommend to you Saturday Night and Sunday Morning from 1960. This Sporting Life - 1963 - Lindsay Anderson/David Storey. With Richard Harris and Wakefield Trinity! Both are on my 'to get' list, along with a couple of others. Amazon's lists are quite good!
oafc_ok Posted October 20, 2007 Posted October 20, 2007 Both are on my 'to get' list, along with a couple of others. Amazon's lists are quite good! Up the Junction (1968) is well worth tracking down, as well.
24hoursfromtulsehill Posted October 20, 2007 Posted October 20, 2007 Up the Junction (1968) is well worth tracking down, as well. No one has yet mentioned Notting Hill, or Love, Actually or, indeed, About a boy. How the academy can look at themselves in the mirror after denying Hugh Grant the Best Actor for any one of his roles in those films is totally beyond me. And none of those films troubled the Best Picture Oscar judges. Scandalous.
StipeTripe Posted October 22, 2007 Posted October 22, 2007 (edited) Ice Cold In Alex (Personally, the best british war film ever made) Excuse me, what about "The Cockleshell Heros" (just picked up in Asda for £3) or better still "In Which We Serve" or or or "The Dam Busters", no "The Battle of Britain" noooooo "633 Squadron" ........ and also Brief Encounter Chariots of Fire If Whisky Galore 39 Steps Goodbye Mr Chips (both with Robert Donat) Remains Of The Day Long Good Friday Any of the Python films? edit:(ooopps last two already on list), but The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, isn't. Edited October 22, 2007 by StipeTripe
Frankly Mr Shankly Posted October 22, 2007 Posted October 22, 2007 Excuse me, what about "The Cockleshell Heros" (just picked up in Asda for £3) or better still "In Which We Serve" or or or "The Dam Busters", no "The Battle of Britain" noooooo "633 Squadron" ........ and also Nah. Still Ice Cold In Alex. Every time I watch it it MAKES me go and get a beer at the end. No other film does that.
Diego_Sideburns Posted October 22, 2007 Posted October 22, 2007 (edited) A more modern British classic is 'Brassed Off', which is the subject of Movie Connections on BBC 1 at 10.35 pm tonight. Pete Postlethwaite's speech in the Albert Hall had me in tears! Edited October 22, 2007 by Diego_Sideburns
StipeTripe Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 What about that one with Samantha Janus playing rugby ? Oh and I forgot to mention yesterday that Mr J lists "Raining Stones", which contains in my umble containes one of the singularly most powerful scenes in the history of film, where the debt collector terrorises the wife. Think I read they did it in one take and the actress didn't know what was going to happen so the shock and emotions are real. Its a great film anyway, and set against the Hollywood like backdrop of early 90's Miggleton.
OldhamSheridan Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 What about that one with Samantha Janus playing rugby ? Up n Under. I wonder what appeals about that film.
happyterryb Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 Siobhan Finneran was in my Year at School. Her parents owned the Newsagents in Grotton. Do I win a prize? Back on subject, Get Carter would win my vote. One of the greatest films of all time IMO. She worked with the current wife in a Jewellers in Oldham and was there when she got the part in Rita Sue etc.... You've just come second. Well I only win by default coz it was the wife who knew her. So I suppose you win really...
happyterryb Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 (edited) Reach For the Sky. An unashamedly patriotic film made about the life of Douglas Bader. RAF Pilot in WW II who lost both legs in a flying accident. Refused to be pensioned off and went on to become an ace during the Battle of Britain until being captured by the Germans after bailing out. They had to take his artificial legs off him to try and stop him repeatedly escaping. My hero above all others. Edited October 23, 2007 by happyterryb
stebuzz Posted October 23, 2007 Posted October 23, 2007 A more modern British classic is 'Brassed Off', which is the subject of Movie Connections on BBC 1 at 10.35 pm tonight. Pete Postlethwaite's speech in the Albert Hall had me in tears! what about THE RAILWAY CHILDREN 1970. made on location around the bronte parsonage and the keighley and worth valley railway.
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