Where do we start? The British Film industry is really hot right now and shows no sign of cooling down any time soon. This year alone there are at least 35 British Films which are certainly worth watching out for. However, to make it a little easier for you to choose we have narrowed it down to our top 5 to watch out for, and believe me this wasn’t an easy job.
A HUNDRED STREETS.
A Hundred Streets is one of those films that have 4 interlinking stories, all of which are all set within the same square mile of London. The film is based on a short story from 2012 which depicts life of the ordinary person. The film was co-written with first time feature film writer Leon Butler. Idris Elba plays a former rugby player who is estranged from his wife, who is played by Gemma Arterton. Other cast members include Samantha Banks, Charlie Creed-Miles, Ken Stott and Jamie Foreman and it is also Jim O’Hanlon’s directorial debut.
HIGH-RISE
High Rise is an adaptation of a 1975 novel by J. G. Ballard. The film takes place in a wealthy tower block in London, cut off from society with an isolated community at the time if the rise of Margaret Thatcher’s rise to political power. Tom Hiddleston plays a young rich doctor, Robert Laing, who soon discovers the complex loyalties of the residents of the block. He strikes up two friendships, one being with Charlotte (Sienna Miller), the devoted aide of the architect of the building Anthony Royal (Jeremy Irons), The other with Richard Wilder (Luke Evans), a documentary film maker who is hell bent on provoking the class injustices within the tower which soon see’s an orgy of violence and destruction break out.
KILL YOUR FRIENDS
Kill Your Friends is another book adaptation for your eyes, this time coming in the form of John Niven’s novel of the same name. Set in London in 1997, this black comedy crime thriller paints a portrait of the Music industry of the 90’s. The story follows A&R man Steven Stelfox (Nicholas Holt) as he bulldozers his way through the music business, fuelled by greed, ambition and a ridiculous amount of drugs. He is certainly living his dream. Unfortunate for him the hits straight to dry up and everything within the industry changes too. In an attempt to revive his career Stelfox takes the concept of “killer tunes” to a whole new level.
MACBETH
We’ve had many of Shakespeare’s production, Macbeth (the most famous of his tragedies), adapted for the big screen but I’m counting on this being one of the best. Everyone should know this story, but for those who aren’t the story follows a brave Scottish general named Macbeth who receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders King Duncan and takes the throne for himself. This might not be a wholly British production with an impressive cast including Michael Fassbender playing Macbeth, Marion Cotillard as the calculating Lady Macbeth and a supporting cast of Sean Harris, David Thewlis, and Paddy Considine this is going to be a fest for the eyes.
THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING.
Already out in cinemas, British Film is starting of the New Year with a bang. The Theory of Everything tells the story of the early years of acclaimed theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking and his relationship with his now ex wife Jane Wilde, before being diagnosed with motor neuron disease and during the development of his disease.
With Eddie Redmayne in the lead role and playing let’s face it a blinder in his portrayal as Hawking this film is tipped to win award after award for the acting excellence alone. This film is certain to catapult Redmayne into super stardom and we should all be proud that this accolade will come from a very British film.
