The Italian Job: best British film of all time, at least according to a Sky survey of British moviegoers. Not at exactly surprising, is it? It topped the survey with 15.1% of the votes, more than double the share of the movie in second place, Life Of Brian with 7.4%. Half the top ten is filled by massively popular hits released since 1994: The Full Monty; Harry Potter & The Half-Blood Prince; Bridget Jones’s Diary; Four Weddings And A Funeral; Love Actually; and Trainspotting.
Early 80s serial award-winners Chariots of Fire and Gandhi make their expected appearances too, as does Brief Encounter. It’s pleasing to note The Wicker Man in 10th.
However, where the hell is Lawrence of Arabia?
Get Carter?
Even though I don’t enjoy his films that much, what about the works of Ken Loach? And what about James Bond, who has almost single-handedly propped up the UK production industry for the past 30 years?
Bridge Over The River Kwai?
A Matter Of Life And Death?
The Ealing comedies?
The early Hitchcocks?
The list actors is equally baffling: Anthony Hopkins beats Olivier, ahead of Michael Caine and curiously David Jason (surely best known for his TV work over the past 35 years?). However, on the aged 50 and under list, Colin Firth emerges top, just ahead of Ewan McGregor (sorry, when did he last ‘act’?).
The list of actresses makes a bit more sense: Judi Dench takes an easy victory from Helen Mirren and Maggie Smith. Almost inevitably Keira Knightley tops the aged 50 and under list, beating Kate Beckinsale.
The top 10 British directors is dominated by Brits who are best known for their work in the US: Hitchcock on top, followed by Ridley Scott. Christopher Nolan and Paul Greengrass also make the list. A curious factoid emerges: just one of the top 10 directors, Danny Boyle, has a film in the top 10 list…
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