BBC iPlayer is a seriously underrated platform when it comes to its catalogue of films. Not many people are aware of its broad variety, even streaming films that can’t be found anywhere else. I have compiled a list of five movies that are currently on the platform, which I believe are the crème de la crème of BBC iPlayer’s offerings.
From a rogue Cillian Murphy film to a romantic drama focused on cannibalism, there are some out-of-the-ordinary selections – here are my top picks. Why don’t you try some of them out the next time you’re struggling to find something to watch on the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime.
The Godfather
The original Godfather movie was released in 1972 and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The trilogy follows the Corleone family under patriarch Vito Corleone and the transformation of his son, who transforms from an outsider to a mafia boss. The film’s stellar lineup includes Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Richard Castellano, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard Conte and Diane Keaton. The Godfather’s synopsis reads: “Widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time, this mob drama, based on Mario Puzo’s novel of the same name, focuses on the powerful Italian-American crime family of Don Vito Corleone (Brando). When the don’s youngest son, Michael (Pacino), reluctantly joins the Mafia, he becomes involved in the inevitable cycle of violence and betrayal. Although Michael tries to maintain a normal relationship with his wife, Kay (Keaton), he is drawn deeper into the family business.” It is leaving the platform on September 22nd so make sure you catch the classic before it’s too late.
Red Eye
This is one of my personal favourites. Red Eye by Wes Craven stars Rachel McAdams, Brian Cox and Jayma Mays alongside Murphy in a spy/action/thriller that takes place mainly on a plane. When hotel manager Lisa Reisert (McAdams) meets the charming Jackson Rippner (Murphy) at check-in, she thinks it luck that they’re seated together on the plane, but soon learns otherwise. The critics consensus reads: “With solid performances and tight direction from Wes Craven, Red Eye is a brisk, economic thriller.”
Bones and All
Bones and All is a 2022 romantic horror film directed by Call Me by Your Name’s Luca Guadagnino, based on the 2015 novel of the same name by Camille DeAngelis. Set in the late 1980s, the film stars Taylor Russell and Timothée Chalamet as a pair of young cannibals who develop feelings for each other, with Michael Stuhlbarg, André Holland, Chloë Sevigny, David Gordon Green, Jessica Harper, Jake Horowitz, and Mark Rylance appearing in supporting roles. I don’t feel that this film got the recognition it deserves, so defintiely give it a watch. The film’s synopsis reads: “Love blossoms between a young woman on the margins of society and a disenfranchised drifter as they embark on a 3,000-mile odyssey through the backroads of America. However, despite their best efforts, all roads lead back to their terrifying pasts and a final stand that will determine whether their love can survive their differences.”
Atonement
Atonement is a 2007 romantic war drama film directed by Joe Wright and starring James McAvoy, Keira Knightley, Saoirse Ronan, Romola Garai, and Vanessa Redgrave. It is based on the 2001 novel by Ian McEwan. The film chronicles a crime and its consequences over six decades, beginning in the 1930s. The film’s plot follows: “Briony, an aspiring writer, catches her elder sister in a passionate embrace with her lover, Robbie. Jealous, she accuses Robbie of raping her cousin, a lie that changes the course of three lives.” This is a beautifully filmed picture that will likely have you in tears. Ronan is fantastic in her breakthrough role, too.
Starter for 10
Starter for 10 is a 2006 British comedy-drama film directed by Tom Vaughan from a screenplay by One Day’s David Nicholls, adapted from his 2003 novel Starter for Ten. The film stars James McAvoy alongside Alice Eve, Rebecca Hall, Charles Dance, Lindsay Duncan, and Benedict Cumberbatch. This film really caught me by surprise as I ended up watching it after flicking through the TV channels one evening. It has a very notalgic feel. The film’s synopsis reads: “Brian Jackson spends all time his time watching a college quiz show. When he enrols himself in the Bristol University, he participates in a competition and falls in love with Alice.”