For Screen and Country

This week, it's Brendan's turn to present a Brit Pick... and he brings it in the form of the Joe Cornish film Attack the Block. The guys discuss various aspects like the authentic acting style of the leads and how the film humanizes them, the film's commentary on race and "bad neighbourhoods," John Boyega's stoic, raw star-making performance, the details of the creature special effects and their overall design and much more!

Next week: Brit Picks concludes with a discussion of the Powell and Pressburger joint "I Know Where I'm Going!" (thanks Suzy Cuthbert!) 

Full List: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BFI_Top_100_British_films

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Attack the Block stars John Boyega, Jodie Whittaker, Alex Esmail, Luke Treadaway, Franz Drameh, Leeon Jones, Simon Howard, Jumayn Hunter and Nick Frost; directed by Joe Cornish.

Is It Streaming?

USA: Prime, Hulu, DIRECTV, Epix

Canada: CTV (free)

UK: Prime, Sky Go, Brit Box, Now TV

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To start off Brit Picks, Jason presents the 2014 comic book/action flick Kingsman: The Secret Service starring Taron Egerton and Colin Firth. They dive into this problematic hit head-first by discussing Samuel L. Jackson's reasoning for his character's unique speech pattern, the controversial church scene and how it relates to the previous presidential administration, they debate the strength of the female characters and their narrative purpose, this film's opinion of the 'gritty spy film' genre and much more.

Next week: Brit Picks rolls on with Brendan's choice - Attack the Block!

Full List: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BFI_Top_100_British_films

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forscreenandcountry

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bfi_pod

Our logo was designed by the wonderful Mariah Lirette (https://www.instagram.com/mariahhx)

Kingsman: The Secret Service stars Taron Egerton, Colin Firth, Mark Strong, Sophie Cookson, Sofia Boutella, Michael Caine, Mark Hamill and Samuel L. Jackson; directed by Matthew Vaughn

Is It Streaming?

USA: Directv, Spectrum

Canada: Disney Plus

UK: Disney Plus

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This week, the guys take a look at a movie that was almost our pilot episode! Yes, it's The Man in the White Suit from director Alexander Mackendrick and starring Alec Guinness. The guys talk about how the movie covers every side of the issue in equal measures, the guys compare the debate in this movie to the Keystone pipeline, they discover that maybe Mackendrick used this film to take shots at his own employers and much more!

Next week: Brit Picks begins with Kingsman: The Secret Service.

Full List: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BFI_Top_100_British_films

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forscreenandcountry

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bfi_pod

Our logo was designed by the wonderful Mariah Lirette (https://www.instagram.com/mariahhx)

The Man in the White Suit stars Alec Guinness, Joan Greenwood, Cecil Parker, Michael Gough, Ernest Thesiger and Vida Hope; directed by Alexander Mackendrick.

Is It Streaming?

USA: Flix Fling

Canada: Flix Fling

UK: N/A

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Time to let our hair down for a good old-fashioned family dramedy! Brendan and Jason take a look at Lionel Jeffries' 1970 film "The Railway Children" (#66 on the list) and discuss the vignette-style narrative of the film, Jason questions the poverty of the titular family, they take a comprehensive look at 1905-era Russia, they talk about the Beverly Hillbillies-style ending and much more.

The guys also roll the dice to find out what they'll be watching next week. Join us, won't you?

Full List: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BFI_Top_100_British_films

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forscreenandcountry

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bfi_pod

Our logo was designed by the wonderful Mariah Lirette (https://www.instagram.com/mariahhx)

The Railway Children stars Jenny Agutter, Sally Thomsett, Dinah Sheridan, Bernard Cribbins, Gary Warren and William Mervyn; directed by Lionel Jeffries

Is It Streaming?

USA: Criterion Channel

Canada: Criterion Channel

UK: Amazon Prime

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After talking about some smaller films lately, the guys talk about what may be the most popular film on the entire list - Monty Python's Life of Brian. Along with the endless quotable dialogue, the guys also discuss the beautiful production design that elevates said comedy, a dicey scene in regards to trans representation, the left-wing political satire that compares to modern-day American government, all of the blasphemy accusations hurled at the film at the time and more. Plus: everyone learns all about 'tall poppy' syndrome.

The guys also roll the dice to find out what they'll be watching next week. Join us, won't you?

Full List: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BFI_Top_100_British_films

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forscreenandcountry

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bfi_pod

Our logo was designed by the wonderful Mariah Lirette (https://www.instagram.com/mariahhx)

Monty Python's Life of Brian stars Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Carol Cleveland, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Neil Innes, Terry Jones and Michael Palin; directed by Terry Jones.

Is It Streaming?

USA: Netflix

Canada: Netflix

UK: Netflix

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Continuing on with the BFI Top 100 list this week, Brendan and Jason examine the 82nd best British film The Draughtsman's Contract, which is a film focused on power dynamics and also one that surprised them on every level. They get into the discussion on who the true masterminds are in the film, go through a few of their own theories about Statue Man, they talk about the way this film looks like a painting at times, Brendan compares the film to The Favourite and much more.

The guys also roll the dice to find out what they'll be watching next week. Join us, won't you?

Full List: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BFI_Top_100_British_films

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forscreenandcountry

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bfi_pod

Our logo was designed by the wonderful Mariah Lirette (https://www.instagram.com/mariahhx)

The Draughtsman's Contract stars Anthony Higgins, Janet Suzman, Anne-Louise Lambert, Hugh Fraser, Neil Cunningham, David Gant and Michael Feast; directed by Peter Greenaway.

Is It Streaming?

USA: Fandor, Kanopy and Mubi

Canada: Fandor

UK: BFI Player

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Nearing the bottom of the barrel of the list but is #98 a deserving place for this week's film, the low-budget alternative to Trainspotting - Gillies MacKinnon's Small Faces. The guys discuss the film in great detail including discussion of the chilling performance by Kevin McKidd, getting drunk at adult parties, the saddest nightclub in Glasgow, skating rink assassinations and much more. Plus: Jason offers a brief history of gangland activity in Scotland and how it inspired the creation of the film.

The guys also roll the dice to find out what they'll be watching next week. Join us, won't you?

Full List: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BFI_Top_100_British_films

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forscreenandcountry

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bfi_pod

Our logo was designed by the wonderful Mariah Lirette (https://www.instagram.com/mariahhx)

Small Faces stars Iain Robertson, Joseph McFadden, Steven Duffy, Laura Fraser, Kevin McKidd, Clare Higgins, Garry Sweeney and Ian McElhinney; directed by Gillies MacKinnon.

Unfortunately, it is not streaming or available to rent or buy anywhere.

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On the list this week is #38 with a bullet! The guys break down the 1991 Irish hit The Commitments about a fictional all-white soul band out of Dublin! They discuss Alan Parker's very unique and un-Hollywoodlike casting process, the strength of the musical performances, the bittersweet ending, they debate how much truth is contained in Joey the Lips' stories and much more!

The guys also roll the dice to find out what they'll be watching next week. Join us, won't you?

Full List: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BFI_Top_100_British_films

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forscreenandcountry

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bfi_pod

Our logo was designed by the wonderful Mariah Lirette (https://www.instagram.com/mariahhx)

The Commitments stars Robert Arkins, Andrew Strong, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Angeline Ball, Bronagh Gallagher, Glen Hansard, Johnny Murphy, Dave Finnegan, Kenneth McCluskey and Colm Meaney; directed by Alan Parker.

Is It Streaming?

USA: Hoopla

Canada: Crave Starz and Hoopla

UK: available to rent on Google, Amazon & YouTube

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The second Merchant-Ivory film on this list is next on the podcast as Brendan and Jason discuss A Room with a View. They discuss Daniel Day-Lewis making something human out of a seemingly cartoonish character, Charlotte perfecting the art of martyrdom, the homoerotic bathing scene and much more. Plus: they debate how much of the film is winking at the audience just a bit.

The guys also roll the dice to find out what they'll be watching next week. Join us, won't you?

Full List: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BFI_Top_100_British_films

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forscreenandcountry

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bfi_pod

Our logo was designed by the wonderful Mariah Lirette (https://www.instagram.com/mariahhx)

A Room with a View stars Helena Bonham-Carter, Julian Sands, Maggie Smith, Denholm Elliott, Daniel Day-Lewis, Simon Callow, Judi Dench and Rupert Graves; directed by James Ivory.

Is It Streaming?

USA: HBO Max, Direct TV, HBO Now

Canada: available to rent on Google & YouTube

UK: Brit Box

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Join the boys for another heist as Brendan and Jason dive into another Ealing Studios comedy with Charles Crichton's The Lavender Hill Mob. They talk all about Alec Guinness playing against type and his fascinating physical acting, the US market forcing a rewrite of the original ending, Audrey Hepburn making a very early appearance, the shots that may have inspired Vertigo and much, much more!

The guys also roll the dice to find out what they'll be watching next week. Join us, won't you?

Full List: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BFI_Top_100_British_films

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forscreenandcountry

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bfi_pod

Our logo was designed by the wonderful Mariah Lirette (https://www.instagram.com/mariahhx)

The Lavender Hill Mob stars Alec Guinness, Stanley Holloway, Sid James, Alfie Bass, Marjorie Fielding, John Gregson and a cameo from Audrey Hepburn; directed by Charles Crichton

Is It Streaming?

USA: Kanopy, Flix Fling

Canada: Flix Fling

UK: available to rent on Amazon, Google Play & YouTube

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