Best British Films Poll

ashyle · 31-08-2009 3:07am #1

Just reading the Observer film magazine today, the top three British films 'as chosen by experts' were Trainspotting, Withnail & I andSecrets & Lies. I know lists like these are extremely arbitrary but I thought the first choice was rather odd, Trainspotting? I mean I know it's a good film but its not exactly one i could stomach watching over and over again!!

Thought there might be an ol Hitchcock in there. (maybe it had to be financed by British money? It doesn't steadfastly set out the criteria for being a British film in the article) Hot Fuzz didn't make the list at all, nor any Wallace and Gromit, which are amazing films. What would be your top British films?

Wacker · 31-08-2009 6:41am

The Third Man, starring Orson Welles.

getz · 31-08-2009 7:46am

a taste of honey, and tiger bay, why i managed to get a walk on part on both.

mike65 · 31-08-2009 8:50am

How old are you!?

That list is for the era 1984-2009 ie the last 25 years.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/aug/30/best-british-films-poll

Illkillya · 31-08-2009 9:17am

Naked
Dead Man's Shoes
Withnail & I

Basq · 31-08-2009 10:13am

Edgar Wright's selections would actually be pretty close to my own:

My top 10: Edgar Wright, director

Life is Sweet (Mike Leigh, 1991)
Sexy Beast (Jonathan Glazer, 2000)
Dead Man's Shoes (Shane Meadows, 2004)
Trainspotting (Danny Boyle, 1996)
The Filth and the Fury (Julien Temple, 2000)
Withnail and I (Bruce Robinson, 1987)
Control (Anton Corbijn, 2007)
Hunger (Steve McQueen, 2008)
The Descent (Neil Marshall, 2005)
The Low Down (Jamie Thraves, 2000)

faceman · 31-08-2009 1:06pm

I find it hard to define what makes a british film or an Irish film but heres some of my favourites in no particular order:

The Third Man
The Wicker Man
Nil by Mouth
The 39 Steps
The Crying Game
Gandhi
Withnail & I
The Commitments
Life of Brian

Im tempted to add Slumdog too but as its recent I will leave it out to see how if my view on it remains the same over time

Oh wait, I forgot Four Weddings.....

Magic Eight Ball · 31-08-2009 3:53pm

faceman wrote: »

I find it hard to define what makes a british film or an Irish film

Basically it's where the majority of funding comes from.

An example would be Steve McQueen's 'Hunger'.
Yes it's an Irish story about an political Irish figure, but made with British money (and director) hence it's considered a British film.

Dont be at yourself · 31-08-2009 3:56pm

Full Monty is an excellent comedy. Shallow Grave is great too.

faceman · 31-08-2009 9:40pm

Trevor Coulahan wrote: »

Basically it's where the majority of funding comes from.

Seems a fair explanation to me

candy-gal1 · 01-09-2009 3:37pm

love actually, love this movie!
notting hill
the full monty
bridget jones diary, a classic!!

Cactus Col · 02-09-2009 8:52am

Withnail and I ... the british Big Lebowski. Both over-rated, both over-quoted.

Assuming The Elephant Man isn't eligible then:

Don't Look Now
Trainspotting
Kind Hearts and Coronets.

Nolanger · 02-09-2009 6:50pm

ashyle wrote: »

Just reading the Observer film magazine today, the top three British films 'as chosen by experts' were Trainspotting, Withnail & I andSecrets & Lies.

They're called Empire magazine readers.

Latchy · 02-09-2009 6:54pm

Sexy Beast (Jonathan Glazer, 2000) is one that springs to mind to .

irish_bob · 02-09-2009 8:16pm

candy-gal1 wrote: »

love actually, love this movie!
notting hill
the full monty
bridget jones diary, a classic!!

i wouldnt go to the cinema with you candy even you promised to sit in the back seat

, you,ve horrible taste

irish_bob · 02-09-2009 8:18pm

Latchy wrote: »

Sexy Beast (Jonathan Glazer, 2000) is one that springs to mind to .

sexy beast was panned upon release and is an awfull movie , sun burned pot bellied ray winstone and ben kingsley with a horrible accent

Ruu_Old · 02-09-2009 8:19pm

This is England deserves a mention.

Latchy · 02-09-2009 8:24pm

irish_bob wrote: »

sexy beast was panned upon release and is an awfull movie , sun burned pot bellied ray winstone and ben kingsley with a horrible accent

C4 have shown it about 3 times since it's realease and sky movies a few times to . Ben Kingsly's comical 'cockney gangsta role ' is more a piss take than anything like even he has the last words in his grave so for that alone it was good for the laughs .

Ruu wrote: »

This is England deserves a mention.

Yes and quite disturbing in parts

CSC · 02-09-2009 10:51pm

The Long Good Friday is a great film.

Nolanger · 03-09-2009 8:21am

Lads, listing out the 'best' Brit movies of all time that just happen to have been made from the '70s onwards is called being ignorant!

rednik · 03-09-2009 8:36am

Zulu, Barry Lyndon, Full Metal Jacket and the list goes on.

getz · 03-09-2009 8:47am

Nolanger wrote: »

Lads, listing out the 'best' Brit movies of all time that just happen to have been made from the '70s onwards is called being ignorant!

thats very true,if you ask many of the older boardies they may well come up with, noel cowards films, like brief encounter [1946] set at langwathby railway station,cumbria, its now a restaunt and shop.or his other films like lawrence of arabia,even ryans doughter.it a matter of taste.

Basq · 03-09-2009 8:50am

Nolanger wrote: »

Lads, listing out the 'best' Brit movies of all time that just happen to have been made from the '70s onwards is called being ignorant!

Bit of an ignorant comment from yourself, Nolanger!

From the OP:

ashlye wrote:

What would be your top British films?

It's not a definitive list.. it's people's opinions of "their" top British films!

Some people just may not have seen or have Brit films before the 70's fresh in their mind.

04-09-2009 3:51pm

Well, don't know about the "best" but some of my personal faves:

Billy Elliott
Brazil
Brief Encounter
Dead Man's Shoes
Excalibur
Farenheit 451
Hot Fuzz
Monty Python and The Holy Grail
My Beautiful Laundrette
Much Ado About Nothing
Quadrophenia
Secrets & Lies
Sexy Beast
Shadowlands
Shaun of the Dead
The Ladykillers
The Lady Vanishes (1938)
This Is England
28 Days Later
Withnail and I
Zulu

candy-gal1 · 06-09-2009 5:02pm

irish_bob wrote: »

i wouldnt go to the cinema with you candy even you promised to sit in the back seat , you,ve horrible taste

lol

but they are classics!! in my head anyway!

OutlawPete · 07-09-2009 3:20am

My Top 10 would be ..

Withnail & I
Trainspotting
Educating Rita
The Crying Game
Clockwise
The Killing Fields
Human Traffic
Gregory's Girl
Four Weddings & A Funeral
Cry Freedom

Best British Films Poll

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