i_man1000s

Hello,

I'm new to this forum, being a foreigner living in London, I like to learn the language through the movies.
I’m looking for the best 50 UK movies probably released within the last couple of years.
I’m planning to memorise the dialogues on the movies, aiming to speak like a native speaker!
I don’t know whether my plans would work or not, but I hate watching soaps and hence I’m looking for the movies.
Please help me in making the better movie list on which the plot is based in and around London is preferable and least it should have some message, though it is not a must.
I can randomly choose the movies, but I don’t want to corrupt myself on memorising the dialogues of some useless movies. Hence I need you members help!

Thank you
Sam

CaptainWaggett

Notes on a Scandal was brilliant (at least I thought so) and you couldn't go wrong modelling your speech on Dame Judi (or Bill Nighy). And it has a good message - sleeping with your 15 year old pupil is Bad and Wrong.

i_man1000s

Thank you Captain...I've made one on my list....!

dremble wedge

Atonement is marvellous. People will try to persuade you otherwise but don't listen to them, they work for nefarious villains...

CaptainWaggett

dremble speaks sooth. It is indeed a fine film. To be honest though, if you're looking for 50 good British films you're probably going to have to back further in time or include tv. Or lower your standards considerably...

DB7

Has anyone seen Breaking and Entering?

I doubt there's been 50 contemporary London centric films made in recent years.

Gazza

There's Vera Drake but don't go using the 'duckie' word too much!

batman

Notting Hill

"Boom boom a baby .... Banham Zoo .... Banana pants! Hahahaha"

MB

The last couple of years I can't think of any but the obscure or not too clever (and I don't think that is what you are looking for) that fit the criteria. I think you'd need to go back over the last twenty years for 50 - but, in many ways, London hasn't altered dramatically in that time - I know that seems strange - but these films are still highly relevant and include speech and lifestyles that are still recognisable.
Worth watching - I would say:

This years love
About a boy
My beautiful launderette
Fever pitch
Nil by mouth (not the best in many ways - but very good for the 'feel' of certain areas in London)
A friend suggests 'Intimacy' - which I have heard of but haven't seen.
Sliding doors
Truly, madly, deeply
The Tall Guy

Some might say 'Snatch' or 'Lock, stock and two smoking barrels'..but not me..

CaptainWaggett

Or offering people a nice cup of tea and an abortion. I liked Breaking and Entering (the setting around King's Cross was good - would make an interesting comparison with The LadyKillers). Do they have to be London-based? I loved The Lawless Heart which is set in Essex. Or Gosford Park.

dremble wedge

Eastern Promises
Chromophobia
Dirty Pretty Things
Venus
Cashback
V for Vendetta
Late Night Shopping
Closer
Shaun of the Dead
Layer Cake
Doctor Sleep
Bend it Like Beckham
I Really Hate My Job
Imagine You and Me
The Calcium Kid
Cassandra's Dream
Scoop
Match Point
Bridget Jones Diary (and the sequel)

There's probably more...

CaptainWaggett

You wouldn't learn much English for native speakers from Dirty Pretty Things! And probably best choose quite carefully what dialogue from Closer you repeat at job interviews or when chatting up ladies! Both excellent films though. Also Bright Young Things.

dremble wedge

We need a Linguaphone starred rating then...

CaptainWaggett

The question was about learning to speak English like a native from films - not sure Dirty Pretty Things has any English characters does it? Not that Chiwetel Ejiofor doesn't have a nice voice (perhaps Kinky Boots might be a better choice) but it would be a bit pointless to come to England from Zimbabwe (is that what the flag is?) to learn to speak Nigerian-accented English! But it's a good film though and the OP shouldn't not watch it.