5 Best Movies to Watch by Oliver Chris

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1. Rivals, 2024

Rivals is a heady dose of 1980s maximalism set against the backdrop of a seemingly quiet British countryside. The result is intoxicating: bored wives and polite language conceal carnal desires and immoral methods to reach the top. There’s a lot of sex, but it’s not necessarily sexy. It’s more campy than steamy, even though some characters do forge relationships that turn out to be romantic and true. There’s a lot of shouting and slapstick humor, as well as messages advocating sexual empowerment, which went against the conservatism that was rampant in the ‘80s. It’s reminiscent of Netflix’s Sex Education in that way, even and especially in terms of its bingeability (I finished the first season in one sitting). There’s a lot to like, after all. For every David Tennant and Aidan Turner screaming their heads off, there are more subtle performances from the likes of Nafessa Williams, Bella Maclean, Claire Rushbrook, Danny Dyer, and the ever-lovely Katherine Parkinson.

Genre: Drama

Actor: Aidan Turner, Alex Hassell, Bella Maclean, Bryony Hannah, Catriona Chandler, Claire Rushbrook, Danny Dyer, David Tennant, Emily Atack, Katherine Parkinson, Lara Peake, Lisa McGrillis, Luke Pasqualino, Milo Callaghan, Nafessa Williams, Oliver Chris, Rufus Jones, Victoria Smurfit

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2. Living, 2022

Adapted from the Japanese film Ikiru, which in turn was adapted from the Russian story The Death of Ivan Ilyich, Living is a parable about, well, living. Specifically, it's about the importance of wonder and the magic of the mundane. It's also about legacy and the stories we leave in our wake, which live on long after we're gone. This familiar premise could have very easily been turned into another trite and cheesy movie that warns you to make the most out of your life, but thanks to a lean script, assured camerawork, and powerfully restrained performances, Living is elevated into something more special than that. It’s a technically beautiful, well told, and profoundly moving film, with Bill Nighy giving a career-best turn as a repressed man aching for meaning in his twilight years.

Genre: Drama, History

Actor: Adrian Rawlins, Aimee Lou Wood, Alex Sharp, Barney Fishwick, Bill Nighy, Celeste Dodwell, David Summer, Edward Wolstenholme, Eunice Roberts, Ffion Jolly, Grant Gillespie, Hubert Burton, Jamie Wilkes, John MacKay, Jonathan Keeble, Lia Williams, Mark James, Matilda Ziegler, Michael Cochrane, Michael James, Nichola McAuliffe, Nicky Goldie, Oliver Chris, Patsy Ferran, Richard Cunningham, Robin Sebastian, Rosie Sansom, Thomas Coombes, Tom Burke, Zoe Boyle

Director: Oliver Hermanus

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3. Trying, 2022

Trying is a realistic but charming take on couples venturing to build a life and stable future for themselves. Heavy themes are tackled here, like infertility, infidelity, and parenthood, but the immensely likable couple that is Nikki and Jase guide us through the murky ups and downs of them all. Their heart and humor aren’t just comforting to watch, they're also inspiring in a TV age obsessed with heavy dramatics. Like Ted Lasso, Abbott Elementary, and other well-meaning shows like it, Trying is a bit of lighthearted fare that we’d do well to indulge in every now and then.

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Actor: Esther Smith, Imelda Staunton, Oliver Chris, Ophelia Lovibond, Rafe Spall

Rating: TV-14

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4. My Lady Jane, 2024

	
My Lady Jane reimagines the titular nine-day queen, played by Bader, as a staunch feminist who has a lust for life and, well, men. She’s wise, vocal, and unapologetically sexual, and her demeanor is complemented by an irreverent script, modern pop songs, and fourth-wall-breaking meta-humor. In other words, it’s just like every other modern period drama that came before it, from Dickinson, The Great, and to some extent, Bridgerton. But unlike these shows, My Lady Jane fails to create a distinct atmosphere. If it was released five years ago, maybe it would’ve made a dent in the genre, but as proven by the aforementioned titles (and many more like them), My Lady Jane is trying to do something that’s already been achieved in better ways. That said, the show is still enjoyable, especially if you’re a fan of strong independent women™, magical creatures, raunchy humor, and revisionist history. Just don’t expect anything particularly new or inventive from it.Genre: Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Actor: Anna Chancellor, Christian Patterson, Dominic Cooper, Edward Bluemel, Emily Bader, Henry Ashton, Isabella Brownson, James Corrigan, Jim Broadbent, Jordan Peters, Kate OFlynn, Oliver Chris, Rob Brydon, Robyn Betteridge
Director:  Jamie Babbit
Rating: TV-14

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5. What's Love Got to Do with It?, 2023

As glad as I am to see a film celebrating the complex joys of interracial love and debunking the stigma of arranged marriages, I can’t help but wonder how and why a film about love got to be so dry and passionless. Is dating really this painfully awkward? Is marriage really this burdensome? Realistically, yes, but when you’re trying to make a point about true love supposedly trumping it all, including cultural differences and age-old traditions, then you should at least make it seem like the winner. The movie tries to have its cake and eat it too by serving us heaps of realism and fantasy on one plate, failing to understand that you only have to pick one to be palatable. “Love Contractually” is the title of Zoe’s documentary, but it’s also the name this movie should’ve gone with, seeing as how everyone acts like they’re obligated to be here.

Genre: Comedy, Romance

Actor: Alexander Owen, Alice Orr-Ewing, Asim Chaudhry, Ben Ashenden, Emma Thompson, Haqi Ali, Jamal Andreas, Jeff Mirza, Lily James, Michael Marcus, Mim Shaikh, Munir Khairdin, Nikkita Chadha, Nosheen Phoenix, Oliver Chris, Peter Sandys-Clarke, Ravi Aujla, Sajal Ali, Shabana Azmi, Shaheen Khan, Shazad Latif, Sindhu Vee, Taj Atwal, Wasim Zakir

Director: Shekhar Kapur

Rating: PG-13

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