Grab a hot cup of tea (or a bottle of vodka) and join us with this Movie List from The Film Magazine as we look back at this staple of British cinema’s most cringe-worthy, jaw-dropping, and heartwarming scenes. These are the 10 Best Bridget Jones’s Diary Moments.

Follow @thefilmagazine on Twitter.

10. Introducing Mark’s Christmas Jumper

Family gatherings are uncomfortable enough without your mother trying to set you up with a divorcé in her sitting room while you’re wearing a floral waistcoat she laid out for you. Unfortunately, this is exactly how Bridget first meets Mark.

At Christmastime, Bridget visits her parents, Colin (Jim Broadbent) and Pamela (Gemma Jones), at their yearly turkey curry buffet hosting all their closest friends and neighbours. Her father warns her that her mum is playing matchmaker when Pamela suddenly swoops in to usher her over to Mark, a recently divorced barrister. Given her mother’s track record, Bridget is convinced that he’ll be a ‘bushy-haired, middle-aged bore’ and is pleasantly surprised when she first sees his kind eyes and dimpled chin. But her spirits fall when she casts a glance at his tacky Christmas reindeer jumper.

Mark’s jumper is iconic and a lasting image from the film. It instantly defines his character as a bit stiff and awkward while also not being too impressed with himself. We get our first glimpse of Bridget’s nervous oversharing too, as she resolves to quit smoking and drinking while still holding a cigarette and mimosa. This moment is funny and cringey, and quickly sets up their opposites-attract character dynamic.

9. Blue Soup for Bridget’s Birthday

Bridget is always making a mess of things, so it comes as no surprise that she’s a mess in the kitchen as well. As she struggles to cook a three-course feast for her birthday dinner, Mark suddenly stops by her flat. This moment is a complete 180 from the last scene as she is genuinely pleased to see him and they share a smile. Upstairs, he inspects her cluttered stovetop, and a cut to a closeup reveals that she has in fact prepared blue soup (thanks to the bright blue string she used to tie some celery and leek together). Mark pours them each a glass of wine, takes off his jacket, and saves the day by making omelettes.

This is a sweet moment when Bridget sets aside her judgements, Mark lets down his stiff exterior, and we get to see the real chemistry between them. They work well together, sharing a drink, a laugh, and an inside joke, revealing that they were actually suppressing their feelings for one another all along. Finally, when Bridget’s friends arrive for dinner, the camera cuts to Mark subtly adjusting his tie. This small gesture reveals so much about his character and that he cares about making a good first impression with her friends. They, in turn, are delighted to meet him, though his impression is a bit overshadowed by their effort to gulp down Bridget’s blue soup.

In this Movie List from The Film Magazine, we’re counting down the most emotionally resonant, funny and important moments from Love Actually for these, the 10 Best Love Actually Moments.

Follow @thefilmagazine on Twitter.

10. Colin Goes to an American Bar

After deciding he is on the wrong continent for love, Colin Frissell (Kris Marshall) travels to America, because “any bar anywhere in America contains ten girls more beautiful and more likely to have sex with [him] than the whole of the United Kingdom”.

Sure enough, not one but three beautiful American women are charmed by his cute British accent and invite him to their place (after warning him that they only have one bed and no pyjamas).

Colin’s Christmas gets even merrier when they tell him that he hasn’t met their fourth housemate Harriet, and “she is the sexy one”.

9. So Much More Than a Bag

In a rush to buy an expensive gold necklace for the woman with whom he may or may not be having an affair, Harry (Alan Rickman) wants to grab it and go, but the shop assistant (Rowan Atkinson) has other plans when he agrees to have it gift wrapped.

After placing it in a box, he ties it with a bow before delicately wrapping it in cellophane. Rickman anxiously glances over his shoulder as Atkinson slides open a drawer to retrieve tiny, dried roses, which he sprinkles lovingly. Atkinson then meticulously crushes fresh lavender. An increasingly agitated Rickman urges the man to hurry, to which he agrees, before slowly attaching a large cinnamon stick with a ribbon. As Atkinson retrieves a pair of garden gloves to add some holly, an exasperated Rickman asks – “what else are you going to do? Dip it in yoghurt? Cover it in chocolate buttons?!” All the while, his wife Karen grows increasingly near.

The Wrap – 5th Nov 2019

Warner Bros. are in talks to sign up In Bruges, The Lobster and Dumbo actor Colin Farrell to play iconic Batman villain The Penguin in their upcoming Matt Reeves directed feature The Batman.

Deadline – 5th Nov 2019

Former Batman Ben Affleck has joined new Robert Rodriguez directed action-thriller Hypnotic as the star, signing on to play a detective searching for his missing daughter and discovering a secret government program.

Variety – 6th Nov 2019

Michael Keaton (Birdman; Spider-Man: Homecoming), Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction; Spider-Man: Far from Home) and Maggie Q (Divergent) are set to star in a new A-List action-thriller from 007: Casino Royale director Martin Campbell titled The Asset. Millennium Films, the production company behind The Expendables, are reportedly in charge of the project.

THR – 5th Nov 2019

Iconic actor James Dean is to be resurrected via CGI to star in an upcoming war film from directors Anton Ernst and Tati Golykh titled Finding Jack. The production will use old footage and photography to create a full body render of the famed star of Rebel Without A Cause who died in a car accident in 1955.

Empire – 6th Nov 2019

Ken Watanabe (Inception; Godzilla) is set to star in a new film from Philomena producer Gabrielle Tana and debut feature screenwriter-director Patrick Dickinson. Wild Rose star Jessie Buckley has been lined up to support Watanabe in what is being described as “a universal portrait of love, acceptance and family loss”.

THR – 6th Nov 2019

The Scream franchise is being resurrected by Spyglass Entertainment. According to sources at Bloody Disgusting, Gary Barber’s Spyglass Media Group is developing a new film without Scream 1, 2 & 4 screenwriter Kevin Williamson, the rumoured screenwriter for the new project being Blade, Batman Begins and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice screenwriter David S. Goyer. It is unknown whether the new film will be a reboot or a new entry into the pre-existing film canon (of which every entry has thus far been directed by the since deceased Wes Craven).

Bloody Disgusting – 6th Nov 2019

Alfonso Gomez-Rejon has signed on to direct Newsflash, a biographical drama about legendary news anchor Walter Cronkite that is set to star Star Trek and Wonder Woman actor Chris Pine. The film is to be set on the day Cronkite must report the assassination of President Kennedy.

THR – 7th Nov 2019

Anchorman, The Big Short and Vice director Adam McKay has signed a first-look film deal with Paramount Pictures. The screenwriter-director-producer and his production company Hyperobject Industries will, at least for the foreseeable future, give Paramount first-refusal rights to any feature project they put together. McKay has a similar deal for TV, streaming and podcasts with Warner Bros. owned HBO.

THR – 8th Nov 2019

Jon Spaihts, the showrunner for the upcoming HBO ‘Dune’ series, has exited his role with the TV show to focus on writing the sequel for Denis Villeneuve’s 2020 Dune movie.

THR – 5th Nov 2019

Yesterday screenwriter and Love Actually director Richard Curtis is set to adapt his own children’s book “The Empty Stocking” for an animated feature from London-based animation house Locksmith Animation. The film will reportedly be made for streaming platforms.

THR – 6th Nov 2019

The third Fantastic Beasts movie will begin filming in Spring 2020, with Brazil the apparent destination for the cast and crew including Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston and Jude Law.

Deadline – 4th Nov 2019

Carrie Fisher’s brother Todd Fisher has revealed in an interview with Yahoo! that the original plan for upcoming release Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was to see Fisher’s Princess Leia character become a powerful force-wielding jedi, developing the building blocks put in place in The Last Jedi (2017).

Yahoo! – 6th Nov 2019

The 2019 European Film Awards nominees list was revealed this weekend – here.

The Film Magazine – 10th Nov 2019

And finally… (CW: Sexual Abuse)

Jurassic Park and Thor: Ragnarok star Jeff Goldblum this week moved to defend Woody Allen against decades old allegations of sexual assault against a minor, stating in an interview with i that there “is a presumption of innocence until proven guilty” and that he “would consider working with” the director again following a minor role in Allen’s 1977 film Annie Hall.

i – 6th Nov 2019

French director Christophe Ruggia, who was recently accused of the sexual assault of Portrait of a Lady on Fire star Adele Haenel when she was just a minor, has released a statement to the same publication the actress first went on record with her experience, stating: “The adulation and hope that I placed in her may have seemed, given her young age, troublesome at certain moments. If that is the case and if she is willing, then I ask her to accept my apology.” He also affirmed to have “never engaged in the physical gestures and sexual harassment”.

Mediapart via THR – 6th Nov 2019

French-Polish director Roman Polanski has been accused of rape by French actress Valentine Monnier, who claims the filmmaker behind Rosemary’s Baby, Chinatown and The Pianist assaulted her in a ski chalet in Switzerland in 1975 when she was 18 years old. The director won’t be charged as France has a 20-year statute of limitations, but this latest accusation fuels the backlash the filmmaker continues to face for his suspected rape of a 13 year old girl in 1975; the trial for which his refusal to attend still makes him a wanted criminal in the United States.

Le Parisien via Variety – 8th Nov 2019

Director: Danny Boyle
Screenwriter: Richard Cutis
Starring: Himesh Patel, Lily James, Joel Fry, Meera Syal, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Kate McKinnon, Alexander Arnold, Ed Sheeran

With just a quick glance at the trailer, one could easily assume that Yesterday is simply jumping on to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hollywood bandwagon. Coming hot off the heels of the likes of Bohemian Rhapsody and Rocketman, it’s a fair assumption. Furthermore, with the obvious nostalgic theme, the more cynical of potential audience members may choose to ignore it as part of the film industry’s obsession with reboots, remakes and sequels. If you do happen to find yourself in one of these camps, please stop. You may be depriving yourself of one of the most bittersweet yet heart-warming movies of the year.

2013 was the last time we were able to enjoy a bonafide Richard Curtis British rom-com, in this case the Domhnall Gleeson and Rachel McAdams starrer About Time, so you could say we’re well overdue. However, this hiatus can be easily explained: legend of comedy he may be, Curtis does have an annoying penchant for the upper middle class who are woefully in love but still enjoy a roast guinea fowl at the weekend. This kind of caper arguably no longer sits well with post-recession Britain. I suspect this was anticipated by Yesterday’s producers if not Curtis himself, and by a stroke of genius Danny Boyle was hired to take up the Director’s chair. Awkward declarations of love in the rain, let me introduce you to diving head-first into a poo-filled toilet. Clearly, it’s a match made in heaven. In all seriousness, Curtis’ whimsy and Boyle’s grittiness are an enjoyable combination (whilst still very unusual), creating a rom-com that modern audiences will find relatable.

Jack Mallik (Himesh Patel) is an ordinary and rather humble guy trying to achieve the millennial dream of making a living from his passion – in this case music. Undoubtedly a talented musician, his self-penned efforts are sweet but are unfortunately pretty forgettable. After too many disappointing gigs and tedious part-time jobs, Jack is ready to hang up his guitar and go back to teaching, even despite his manager Ellie’s (Lily James) protests – we’ve all been there, sitting on the overcrowded bus to a crappy job, reading the posters promising 6 weeks of summer holiday. However, at this moment of resolution, the entire world’s electricity blinks out for a few seconds and poor Jack is run over by a bus. Bar a few missing teeth, he’s none the worse for wear (well, apart from now facing a lifetime of teaching [shudders]). That is until he realises he has somehow woken up in a world where The Beatles never existed. Yes, The Beatles. To a lover of music this revelation is devastating, but Jack soon realises the golden opportunity that has landed in his lap. If he can’t make it big with his own music, maybe the hits of The Beatles will be his ticket to fame.

Despite the parallels that can be drawn between Yesterday and recent musical and rom-com favourites, the movie remains somewhat unique. It’s not a fantastical musical biopic like Rocketman; it doesn’t simply use the songs as musical numbers like Mamma Mia and it’s more than just a tribute like Across the Universe. Instead of a mere running theme, the music of The Beatles is an actual plot device and an integral element of the story-telling, in a narrative that has never dared to be conceived up until today. Beyond this, the film’s idiosyncrasies lie in the fact that despite it being stuffed with the typical Curtis tropes (American culture is the worst; the big lie and the dreadful truth reveal), it is distinct from his other rom-coms. This can be attributed Boyle’s directorial influence.

The shy British protagonist with a perfect RP accent has proven to be a great source of witty comedy, but alongside their excellent credit scores, the Curtis comedies are now seen as works of aspiration: I mean Christ, if only I could own a second-hand travel book shop. With Boyle being the champion of the underdog, the plight of Jack and Ellie is truly heart-wrenching instead of plain melancholic, and despite the fantastical setting it is entirely relatable. This frank depiction of millennial struggle in relationships is refreshing and comforting; the accurate observation lends to truly heartfelt comedy.

Still, with the mastermind responsible for ‘Blackadder’ behind the script, Curtis deserves a fair share of the credit for many of the movie’s genuine belly laughs. Watching the film, you are taken back by its presumptuous nature with the expectation of the agreed consensus that The Beatles are one of the greatest bands to have ever existed. But indeed, the audiences that would be attracted to Yesterday do think The Beatles are one of the best bands ever. In fact, Curtis’ self-awareness in this regard allowed him to orchestrate very clever and satisfying fourth-wall humour, playfully mocking Beatles fans themselves. Personally, I often found myself shouting the lyrics of “Eleanor Rigby” at the cinema screen as Jack struggles to clobber the songs together through memory alone. It’s joyfully painful.

However, the actual idea behind the film’s story did earn a few murmured criticisms. The idea of The Beatles and their music disappearing from our universe does open up a lot of questions regarding the massive cultural and even sociological hole they would leave. I know some viewers felt that the opportunity wasn’t taken to fully explore this, but in all honesty such criticism is unfair – this is not a Masters thesis or an episode of ‘Doctor Who’, this is a rom-com! It’s almost exclusively light-hearted entertainment. Such a criticism ignores the fun exploration that is made and is played up for laughs. Showcasing the influence of The Beatles on more contemporary bands through ridiculous comparisons will have fans groaning and laughing from the daring sacrilege. On a more serious note, the story is used to examine the folly of fame. To quickly pass over the genuinely curious moments which contemplate whether The Beatles could actually become famous in this day and age, Yesterday takes a bold and totally unexpected turn to brutally show the true cost of fame. This single plot point stole the air from my body and made my eyes well up. Combined with the devastating pain portrayed by Patel and James at their characters’ separation, Yesterday achieves a phenomenal emotional weight and pathos which will stay with you long after the credits roll.

The picture does suffer from some of the common complaints of modern movies, most notably the funniest moments of the film being in the trailer. As a result, these gags lost much of their impact during the actual film; the most frustrating of which was the big reveal that The Beatles no longer existed – as it was a key selling point of the movie it was naturally plastered all over the promotional material, but when the moment actually came it was incredibly underwhelming. However, this was more than made up for with the multitude of red herrings that didn’t cheat the audiences but provided twists that would make spines tingle. This also atoned for a narrative that was quite often all over the shop.

One issue that could knock you out of your suspension of disbelief is the dialogue. It’s cheesy, especially during the romantic scenes. Even worse, it doesn’t really match with the movie’s overall tone, instead feeling like a remnant from the past. Thank God for Patel and James who acted their boots off, putting their very hearts into their work, even achieving some gravitas with these lines. In fact, the whole cast is brilliant, particularly the nation’s favourite comedy couple: Sanjeev Bhaskar and Meera Syal. Their comic timing is second to none, stealing the show in every scene they appear in. Kate McKinnon also does a great job of subverting her friendly reputation and, in a role she clearly very much enjoyed playing, finds huge success in portraying a massive bitch. It really was very kind of her to allow the British Film Industry to use her as a conduit to vent its frustrations with America. Even Ed Sheeran is worthy of praise, good-naturedly playing up to his reputed arrogance and blandness to serve as the butt of many a joke.

The only other gripe worth mentioning is that, ironically, the film could have done with a few more Beatles numbers. Those who are fans of the movies such as Help! and A Hard Day’s Night may be disappointed as we’re not treated to that many full tracks. The lofty cost of the rights alone would have had something to do with it, but lots of Beatles songs from a movie titled Yesterday is a fair enough expectation from potential audiences. We are however treated to some very nice rock covers of a few of the fan favourites; “Help!” and “Back in the USSR” are particular highlights of the whole movie. It’s produced very much in the mould of noughties indie rock, and is therefore in keeping with those who grew up with both The Beatles and The Killers; those of a similar age to the film’s protagonists.

All in all, Yesterday is a pleasing experience for both hardcore and casual fans of The Fab Four, allowing both to laugh at their own expense. The fantasy of the whole thing even captures the attention of those who claim they’re not even that keen on the band’s music, as they can appreciate the legend and even the Mythos surrounding The Beatles. For maximum enjoyment, you’re gonna have to put away your Cinema Sins glasses (leave that for ‘The Game of Thrones’ finale). This is a Richard Curtis rom-com, not a documentary, so prepare for heaps of fun – if you keep an open mind you may very well be surprised.

Amongst all the fantastic music and jokes are some truly magical moments that really bring home the message that a world without The Beatles would be just that much worse.

16/24

[DISPLAY_ULTIMATE_SOCIAL_ICONS]

“About Time” follows Tim, aged 21, as he discovers his ability to travel into and adjust his past and what that means for his future love, family, and work life. Basically, if you could have endless do-overs, how would you use them?

A friend once told me that you can’t have a good movie without a good script. Richard Curtis (Love Actually), writer and director of “About Time”, fully grasped this concept. The writing was heartfelt and mature in a very rare way. It discusses serious issues such as fate versus the choices we make and growing through conflicts, be them learning how to time travel effectively or overcoming everyday vices. Now, don’t get the wrong idea, even in its darkest moments this film carried with it a sense of lighthearted realness. It was almost as if the actors weren’t acting, they were just showcasing real lives and real people and, believe it or not, the time travel aspect of this film fit in perfectly. It was extremely believable.

Now, it would not have been nearly as believable if the actors hadn’t done such a phenomenal job. After all, a good script can’t go all that far without good actors. The intro – the score paired with Domhnall Gleeson’s voiceover as Tim – lends a familiar feeling. It’s almost hard to describe but even if you’re watching this movie for the first time, you feel as if you’re revisiting an old friend. Maybe its familiarity is in Gleeson’s tone or in the intimate and sarcastically comedic conversations he soon shares with Bill Nighy, Tim’s incredibly wise father in the movie. Maybe it’s in Rachel McAdams’ classic hair-tuck-smile and giggle (Because, come on, what’s a rom-com/drama without Rachel McAdams)? Or, more likely, familiar feelings can be found in just about every aspect of the film. I think that’s what it was going for – a universal and constant feeling of empathy for the characters.

Another important note with regard to the characters was that there were really no minor roles. Every character in the film had a specific, maybe even polarizing personality type, and they were all there for a reason. People that the viewer may have written off at the beginning of the movie such as Uncle Desmond played by Richard Cordery, or Tim’s best friend Jay played by Will Merrick, would revisit the audience with profound thoughts or renewed importance later in the movie. These characters reinforce the theme that everyone you meet makes a difference in your life and affect even the smallest of decisions you make in the future.

The one thing I had a problem with concerning this film was its marketing. If you watch the trailer, it’s engaging and endearing, yes, but it’s also misleading. The trailer would have you believe that the film is solely a romantic comedy with all of the essential cliches mixed in. However, there is so much more depth to it all. Every person, every event, every decision, every little thing – even the occasional silence – means something and illustrates how each can affect the rest of your life. The trailer should have tried to capture that more appropriately.

From the get-go this film instantly became one of my favorites. There’s a lovely familiarity about it, despite the twists and turns you definitely won’t see coming. The actors move rhythmically along with their lives, letting their paths cross organically or, specifically in Tim’s case, creating their own paths. Everything is interesting and engaging and descriptive and lovely. Also, cameos from actresses and actors like Margot Robbie and the late, great Richard Griffiths only add to the film goer’s experience. If you’re looking for a great under-the-radar film, this fits the bill perfectly. It’s because of all this and the many emotional spoilers I simply couldn’t ruin for you (because you should really go watch the movie), that I’d give About Time a…

20/24