UK & Ireland Challenge (Official, September 2023)

[RogerTheMovieManiac88]

UK & Ireland Challenge 2023


Welcome all, or Céad Míle Fáilte as we say here in Ireland!

Goal:
Watch films from the UK & Ireland during September 2023.

CHALLENGE RULES
- A feature film (over 40 minutes) counts as one entry.
- 60 minutes of short films counts as one entry.
- 80 minutes of mini-series/TV series counts as one entry.
- Films should be watched one at a time.
- Re-watches are allowed and can be good for the soul.
- Please include year of release and director when listing your viewings.

Official Lists
Time Out's The 100 Best British Films
BFI's Top 100 British Films
BAFTA Award Best British Film
UNESCO's Memory of the World: National Cinematic Heritage (495-512 are Irish)

Non-Official Lists
iCM Forum's Favorite UK Movies Top 150
Total Film's 50 Best British Movies
Fifty Key British Films (Routledge Key Guides)
Barry Norman: 50 greatest British films of all time
The 100 Best British Films Ever (by Empire)
Top 250 British Films -Empire
A Personal History of British Cinema by Stephen Frears
The IMDb's Classic Film Board's 100 Essential British and Irish Films
Martin Scorsese British films
Tarantino and Wright British films
The List Magazine's Best Scottish Films
Going to the Pictures: Scottish Memories of Cinema
Richard Mowe's Top 20 Scottish films of the 20th Century
Brian Pendreigh's Top 20 Scottish Films
Whatculture.com's 18 Greatest Scottish Films
The Telegraph: 20 Great Scottish Films
Total Film's 29 Incredible Irish Movies
Film Ireland's 10 Best Irish Films
The Irish Times Best 50 Irish Movies
Top 10 Welsh Films (BBC)
Total Film's 23 Awesome Welsh Movies

This Challenge has been run five times before:
2021 Challenge - hosted by Lonewolf2003 and won by AB537 with 85 points
2019 Challenge - hosted by clemmetarey and won by albajos with 150 points
2016 Challenge - hosted by HVM and won by Cippenham with 42 points
2013 Challenge - hosted by HVM and won by brokenface with 34 points
2012 Challenge - hosted by mightysparks and won by Kasparius with 74 points

BONUS CHALLENGE:
Individual leaderboards for #England, #Ireland, #NorthernIreland, #Scotland, #Wales, the #IsleOfMan and the #ChannelIslands. Just add one of these to films to take part here.

For more information:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_of_Ireland
https://ifiarchiveplayer.ie/
https://digitalfilmarchive.net/index
https://www.imuseum.im/manx-language-fo ... s-archive/
https://movingimage.nls.uk/
https://www.library.wales/catalogues-se ... m-heritage
https://letterboxd.com/man_out_of_time/ ... s-on-film/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Welsh_films
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_of_Scotland
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_of ... rn_Ireland
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_Man_Film
Films from Ireland on IMDb
Films from Isle Of Man on IMDb

Overall Leaderboard:


1. gunnar - 71 points
2. frwnk - 65 points
3. pitchorneirda - 40 points
4. sol - 39 points
5. jdidaco - 36 points
6. AB537 - 29 points
7. blocho - 25 points
8. DudeLanez - 22 points
9. OldAle1 - 19 points
10. AssonFire - 16 points
11. magnusbernhardsen - 15 points
12. PUNQ - 13 points
13. maxwelldeux - 11 points
13. peeptoad - 11 points
13. Silga - 11 points
16. Lonewolf2003 - 10 points
17. ororama - 8 points
18. Mario Gaborović - 7 points
19. vortexsurfer - 3 points
20. Tngy - 1 point


Bonus Challenge:

England:
frwnk - 50 points
jdidaco - 26 points
OldAle1 - 19 points
DudeLanez - 18 points
sol - 18 points
AB537 - 14 points
blocho - 13 points
magnusbernhardsen - 10 points
Silga - 10 points
Mario Gaborović - 7 points
ororama - 7 points
peeptoad - 5 points
tngy - 1 point


Ireland:
sol - 6 points
frwnk - 5 points
blocho - 3 points
jdidaco - 3 points
AB537 - 2 points
DudeLanez - 1 point
ororama - 1 point
peeptoad - 1 point


Scotland:
frwnk - 9 points
blocho - 7 points
AB537 - 5 points
magnusbernhardsen - 4 points
DudeLanez - 3 points
sol - 3 points
jdidaco - 2 points
peeptoad - 1 point


Wales:
jdidaco - 5 points
sol - 5 points
frwnk - 1 point
peeptoad - 1 point


Northern Ireland:
sol - 4 points
peeptoad - 1 point


Isle of Man:
sol - 2 points
peeptoad - 1 point
Silga - 1 point


Channel Islands:
peeptoad - 1 point
sol - 1 point


(leaderboard after 233 posts)


Happy Viewing!

[magnusbernhardsen]

I hadn't realized that there isn't an official list for Irish films.

[gunnar]

The standard for short films, mini-series, and tv-series has been 80 minutes of any of them for the last couple of years. I think there was some big discussion about it before I became active and that's what was settled on. I don't really plan on watching anything other than features for this challenge, but I thought that I'd let you know in case you wanted to change the OP.

[magnusbernhardsen]

Could the Channel Islands be added to the bonus challenge? They are also dependencies of the Crown like the Isle of Man?

[RogerTheMovieManiac88]

The standard for short films, mini-series, and tv-series has been 80 minutes of any of them for the last couple of years. I think there was some big discussion about it before I became active and that's what was settled on. I don't really plan on watching anything other than features for this challenge, but I thought that I'd let you know in case you wanted to change the OP.

Thanks, gunnar. Hehe, I'm well aware. I decided to separate short films from TV as I find 80-minute chunks of short films actually present a disincentive to post.

I can change the TV to 80 minutes if that is what you or any TV watchers would prefer.

[RogerTheMovieManiac88]

Could the Channel Islands be added to the bonus challenge? They are also dependencies of the Crown like the Isle of Man?

Yes, of course. Many thanks for the suggestion, Magnus. I'll list them collectively as the Channel Islands, unless you think Guernsey and Jersey would be more apposite?

[magnusbernhardsen]

Yes, of course. Many thanks for the suggestion, Magnus. I'll list them collectively as the Channel Islands, unless you think Guernsey and Jersey would be more apposite?

WHAT ABOUT ALDERNEY AND SARK!!!???

Nah, I think listing them as the Channel Islands is perfect.

[RogerTheMovieManiac88]

I hadn't realized that there isn't an official list for Irish films.

It is somewhat surprising, yes. I suppose finding a good list is half the problem.

[RogerTheMovieManiac88]

Yes, of course. Many thanks for the suggestion, Magnus. I'll list them collectively as the Channel Islands, unless you think Guernsey and Jersey would be more apposite?

WHAT ABOUT ALDERNEY AND SARK!!!???

Nah, I think listing them as the Channel Islands is perfect.

Lovely places, but the cinema output is a bit thin on the ground...

[gunnar]

Thanks, gunnar. Hehe, I'm well aware. I decided to separate short films from TV as I find 80-minute chunks of short films actually present a disincentive to post.

I can change the TV to 80 minutes if that is what you or any TV watchers would prefer.

I understand what you mean about the short films. I think moving the TV mark back to 80 minutes would be good if you don't mind. I think setting the mark at 120 minutes is a strong disincentive to not watching anything in that category, though perhaps that is by intent. I do have quite a few UK TV shows that I plan to watch eventually, but with around 80 UK features and 40 Silent features plus a few animated films lined up to watch, I doubt if I'll have time to get to any of them. And if I did have time, I'd probably use it to watch a few more silents.

[RogerTheMovieManiac88]

Thanks, gunnar. Hehe, I'm well aware. I decided to separate short films from TV as I find 80-minute chunks of short films actually present a disincentive to post.

I can change the TV to 80 minutes if that is what you or any TV watchers would prefer.

I understand what you mean about the short films. I think moving the TV mark back to 80 minutes would be good if you don't mind. I think setting the mark at 120 minutes is a strong disincentive to not watching anything in that category, though perhaps that is by intent. I do have quite a few UK TV shows that I plan to watch eventually, but with around 80 UK features and 40 Silent features plus a few animated films lined up to watch, I doubt if I'll have time to get to any of them. And if I did have time, I'd probably use it to watch a few more silents.

Consider it done. Whatever fits best - and ensures contented participants!

[gunnar]

[Mario Gaborović]

01. The Moors Murders Code (2004) - #England

[RogerTheMovieManiac88]

01. The Moors Murders Code (2004) - United Kingdom

Hello, Mario. The challenge is for viewings started in September. It's 12:15 or so in Serbia, isn't it?

[Mario Gaborović]

01. The Moors Murders Code (2004) - United Kingdom

Hello, Mario. The challenge is for viewings started in September. It's 12:15 or so in Serbia, isn't it?

I finished watching at 00:01- what's the problem?

[RogerTheMovieManiac88]

01. The Moors Murders Code (2004) - United Kingdom

Hello, Mario. The challenge is for viewings started in September. It's 12:15 or so in Serbia, isn't it?

I finished watching at 00:01- what's the problem?

That is jumping the gun, I am afraid. The challenge started at 12 midnight. I shall have to disallow this viewing.

[Mario Gaborović]

Hello, Mario. The challenge is for viewings started in September. It's 12:15 or so in Serbia, isn't it?

I finished watching at 00:01- what's the problem?

That is jumping the gun, I am afraid. The challenge started at 12 midnight. I shall have to disallow this viewing.

Nevermind. I've got some more docs about these monsters lined up.

[RogerTheMovieManiac88]

I finished watching at 00:01- what's the problem?

That is jumping the gun, I am afraid. The challenge started at 12 midnight. I shall have to disallow this viewing.

Nevermind. I've got some more docs about these monsters lined up.

I'm sorry about this, Mario. I don't like coming down against eagerness, but I want to enforce the basic challenge parameters.

[Mario Gaborović]

01. Brady and Hindley: Possession (Jonathan Jones, 2013) - #England

[sol]

1. The Man Who Haunted Himself (1970) UK #England REVISON



Predating Denis Villeneuve's Enemy in many ways, this classic thriller involves a businessman with a doppelganger on the loose who appears to be impersonating him and making business deals on his behalf. It all stacks up magnificently to revision, even knowing all of the twists and turns. What works especially well is how we never see the doubles together at all for the vast majority of the film with delicious ambiguity as to whether it is all in his mind and he is simply "forgetting" certain events. Suspense is frequently milked for all that it is worth too, while Roger Moore has never been better on film.

[Mario Gaborović]

02. Myra: The Making of a Monster (Michael Attwell, 2003) - #England

Spoiler

01. Brady and Hindley: Possession (Jonathan Jones, 2013) - #England

[Mario Gaborović]

03. Rose West and Myra Hindley - The Untold Story (Hugh Ballantyne, 2020) - #England

Spoiler

01. Brady and Hindley: Possession (Jonathan Jones, 2013) - #England
02. Myra: The Making of a Monster (Michael Attwell, 2003) - #England

[RogerTheMovieManiac88]

Name of director(s) would be appreciated, but I suppose that is a forlorn request...

[Mario Gaborović]

Name of director(s) would be appreciated, but I suppose that is a forlorn request...

Nah it's fine. Everything you ask.

[frwnk]

01. The Souvenir (2019) - 5 official lists #England
02. The Crying Game (1992) - 11 official lists #Ireland
03. Fish Tank (2009) - 8 official lists #England

[Mario Gaborović]

04. Rose West: Born Evil? (Jared Wright, 2021) - #England

Spoiler

01. Brady and Hindley: Possession (Jonathan Jones, 2013) - #England
02. Myra: The Making of a Monster (Michael Attwell, 2003) - #England
03. Rose West and Myra Hindley - The Untold Story (Hugh Ballantyne, 2020) - #England

[Mario Gaborović]

05-06. Rillington Place (Craig Viveiros, 2016) - #England

Spoiler

01. Brady and Hindley: Possession (Jonathan Jones, 2013) - #England
02. Myra: The Making of a Monster (Michael Attwell, 2003) - #England
03. Rose West and Myra Hindley - The Untold Story (Hugh Ballantyne, 2020) - #England
04. Rose West: Born Evil? (Jared Wright, 2021) - #England

[AB537]

I put this list together that some people will hopefully find helpful: https://www.icheckmovies.com/lists/bifa ... ees/ab537/. As the title suggests, it's a list of all nominees for the British Independent Film Association's annual award for Best British Independent Film. While some films on this list are very well known, many are also quite obscure and/or unofficial - even for someone like me who has prioritized British content for years, I have a few dozen unchecked films. Hoping to knock off a few of these this month.

[pitchorneirda]

1. A Taste of Honey (1961, Tony Richardson) - 6/10
2. A Hard Day's Night (1964, Richard Lester) - 3.5/10

[AssonFire]

1. The Assassination of Trotsky (1972 / Joseph Losey) 4/10
What could be more British than a film about a Russian, set in Mexico, filmed in Italy, directed by an American and featuring a multinational cast? As the title suggests, it concerns the events leading up to Bolshevik revolutionary Leon Trotsky's assassination while in exile in Mexico. It's very stilted, but the grand, weather-worn sets help to create some atmosphere.
2. Hitler: The Unknown Soldier 1914-1918 (2004 / Stuart Russell) 6/10
Solid documentary on Hitler's formative years during WWI. Benefits from taking a serious approach and not opting for cheap sensationalism.

[AB537]

1. The Wonder (Sebastian Lelio, 2022) 6.5/10 ... #England

Another suggested list: IFTA (Irish Film and TV Association) Best Film Winners: https://www.icheckmovies.com/lists/ifta ... h+mcmahon/

[RogerTheMovieManiac88]

Thanks for the lists, AB!

[sol]

Spoiler

1. The Man Who Haunted Himself (1970, Basil Dearden) UK #England REVISON

2. The Breadwinner (2017, Nora Twomey) IE #Ireland



Her father imprisoned by the Taliban, a young Afghan girl disguises herself as a boy to work and buy food here. There is much to like in how confident and daring the preteen female protagonist is, and there are several suspenseful scenes as we wonder whether she will be finally found out. The animation itself though is never quite particularly classy. Almost all of the men in the film are drawn with absurdly long faces and noses to the point that the characters come off as unintentionally funny. There is some divine animation though as she on/off narrates a tale of a boy and an elephant to her baby brother.

[Lonewolf2003]

1. The Ipcress File (1965, Sidney J. Furie): 8.0 - Rock solid British 60s spy thriller. A typical slow burner in which for the first 70 minutes or so very little actually happens, cause it's follows the procedural legwork of actual espionage. Which is all very watchable thanks to a vintage Michael Caine who caries the movie with ease.

[Silga]

1. Pierrepoint: The Last Hangman (Adrian Shergold, 2005) 7/10 - #England
2. Quartet (Dustin Hoffman, 2012) 5/10 - #England

[AB537]

2. Black '47 (Lance Daly, 2018) 7/10 ... #Ireland
3. The Innocents (Jack Clayton, 1961) 8/10 ... #England ... reaches levels of atmospheric creepiness that have rarely been equaled

[blocho]

It's a Helena Bonham Carter double feature!

1. Enola Holmes (2020) #England
The greatest virtue of this movie is that it’s not about Sherlock Holmes, one of the most reliably annoying characters in film. Instead, it’s about his sister, Enola, and though Sherlock makes some appearances, he’s not nearly so smug as usual. Their mother goes missing, and soon Enola is involved in a caper while tracking her down, with a coming-of-age story thrown in along with some female empowerment. The whole thing is a little too self-consciously cutesy, with plenty of breaks in the fourth wall, but it’s diverting enough.

2. A Room with a View (1985) #England
The earliest of the Merchant Ivory adaptation of Forster and the worst. It’s not that there isn’t quality here. The acting is consistently superb. But the certain aspects of filmmaking are quite shoddy, like the dialogue looping and the narrative pacing. And then there’s the biggest problem, that these characters, even after two hours of heavy dialogue, remain opaque and poorly developed. At the end, I don’t really understand these romantic leads. I don’t know what they want or why they like each other.

In addition, as usual, I find it tremendously difficult to care about these English toffs who never do a bit of work.

[frwnk]

04. Dog Soldiers (2002) - #Scotland
05. Shallow Grave (1994) - #Scotland
06. Highlander (1986) - #Scotland
07. Gregory's Girl (1980) - #Scotland
08. Sense and Sensibility (1995) - #England
09. Elizabeth (1998) - #England
10. Hunger (2008) - #Ireland

[sol]

Spoiler

1. The Man Who Haunted Himself (1970, Basil Dearden) UK #England REVISON
2. The Breadwinner (2017, Nora Twomey) IE #Ireland

3. My Old School (2022, Jono McLeod) UK #Scotland



Using animated re-enactments, this Scottish documentary follows the incredible but true story of a newly enrolled student at a posh public school who was not all that he seemed to be. The story comes with a number of twists and turns, some of which are fairly easy to guess, but the fact that nobody at the time guessed all of the things that would be revealed is pretty fascinating in itself. The choice to animate the re-enactments works well too, giving the whole thing the feeling of an urban legend of sorts and the mysterious student is a fascinating human being and what he did leaves open food for thought.

[peeptoad]

1. The Haunted Strangler (1958, Robert Day) #England
2. First Man Into Space (1959, Robert Day) #England