How do you combine pleasure and learning English?
/21 Great British Films
Apart from Hollywood, the British film industry is another powerhouse in cinema. While Hollywood might opt for more bombastic displays of action and drama, British films have a quieter personality to them. Watching British films can help you understand the different variations of British accents from London, to Cockney, to Yorkshire.
If you would like to see my list of recommended TV series, click here.
If you prefer to see my list of recommended American films, click here.
If you prefer to see my list of family-friendly movies, click here.
Enjoy watching!
The Italian Job
Having just got out of prison, Charlie Croker finds out about the passing of his friend and fellow thief Roger Beckerman. Charlie finds out from Roger’s widow that Roger’s death was no accident. Roger was attempting a high stakes job in Italy, underneath the noses of the Italian Mafia. Charlie decides to take on the job himself, using his friends' plans to get started. With the help of a few close friends and several cars, Charlie begins his elaborate heist to steal the gold of Turin.This film features both the London and the Cockney accents.
Room with a View*
Lucy Honeychurch (Helena Bonham Carter) and her older cousin Charlotte Bartlett (Maggie Smith) are touring Florence, Italy. There, Lucy meets George Emerson at a hotel and passionate feelings arise. However, Lucy is currently engaged to her fiance, Cecil, back in London. Once Lucy returns to England, she finds herself conflicted. Will she embrace this new love or continue to marry her fiance?
Four Weddings and a Funeral
In this comedy, Charles (Hugh Grant) and his friends alway seem to be invited to weddings but never have had a chance to get married themselves. During one wedding, Charles meets the American girl Carrie. Carrie is unlike anyone that Charles has met and it is love at first sight. However, after the wedding they do not get together. Charles later attends 3 more weddings and one funeral where he is fortunate to meet Carrie again. However there seems to be something that is keeping them apart. Will Charles and Carrie be able to rekindle the fire between them or will Charles have to settle for someone else?
The English Patient*
In October of 1944, Hana (Juliette Binoche) a nurse in wartorn Italy, volunteers to stay behind at a church to care for a dying patient named Almasy (Ralph Fiennes). The patient is suffering from major burn wounds and is semi amnesiatic. Almasy only remembers he was married and that he is English. However, an intelligence officer named Caravaggio (Willem Dafoe), arrives and is convinced that the patient had served the Germans. As the patient slowly starts to remember his past, he talks mostly about an affair he had with a married woman in North Africa. His biggest regret seems to be about a promise he made but never fulfilled.
Bridget Jones’s Diary
Bridget Jones (Renée Zellweger) is an unattached woman in her thirties who is not happy with where her life is. On New Year's Eve she decides to make a promise to herself. She will lose weight, smoke and drink less, and she will document it all in her diary. However, her New Year's vows aren’t that easy. Bridget starts to develop feelings for her boss Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant), who leads her into an unhealthy affair. To make matters worse, she is being pined over by Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), whom she finds repulsive. When Bridget starts to realise her feelings are not reciprocated by Daniel she starts to question her relationship with him. Is she destined to be alone or will she find love elsewhere?
Pride and Prejudice
Based on Jane Austen’s novel, Pride and Prejudice is a tale of the conflict between romance and tradition. In this tale, the Mrs. Bennett is excited about the arrival of Mr. Bingly who just purchased a large estate nearby. Hoping to marry one of her 5 daughters to them, she introduces the Bennett sisters to Mr. Bingly at a ball. Mr. Bingly takes a liking to the oldest daughter, Jane (Rosamund Pike). Lizzie (Keira Knightly) the second oldest tells her sister Jane she will never marry. The Bennett sisters later meet the curt Mr. Darcy, who did not dance at all and hardly spoke throughout the ball. What follows is a push and pull of Victorian romance where the Bennett sisters must endure several challenges to find love.
Atonement*
In 1935 in England, young 13 year old Briony Tallis (Saoirse Ronan) witnesses the flirting between her sister Cecilia (Keira Knightly) and the housekeeper's son, Robbie (James McAvoy). While Cecilia and Robbie are unsure of their budding romance, Briony misinterprets Robbie’s flirting as sexual assault. Later the Tallis family is visited by their relative Pierrot, Jackson, and Lola along with a friend named Paul. When Briony finds that Lola is being raped, the culprit escapes, and Briony immediately blames Robbie. Robbie is arrested despite not being guilty and is sentenced to 4 years of prison. When WWII begins, Robbie is drafted into the war. Angered by the injustice, Cecilia cuts ties with her family to go find Robbie.
The Reader*
In post war Germany, teenager Michael Berg (Ralph Fiennes) is helped home by a woman named Hanna Schmitz (Kate Winslet). Hanna is twice his age and helps Michael recover from Scarlet Fever. What follows is a brief but passionate romance between Michael and Hanna where Michael would read classic literature to her. Years later after their relationship ends, Michael is a law student and he sees Hanna again. However, Hanna is being charged for war crimes as part of the Nazi SS prison guard. What follows is an enduring tale where Michael discovers a major secret from his past relationship with Hanna.
Inception
Inception is a science fiction film where technology has advanced enough to allow other people to enter someone’s dream. Cobb (Leonardo de Caprio) is a skilled thief who steals corporate secrets from executives with this technology. As a result of his lifestyle, he lives exiled away from his children, unable to be with them. However, when Cobb is presented with an opportunity of a lifetime to be with his children, he takes on one of the most dangerous jobs ever. Instead of stealing secrets, he will plant an idea into someone’s mind.
The King’s Speech*
Based on a true story, Prince Albert (Colin Firth) must ascend to the British throne as King George VI. However, as a King he would be expected to give many speeches but Prince Albert has a speech impediment. Knowing how important it is for the King to be eloquent, Queen Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter) hires the Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). Logue has unconventional methods to teach the new King and soon they become close friends.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
7 Britons each with their own challenges find themselves venturing off to the Marigold Hotel in Jaipur, India. They quickly realise the standard of the hotel is lower than they expected. Their stay at the Marigold Hotel affects all of them differently. Some try to enjoy the trip while others become resentful. Together they share stories about their lives and each of them find a discovery waiting for them at the end.
Philomena*
Based on a true story, former journalist Martin Sixsmith (Steve Coogan) is removed from the Labour Party. Unsure where to go next, he meets a woman who shares the story of her mother named Philomena Lee (Judi Dench). Philomena became pregnant during her time in a Cathlolic convent, leading to her having to give up the child after birth. Intrigued, he meets Philomena and offers to help her find her long lost son.
This film features both English and Irish accents.
The Imitation Game*
The Imitation Game is based on the true story of Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch), a famous mathematician who assisted British intelligence. In a race against time, Alan and a team of mathematicians must work together to crack the German enigma code in WWII.
The Theory of Everything*
The Theory of Everything is a true story about Stephen Hawking’s (Eddie Redmayne) accomplishments as a physicist and the struggles of the fatal disease ALS. Stephen Hawking was diagnosed with ALS at 21 and he continued to struggle with the illness until his death in 2018. Not only did his illness bring him many challenges physically but also in his relationships.
The Danish Girl*
Based on a true story, Einar (Eddie Redmayne) and Gerda Wegener (Alicia Vikander) are a married couple living in Denmark. Both Einar and Gerda are artists living in 1926. One day Gerda is painting a portrait of Einar wearing a dress for fun. However, Einar starts to realise he does not feel that he is male. Instead, Einar wants to transition to being Lili. While many doctors diagnose Lili’s transformation as mental illness, Lili pursues the first ever sex change operation to fully transition into the woman she is.
The Happy Prince
Based on the true story of Oscar Wild (Rupert Everett), the Happy Prince is a solemn tale about the dying days of the famed writer. Having lived a controversial life, Oscar Wilde contemplates his life. He thinks about his failed marriage with Constance (Emily Watson), his love affair with Lord Alfred Douglas (Colin Morgan), and the many people who tried to support him along the way.
The Favourite*
In the 18th century, England and France are at war. Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) is weak due to her illness and her close friend Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz) governs the nation in her stead. When young aspiring servant Abigail (Emma Stone) fascinates Lady Sarah, Abigail is taken under her wing. As the war requires more and more of Lady Sarah’s attention, Abigail is called in to assist in governance. However, Abigail seeks to return to her aristocratic roots and she will not let anyone or anything stop her.
Yesterday
In a funny tale of a world that suddenly forgets the music of the Beatles, Jack Malik (Himesh Patel) realises he is the only person who remembers their music. Seeing this as an opportunity to revive his dying music career, Jack begins producing the music of the Beatles while passing it off as his own work. Jack’s career becomes incredibly successful, no one knows about the charade. However, Ellie Appleton (Lily James), his manager starts to feel intimidated by Jack’s immediate success. Jack has to make a decision. Does he carry on pretending to have written all the Beatles songs? Or will the truth come out?
The Personal History of David Copperfield
A modern take on Charles Dickens’ novel, The Personal History of David Copperfield is a story of rising above tragedy and finding your place in the world. After the death of his mother, David finds himself struggling to navigate the chaotic world of England in 1840. David’s journey is both a tragedy and a comedy. However, he always seeks to find a way to push through.
The Two Popes
Based on a true story, The Two Popes is a tale about the relationship between Cardinal Bergoglio (Jonathan Pryce) and Pope Benedict (Anthony Hopkins). Cardinal Bergoglio requests to retire early due to his frustration with the direction of the church. Pope Benedict decides to summon his harshest critic to reveal a huge secret of the Catholic Church. As trouble stirs in the Vatican, both Pope Benedict and Cardinal Bergoglio have to come face to face with their pasts.
Little Women
Based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott, Little Women is a tale that is set in 1868 in New York City. Jo March (Saoirse Ronan) is a writer and her sister Amy (Florence Pugh) is a painter in Paris. Amy has a chance encounter with Theodore "Laurie" Laurence (Timothée Chalamet), who once proposed to Jo when they were children. Their oldest sister Meg March (Emma Watson) is married to a school teacher. When their youngest sister Beth (Eliza Scanlen) develops a life-threatening illness, all the March sisters are brought together.
* My personal favourites
If you are looking to discuss your company’s Business English communication needs or Presentation communication needs, I offer free 30-minute consultations through the contact page of my site. I’d love to meet you.