The Imitation Game
The BFI London Film Festival is one of the jewels in the festival circuit, and is set to get underway tomorrow.
Every year the festival brings a whole host of movies from around the world, as well as showcasing some terrific British talent and films.
2014 is no different with a whole host of British movies on the programme that we cannot wait to see. We take a look at some of the Brit flicks that you can't miss.
- The Imitation Game
The Imitation Game is set to open the London Film Festival in fine style, and is one of the most high profile British movies on the programme.
The Imitation Game sees Morten Tyldum return to the director's chair, as he brings the true story of Alan Turing to the big screen.
Benedict Cumberbatch takes on the role of mathematician Turing, who played a crucial role in breaking the Enigma Code during the Second World War. He would end up being pursued because of his sexuality.
This is the biggest role of Cumberbatch's career so far, and could be the performance that lands him his first Oscar nomination at the beginning of next year. The Imitation Game is a film that is already surrounded in Oscar whispers.
He is joined by a terrific cast, as Keira Knightley, Mark Strong, Charles Dance, and Matthew Goode are all on board. It is great to see terrific British talent in the spotlight on the opening night of this prestigious festival.
- Mr Turner
Mr Turner is a movie that I have been looking forward to for some time, as it marks the return of Mike Leigh to the director's chair.
Mr Turner is another biopic on the programme at the Film Festival, as it explores the later life of painter J. M. W. Turner.
Timothy Spall takes on the title role and has already picked up a Best Actor gong at the Cannes Film Festival.
The film was met with rave reviews at Cannes, and it looks set to be one of London FF movies that are really not to be missed.
Mr Turner is first film for Mike Leigh for the first time since Another Year. The movie also sees Leigh reunite with Spall after working together on Life Is Sweet.
Spall has already enjoyed an acting career that has spanned over thirty years, but Mr Turner could be his biggest acting success. He could be another Brit who is in the Oscar hunt come the beginning of 2015.
- A Little Chaos
Alan Rickman is best known for his work in front of the camera, but he returns to the director's chair for A Little Chaos.
Rickman made his directorial debut back in 1997 with The Winter Guest, and this is his first directorial effort since then.
A Little Chaos is one of the highlights of the Love section of the site, as Rickman leads an all-star cast in this period drama. He is joined by Kate Winslet, Stanley Tucci, and Helen McCrory.
A Little Chaos follows a female landscape-gardener who is awarded the esteemed assignment to construct the grand gardens at Versaillers, a gilt-edged position which thrusts her to the very centre of the court of King Louis XIV.
The movie received its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival last month, and I am excited to see Rickman back in the director's chair.
- '71
There is one actor that I have been talking about all year, and that is Jack O'Connell, and he is back in new film '71.
'71 will be part of the First Feature category of the festival, as we see Yann Demange make the leap from TV to feature film.
O’Connell plays Gary Hook, a young British soldier accidentally abandoned by his unit following a riot on the streets of Belfast.
Unable to tell friend from foe, and increasingly wary of his own comrades, the raw recruit must survive the night alone and find his way to safety through a disorientating, alien and deadly landscape.
O'Connell is one of the most exciting young acting British talents with Starred Up already a success this year. '71 has seen him pick up further praise - it was met with acclaim when it was screen at the Berlin Film Festival at the beginning of the year.
O'Connell's star really is on the up, and with Unbroken also on the horizon, it looks like he is going to finish 2014 with a bang.
- Second Coming
Another British movie in the First Feature Competition is Second Coming, as we are introduced to the directing talents of Debbie Tucker Green.
Green is no stranger to the director's chair with short film Heat and TV movie Random already under her belt, but this is her first big screen feature.
Set in modern day, Second Coming follows the life and struggles of a family living in London, and explores the big theological question 'What If'.
Idris Elba leads the cast list, while Nadine Marshall and Kai Francis-Lewis are also on board.
Tucker reunites with Marshall for the first time since Random, while Francis-Lewis makes his film debut with this project.
- The Silent Storm
The Silent Storm sees Corinna McFarlane return to the big screen as she tackles live action for the first time.
McFarlane made her big screen debut with documentary Three Miles North of Molkom, and now she is back in the director's chair and on writing duties.
The Silent Storm will screen as part of the Love section of the festival, and will see Damian Lewis and Andrea Riseborough join forces as husband and wife.
An enigmatic outsider living on a remote Scottish island finds herself caught between her minister husband and the delinquent who is sent to live with them.
Lewis and Riseborough are joined on the cast list by Kate Dickie and Ross Anderson for what is a relationship drama that is packed with some terrific central performances.
Other British movies to watch out for include X+Y, War Book, Face of an Angel, and Bypass.
The BFI London Film Festival runs from 8th - 19th October.