Seven British Movies Worth Watching
If there’s one thing I don’t think I do enough of it’s watch foreign films. And I think that’s a humongous mistake. In general subtitles annoy the hell out of me. However, I really need to force myself to read them because I’m missing out on some amazing movies.
And then there are foreign movies where you don’t even need subtitles. Well in those cases there’s just no excuse. Today I’ll be focusing on British films. Plenty of directing talent out there in Great Britain.
So here are seven British films that I know you’ll all like…..
Trainspotting
Yes it’s Scottish in terms of the people in the film but it’s a British film nonetheless. Its’ Danny Boyle remember? It was either picking this movie or choosing Slumdog Millionaire. I’m pretty sure everyone’s seen that already. Anyway, you guys all know about Trainspotting. It’s the sordid tale of crummy Scots who turn to crime to feed their heroin habits. It’s a total indy flick with fresh music and cinematography.
Chariots of Fire
A devout Scottish missionary and a Jewish Cambridge student have major challenged in trying to run in the 1924 Olympics. This was the film debut of director Hugh Hudson. The movie won four Oscars and was said to have started an infusion of British films in Hollywood. That didn’t quite work out but the movie was awesome nonetheless.
The Full Monty
A group of out-of-work Sheffield steelworkers decide to become male strippers to try to make some much-needed money. They decide that on one night only they were strip down to their bare asses. It was a great script by Simon Beaufoy and the film established Robert Carlyle as a leading man. It actually got 4 Oscar nods too.
The Commitments
Alan Parker’s funny and extremely satisfying story of a group of young Dubliners who form a band determined to sing 1960s soul music. They are gathered together from all walks of life by the ambitious Jimmy Rabitte (p.s. you have to see the sceneof the procession of wannabes who come to his front door for interviews). The real discovery in this movie is the amazing vocal talent of Andrew Strong, who plays the heavyweight singer Decco Cuffe
A Fish Called Wanda
Inspired farce from John Cleese (who stars and wrote the script) which combines moments of Python-style ridiculousness with the structure of a classic comedy. Veteran director Charles Crichton also deserves credit for this story of a British barrister who gets involved with a sexy con artist and her mindless roughneck boyfriend and their robbery plans. Kevin Kline actually won an Oscar for his performance in this film.
My Left Foot
The movie is about the strident Irish artist-writer Christy Brown, born with cerebral palsy who defies odds to become a huge success. Director Sheridan in his debut film handles the mixture of emotion, humor and drama perfectly, and extracts remarkable performances all round, especially from Hugh O’Connor as the young Christy. Daniel Day Lewis and Fricker both won Oscars for their performances.
Brazil
You gotta throw in a Terry Gilliam film! His examination of a 1984-like future society swirls between the bleak reality of the life of hapless clerk Sam Lowry and his confused dreams. Robert DeNiro crops up as a grinning freedom fighter, and Katherine Helmond is Sam’s bizarre mother. The film was initially cut by some 11 minutes for its US release and became the subject of a campaign to have the full version screened.
*I refuse to put The English Patient on here because of Seinfeld.
Other Notables Include
Hope and Glory
A Clockwork Orange (I know how good this movie is, relax)
Metroland
And you can check out the full BFI Top 100 if you want more.
Terry Gilliam isn’t British. But we’ll take him if you don’t want him. Love Brazil & Time Bandits
British cinema is so underrated in the states. You guys gotta cut down on the xenophobia a bit, don’t you agree?
I’d add Layer Cake to the list. Daniel Craig is a proper badass in it.
“Yes it’s Scottish in terms of the people in the film but it’s a British film nonetheless”
Hmm… Scottish, Welsh, Irish, English – they’re all British. Whether you want to consider it geographically – the islands: Great Britain/Ireland or politically – countries: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland / Republic of Ireland
Let’s not forget Guy Ritchie’s two quality gangster pictures “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” and “Snatch”. Ritchie may not have done much to live up to the two movies that made him famous, but they’re still great flicks in my mind.
“Trainspotting” is undoubtedly one of Danny Boyle’s best, but I will always love “28 Days Later” most.
And let’s not forget the pulpy genius that is Neil Marshall!
Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz
You do know that My Left Foot and The Commitments are considered Irish…and what I mean by Irish, I mean from the REPUBLIC of Ireland. This means we are a very VERY separate country from the United Kingdom of Great Britain. Its a touchy subject, so please get your facts right! Its like calling America a part of the UK. The Irish fought for their freedom just like you guys! I’d even consider renaming the article Nattyb.
They are directed by Brits dude.
History Boys.
Cool coming of age flick.
I have been a fan of this site for a long time.
Very disappointed to see you calling Irish films ‘British’.
If you wanted to write about movies directed by British people, you should have called the article just that.
Oh, and Jim Sheridan was born in Dubin, just like myself.
The Commitments was written by an Irishman and filmed and cast purely in Ireland.
Saying it was directed by a British person, and thus is a British movie is a pretty lame excuse.
The commitments and My Left foot are not ‘considered’ Irish, they are Irish.
And John is right, this is a very touchy subject for a lot of people.
The lack of anything Guy Ritchie (whether it be Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, or Rocknrolla) makes this list moot.
@Nattyb
By that argument Alien, Blade Runner, Gladiator, Scott Pilgrim, Kick Ass, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Psycho, North By Northwest, Vertigo and The Birds are all British films too.
Franklyn. Despite the clichéd phrasing of the following sentence; Most underrated movie ever.
British movie are those made in Britain which includes England, Scottish, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The Commitments and My Left Foot are both made in The Republic of Ireland, which is not Britain.
These movies should not be on the list unless the list title is changed.
Death At A Funeral
I thought Snatch would have been on here.
Came here to suggest Layer Cake, but I see I’ve been beaten to it.
Ah well, it’s still a great crime movie, where new characters keep appearing and the interactions between all the players are never what the seem.
Well played by all members, especially Craig, and Sienna Miller is certainly looking her finest in this movie.
The original Fever Pitch
Agree with all the comments above about the Irish movies beeing listed under the label of British.
Like the people have said, this is a very touchy subject over on this side of the pond. A lot of people have died over the course of history in the fight for Irish freedom from Britain.
Aside from that, some decent choices for the films. I’d add Withnail and I, which is the ultimate drinking game movie of all time.
And the highest grossing film franchise of all time, aka, Harry Potter, may have Holywood funding, but is cast entirely with British and Irish actors and filmed on location in England.
I cant believe Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels didnt even get honorable mention
But don’t you all think that perhaps it shouldn’t be such a touchy subject, it’s 2011 for christ’s sake!
If someone, somewhere in world, lumps Irish and British people together in a list … on the internet, of all places … and you find yourself shaking your fist angrily at the sky and cursing all those who don’t carefully research our history before uttering a word about us, then maybe you’re just a little bitch who needs to grow up and have his internet activity supervised by an adult for excessive whining! It’s not a big deal!
Also, throwing in my support for Layer Cake and 28 Days Later, DAYS later, not weeks!
Hey, where the hell is anything by Christopher Nolan. He’s British.
The major problem here is xenophobia. We understand if you dont like subtitles but when the place where the film/director went is some kind of barrier something is very wrong
Long-Time Reader, First time commenter, and an Irishman (you know where this is going)
Yeah, seriously, The Republic (i.e. South) of Ireland has been independent of the Brits for nearly 100 years now. It’s still a pretty near thing for the older generations.
So yeah. Commitments and My left Foot are deadly films.
Good Films, made in Ireland, by the Irish.
@FD Your damn right but we have made far better films that those even.
Back on track, I wanna throw my support in for Hot Fuzz and Death at a funeral but these comments are full of good recommendations
Boy A, anyone?
Snatch!
you forgot 28 weeks later bruv, and i know cuz im british, check the name lol
You obviously need the difference UK, Great Britian and England explained to you. Here this simple video explains more than you need to know:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNu8XDBSn10
Can’t believe you never put east is east or clockwork orange. great films! XD
The commitments is part of a trilogy. Watch The Snapper and the Van as well. Oh and intermission too while your at it!