Films you've seen recently and would unreservedly recommend:

[catalog]

No there's a godard film with the rolling stones, possibly also the black panthers.

 

[catalog]

The other good London series are tinker tailor solider spy and this life

 

[version]

Luke loves that Patrick Keiller one.

London (1994)

A psycho-geographic journey through London and its history, as undertaken by an unseen narrator and his companion, Robinson, at the time of the 1992 general election.

letterboxd.com

 

[kid charlemagne]

Naked is a very good shout.

There is also, more recently, "London to Brighton" which is a bit grubby and falls away as a film once they get to Brighton, but some strong bits early on.

You've also got classics like "Nil by mouth", again quite heavy but if you liked Naked... One of my fave English films.

The early hitchcock with ivor novello, blackmail (?) is also very good and very London.

As is his later one, frenzy, but again, it's quite a tough watch. Like hitch trying to be a bit Don siegel or Sam peckinpah and it's too much.

Babylon also a good shout? Different vibe entirely but all set in Brixton.

Performance is a classic London film, I always find you need to be in the right mood for it, I enjoyed it a lot last time I watched it, quite recently. Cos I'd just been reading all about the writer.

I'm sure there's loads more... That godard one with the stones?

these are helpful thanks. alan clarke and mike leigh I'd like to watch more of

 

[version]

 

[kid charlemagne]

It's not all set in London, but the opening of 28 Days Later made an impression.




And there's a fun Rutger Hauer thing called Split Second where he plays a cop hunting a serial killer in a flooded out future London.

i should watch that 28 days later film. that scene in particular would be interesteing to watch, espectially since i spent some time walking thru that area

 

[catalog]

Almost all of Alan Clarke is really good and worth watching, although I keep falling asleep in pendas fen.

Scum is definitely the daddy Clarke tho. So good he made it twice.

 

[kid charlemagne]

No there's a godard film with the rolling stones, possibly also the black panthers.

i've seen this. its funny because its just studio footage that keeps getting intercut by a student marxist narrative of the film.

 

[catalog]

That's the one. I've not seen it but I've seen a film where people are watching it and it looks good but you know it will be interminably boring.

 

[version]

One I haven't seen that I'd like to is Hidden City. The BFI recently reissued it.

After establishing a fine reputation in British television drama, Stephen Poliakoff directed his first feature film in 1987. A mystery wrapped in conspiracy and secrets, Hidden City tells the story of James Richards (Charles Dance), a writer sucked into a search for a lost piece of film by Sharon Newton (Cassie Stuart), a video librarian. What they stumble upon are cover-ups, tense searches, and possible danger.

With the help of Witold Stoks’ excellent cinematography, Poliakoff has crafted a rich look into London’s dark history, with disused tram-tunnels and long-forgotten subterranean chambers serving as the backdrop to explore the depths of the British pre-occupation with secrecy. Featuring a sensational cast of stellar British talent including Charles Dance, Richard E. Grant and Bill Paterson, Stephen Poliakoff's rarely seen directorial debut is a stylish thriller ripe for rediscovery.

 

[kid charlemagne]

i remember at least liking the stones bits, as i do like their music a lot, but i was zoning out when it went to the student narrative, felt a bit mastubatory of godard to put that in a film masked as a "music" or "rolling stones" film. i'm sure i'd love the beatles get back film, but i've had slight reservations over diving in just yet because it seems like its just studio footage(?)

 

[catalog]

There is an iain sinclair 70x70 list, 70 films they showed at the rio for his birthday. I got along to a few and they were very good, particularly his super 8 films from the 60s with all this weird 69s hippy music I've not heard before.

Not all are London-centric, and most are unfindable but you might manage a few off sseek or wherever..

Iain Sinclair: 70x70 – an autobiographical journey in film

Writer and king of London psychogeography Iain Sinclair is curating a season of 70 films throughout his 70th birthday year, presented in cinemas and quirky venues across the capital

www.theguardian.com

 

[catalog]

i remember at least liking the stones bits, as i do like their music a lot, but i was zoning out when it went to the student narrative, felt a bit mastubatory of godard to put that in a film masked as a "music" or "rolling stones" film.

Yeah sounds like a lot of godard. Best in the cinema if you can.

 

[catalog]

Also just remembered quadrophrenia, that's a goodie and London I think.

 

[catalog]

It seems my fave London films are about trying to leave London or about being in jail in or outside of London. .

 

[version]

maybe not the correct thread to ask but are there any particular "London" films you all enjoy? films set in london, whether london the location is a character or not, the way new york and LA often are in American films. I'm sure I've seen more, but Naked by Mike Leigh is the only one springing to mind.

You seen Repulsion yet? That's set in London.

 

[catalog]

That's a classic, watch that first. Bad 60s.

 

[version]

 

[catalog]

Also that newish tom hardy one about the krays is OK.

 

[catalog]

There's a good bleak 60s one I can't remember the name of, about a swimming pool cleaner who gets mixed up in a murder or something. Deep end?

Deep End (film) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org