Top Ten Brit films of all time, part 1
Seeing The Third Man on TCM last night starting me thinking about my all-time favorite “Brit” film. Not sure what physically constitutes a British film. Is it one produced at a UK studio, one that has an all-Brit cast, or one set in the UK? Whatever it is, here’s what I came up with for a top-ten list. I know it’s totally a mixed bag of whatever, but each is a classic in their respective genre. Fight amongst yourselves and feel free to take any or all of them to task and make your own list. Here’s #6-10. Come back tomorrow for #1-5, and let the arguments begin.
#10 – Love Actually – seems appropriate given this is set during Christmas time in London that this would make the list. From the writer of Four Weddings and a Funeral, Blackadder and Mr. Bean, Richard Curtis, this arguably is the ultimate romantics movie. With a stellar cast made up of Bill Nighy, Colin Firth, Liam Neeson, Hugh Grant, Laura Linney, Keira Knightley, Rowan Atkinson and Emma Thompson, how can it not make the top ten.
#9 – Kind Hearts and Coronets – other than Alec Guinness, a cast of names you probably won’t know. This definitely belongs in the top ten for the sheer greatness of Alec Guinness, who plays eight roles in this black comedy that revolves around the serial killing of an entire family in line for the dukedom in Victorian England. Click here for a KH&C clip and then go get the entire film.
#8 – Gosford Park – ok, it’s directed by Robert Altman, how can it be a “Brit” film. Based on cast, it is. How can you not include it with the likes of Alan Bates, Stephen Fry, Michael Gambon, Derek Jacobi, Helen Mirren, Maggie Smith, Clive Owen and Frank Thornton in a classic “upstairs/downstairs” setting?
#7 – A Fish Called Wanda – aside from a cast that features John Cleese, Kevin Kline, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Palin and Geoffrey Palmer, it deserves to be in the top ten given it’s a tale of murder, lust, greed, revenge and, of course, seafood.
#6 – Death at a Funeral – stars Matthew MacFadyen from MI-5 and Jane Asher, seen in the upcoming Britcom, The Old Guys. Enough said. Deals with a dysfunctional British family that gathers together when the patriarch of the family passes. Pay no attention to the remake that is coming out. As with most remakes, there’s no reason for them.
Check these out at Premiere Video across from Mockingbird Station. Find Sam or Heather and they’ll point you in the right direction. An unbelievable selection of British imports. Would love to hear some of your favorites. See you tomorrow for picks #1-5. Cheers.
