Suffragette

Suffragette

Film4 etc.

12 October 2015

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

Unfortunately, one of those historical dramas where the directing style-- by Sarah Gavron, eight years after Brick Lane-- distances the viewers instead of bringing us into that time.  

Slumdog Millionaire

Slumdog Millionaire

Film4 Productions etc.

31 October 2008

Drama

DVD
F+

Repellent, especially for such an acclaimed film.  This is loosely based on Vikas Swarup's novel Q & A, and co-directed by Danny Boyle and Loveleen Tandan.  

Room (2015)

Room (2015)

Film4 etc.

4 September 2015

Drama

DVD
C-

I didn't find the situation plausible, but the main two performances were believable, if that makes sense.  Emma Donoghue adapted her own novel, and Lenny Abrahamson directed, three years before The Little Stranger.

The Little Stranger

The Little Stranger

Film4 etc.

21 September 2018

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

I guess this turns into a horror movie or something later, but it felt like a depopulated Downton Abbey episode.  This is based on the Sarah Waters novel and directed by Lenny Abrahamson.

45 Years

45 Years

Film4

28 August 2015

Drama

DVD
C-

A long-married couple's anniversary party is spoiled by the defrosting of his old girlfriend in the Swiss Alps, which sounds like a dark comedy but isn't.  This is based on David Constantine's short story "In Another Country" and directed by Andrew Haigh

Bright Young Things

Bright Young Things
Film Four
3 October 2003
Historical Drama, Historical Comedy
DVD
C

I stayed with this for a half hour, because of the cast and because I thought it had potential, especially with Stephen Fry as director and adapter of the Evelyn Waugh novel Vile Bodies.  But the more I watched, the less I cared about the frivolous young-ish people who went to a lot of "scandalous" parties where they wore costumes.  I was actually more interested in the manuscript that's seized by customs, but that got dropped a few minutes in.

Brick Lane

Brick Lane
Film4
16 November 2007
Drama
DVD
C-

A Bangladeshi girl is sent to London for an arranged marriage after her mother commits suicide.  Years later, it's clear that she is miserable but trying to make the best of things.  This is based on the novel by Monica Ali and directed by Sarah Gavron.

Beautiful Thing

Beautiful Thing
Film4 Productions
28 March 1996
Dramedy
DVD
C

I was on the fence with this, so I gave it a half hour.  The truth is, I liked Leah (Tameka Empson), the Cass-Elliot-worshiping black neighbor girl, better than the main character or anyone else.  Still, it's interesting to see a British '90s movie about a gay teen boy and I did like the touches of humour.  Jonathan Harvey based the screenplay on his stage play, while Hettie Macdonald directed.

The Warrior (2001)

The Warrior (2001)*
Film4
3 May 2002
Historical Drama
DVD
D+

Set in feudal India, this is much more of a historical drama than an action movie, although it is definitely violent.  Asif Kapadia directed and co-wrote.


*IMDB says 2001, counting a Spanish film festival date, but I'm going with the UK release date.