We are half way through out countdown to find the Best Movies of 2014, and we have already heaped praise on 20 Feet From Stardom, Blue Ruin, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Locke, and 12 Years A Slave.
Pride
Pride was another of the standout British films of the last twelve months and was one of the must see movies that kicked off the autumn on the big screen. It is in at number five on our countdown and is an absolute must see.
Pride was only the second feature film for Matthew Warchus - it came five years after he made his debut with Simpatico in 1999 - and was based on a difficult time in recent British history.
Pride is set in the summer of 1984 - Margaret Thatcher is in power and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) is on strike. At the Gay Pride March in London, a group of gay and lesbian activists decides to raise money to support the families of the striking miners. But there is a problem. The Union seems embarrassed to receive their support.
But the activists are not deterred. They decide to ignore the Union and go direct to the miners. They identify a mining village in deepest Wales and set off in a mini bus to make their donation in person. And so begins the extraordinary story of two seemingly alien communities who form a surprising and ultimately triumphant partnership.
While I was familiar with the miners' strike, I was not aware that the lesbian and gay activists were such strong supporters of their cause and they came to fight against the oppression that they felt.
Pride really is a powerful and heart-warming story about the importance of solidarity, friendship, and courage and how all of those things really can help bring about change.
The clash of culture really does result in some of the film's greatest comedic moments - Imelda Staunton in particular really is on song when it comes to humorous side of her wonderful character.
The cast are just wonderful with the likes of George MacKay, Andrew Scott, Dominic West, Ben Schnetzer all giving moving and powerful performances. MacKay's character is trying to accept his sexuality, while Scott, West, and Schnetzer are fighting for gay rights while facing stigma and the rise of HIV/AIDS.
Pride really does embrace a forgotten piece of important British history and puts it back in the public eye as well as thoroughly entertaining.
Personally, I just got swept up in the touching nature of the film, and the personal stories that really will pull at your heartstrings. This really is one of the best British movies of the year.
Pride is a movie that will make you laugh, dance, and shed a tear as the final moments of the film unfold. This is a film about acceptance and standing by others in times of difficulty - a message that is rammed home in those wonderful final scenes.