Temat: Brits in Films

Please state a film showing Brits in it. It can be historical or contemporary. UK or American. Pop or obscure.

How are they portrayed?

Describe the location and the social status of the person if you can.

Is there any general image of a Brit? Do you think it's true? Has it had any impact on your overall perception of them?

This discussion requires some effort, but I believe it may be very interesting as I like films a lot and I'm looking forward to it.

1. Terry Thomas
2. 'Human Traffic'
3. Hugh Grant
4. Anthony Hopkins ('Remains of the Day', 'Shadowland')
5. 'Cassandra's Dream': Ewan MacGregor, Colin Farrell
6. Jeremy Irons
7. 'Billy Elliot'
8. 'I.D.'
9. 'Brassed Off' (Pete Postlethwaite)
10. Helen Mirren ('The Queen')
11. 'Elizabeth'
12. 'Secrets and Lies' - films by Mike Leigh
13. 'The Other Boleyn Girl'
14. 'Gosford Park'
15. 'Love and Prejudice' (Colin Firth, also in 'Bridget Jones')
16. James Bond series (Sean Connery)
17. Sherlock Holmes films
18. 'The Draughtsman's Contract' by P. Greenaway
19. Hugh Laurie
20. Gary Oldman
21. 'The English Patient' (Kristin Scott Thomas, Ralph Fiennes, Colin Firth)
22. Clive Owen
23. Jason Staham
24. Tim Roth
25. Keira Knightley
26. Harry Potter
27. Alan Rickman
28. Michael Praed (Robin Hood TV series)Lidia K. edytował(a) ten post dnia 29.06.08 o godzinie 21:11

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Temat: Brits in Films

The classic image:


Obrazek


Terry-Thomas
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Temat: Brits in Films

Human Traffic - It's about young people's lives in Cardiff. Sort of work hard, play hard. Quite funny sometimes, though (assuming that Cardiff is just a fepresentation of the whole of the UK) some scenes are a bit far fetched.

One called South West 9, by the same makers (somehow can't find it on youtube) is cleverer imho, though much more violent. It's about life in Brixton, one of my favourites.
Rafał Janta

Rafał Janta aj em ju ar

Temat: Brits in Films

Interesting thread.

An off-the-cuff reply:
Cute and clumsy Hugh Grant (typecast in virtually all the movies he 's starred) and rigid Anthony Hopkins in The Remains of the Day.

I wonder if those roles reflect true so to say British character or just reinforce the stereotype we've built. Or maybe a bit of the two.

Temat: Brits in Films

Rafal, I'm hoping you'll participate!

Temat: Brits in Films

Woody Allen 'Cassandra's Dream' with Ewan M. and Colin F. :)

Two working class brothers live in South London.
One works in his father's restaurant (Ewan) and the other is in a car garage (Colin). Ewan borrows nice cars to drive his girlfriends from the garage to impress them.
Colin Farrell's acting is very convincing as he is a hard-working car mechanic, later on consumed by guilt. Hands in smear, etc.
Their dream is a boat and later on a house. They drink quite a lot and one of them is relying heavily on pills.
A great Allen scene when Ewan's girlfriends starts talking about Greek tragedies with some playboy at some posh party and Ewan obviously has no clue and is so out of place.

Temat: Brits in Films

Rafał Janta:
Anthony Hopkins in The Remains of the Day.

Love it.

Plus the Shadowland.

Temat: Brits in Films

Hugh Grant certainly deserves a more thorough analysis :)
Rafał Janta

Rafał Janta aj em ju ar

Temat: Brits in Films

Lidia K.:
Rafal, I'm hoping you'll participate!

I already have, haven't I?

I didn't realize we were to provide the synopsis of the film, though ;)

Just wait. They're coming...

Jeremy Irons in Damage (I'm a big fan of him and the film). Again stiffness incarnate. Contrasted and relieved by the French je ne sais quoi...

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Temat: Brits in Films

Lidia K.:
Hugh Grant certainly deserves a more thorough analysis :)

He is thoroughly disliked by most men.

Temat: Brits in Films

'Billy Elliot' by Stephen Daldry (the same who directed The Hours)

about the miners' community in County Durham in mid-eighties and a talented young boy who shows amazing talent in ballet dancing
the struggle between the macho culture of miners and the passion for dancing

a great role of the boy, Jamie Bell and Julie Waters as an ambitious dance teacherLidia K. edytował(a) ten post dnia 28.06.08 o godzinie 23:14

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Temat: Brits in Films

To go to the other extreme:

Hooligan Films.

I.D. is the best.

I'm Lonely Lindawarren W. edytował(a) ten post dnia 28.06.08 o godzinie 23:17

Temat: Brits in Films

Rafał Janta:

I didn't realize we were to provide the synopsis of the film, though ;)
Not really, a short description is enough

Jeremy Irons in Damage (I'm a big fan of him and the film).
aaaaAAAAAAA, I love this man! and the voice!

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Temat: Brits in Films

Lidia K.:
Woody Allen 'Cassandra's Dream' with Ewan M. and Colin F. :)

Loved it!!! And not just because of Ewan MacG. ;) I also liked him in "Brassed Off" (Polish title "Orkiestra") which is one of my favourite British movies. Moreover, I could watch "Billy Elliot" 24/7, as it always recharges me with hope and optimism.


Obrazek

Temat: Brits in Films

Yes, Brassed off were great, too!
A very heartwarming film.
Pete Postlethwaite is among my favorite actors as he reminds me of my late grandfather.

Social context: small Yorkshire mining town threatened to be shut down
Rafał Janta

Rafał Janta aj em ju ar

Temat: Brits in Films

What did you think of Helen Mirren in THE QUEEN?
Can there be a more British Brit than her. That is Her ;)

Temat: Brits in Films

Well, I haven't seen it. I thought it might be boring...

But I saw Elizabeth (just the first part) with Cate Blanchett.

Temat: Brits in Films

Ok, my last post before I go.

Mike Leigh - 'Secrets and Lies'
such a good film!
a woman is looking for her natural mother
a great portrait of a family life
Rafał Janta

Rafał Janta aj em ju ar

Temat: Brits in Films

Lidia K.:
Well, I haven't seen it. I thought it might be boring...

Well, it was boring but you asked to state the films depicting the British not just the ones we liked.
On a historical note, I recently saw The Other Boleyn Girl showing yet another British monarch in action. Henry VIII starred by Eric Bana in a hamletesque manner, two pretty starlets for decoration and the brilliant Kristin Scott Thomas (she was also excellent in Gosford Park and The Four Weddings and a Funeral)

And have you seen Greenaway's "The Draughtsman's Contract". Their accent was so British it actually hurt ;)Rafał Janta edytował(a) ten post dnia 29.06.08 o godzinie 09:39
Ilter K.

Ilter K. Business Developer,
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Temat: Brits in Films

Rafał Janta:
What did you think of Helen Mirren in THE QUEEN?
Can there be a more British Brit than her. That is Her ;)
Yes, I think this is what the image of Brits on people's mind.

We, people who are not Brits, think that all Brits are having a similar character to the one that Helen Mirren pictured in The Queen.

Right or wrong, that's more or less the image.

Calm, unresponsive at times, and sometimes even "cold". There might be something going on inside (emotions) but not clearly visible from outside.

"The Queen" is a nice movie btw. A must see.ilter K. edytował(a) ten post dnia 29.06.08 o godzinie 10:06

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