What I saw in the holidays....

So then, what brilliant/dire/average British films have you seen over the Easter break?

Once you've seen one, get on the net and do a little digging - reviews, box office, production companies, awards, articles - synoptic stuff.


Post a comment as a personal response but try to use some film terms where appropriate (genre, audience, camerawork, editing, characterisation, mise-en-scene, style, tone, lighting and colour, narrative, sound etc)
Stuck for ideas at the video store? How about this years' Bafta nominations for Best British Film? Control, Eastern Promises, The Bourne Ultimatum, Atonement. Last years': Casino Royale, The Last King of Scotland, Notes on a Scandal, The Queen, United 93. After something a little more 'indy'? Here is some nominations from the 2006 BIFA's:
Kidulthood, Red Road, Severance, Shooting Dogs, The Road To Guantanamo, The Wind that Shakes the Barley.



Chocolate bar to the first poster who can name the famous film that this still frame from The Cottage (Paul Andrew Williams, 2008) clearly pays homage to.....

London to Brighton

Find out more about Paul Andrew Williams' blistering feature film debut by following these links:

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article645728.ece

http://www.britfilms.tv/index.php?id=1351

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_to_brighton

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Andrew_Williams

http://www.l2b-themovie.co.uk/l2b.html

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0490166/

Read a range of reviews for the film. Is there a common thread of praise or scorn? What are the things that reviews tend to focus on? Add a summary to your viewing notes.

Find out what the budget was. Did they recieve any extra funding? How long did the script take to write - how long to shoot? Find out some detail about the production and add to your screening notes.

Write your personal reponse to the film. Did you like it? What did you like about it/dislike? Also consider the representations of gender and criminality in the film. Be specific and use correct film terminology where appropriate.

Working Title Films - case study

Undertake some detailed research on Working Title Films. Who are they? Where are they based? When were they established? By whom? What, and when, was their breakthrough hit film? What sorts of films are they best known for? What are your favourites? (write these as a comment to this post) What are some of their more successful titles? Do they have any special relationships with certain writers or directors? What major awards have they recieved?

Read these articles (and print/take notes) from the bbc and The Guardian. Use their wikipedia entry and official website (have a look at the archive to get an idea of the variety in their work) and other internet resources. Also consider your own knowledge and understanding of Working Title Films.

Final big question:

How do you account for their continued success despite the regular forecasts of doom and gloom for the British film industry? Write at least one side of A4 on this question. Make at least five key points, use PEE and back up with specific examples from a range of films.

Start in lesson, finish for homework and hand in first media lesson next week.

Finally, your favourite Working Title films as comments to this post please...get some healthy debate going!