A Sense of History

To be honest, I found this too grotesque to be funny in a biting parodic way, and not grotesque enough to be funny in an absurd and nonsensical way. The novelty of Brits mocking their aristocracy may have worn off for me by the time I watched this. Broadbent's acting kept me glued, even if I didn't laugh.

I don't like Jim Broadbent. I don't like Mike Leigh. Why the fuck did I just watch this

A hilarious short film. Jim Broadbent at his best.

A British country gentleman (Jim Broadbent) wanders around his vast estate, his family's property for some 900 years, and narrates the means by which he secured his control of it and the continuation of his line--and the means are not at all pretty. Essentially a one-man show, and Broadbent (who also wrote it) makes the most of it, revealing the madness behind a phlegmatic exterior. Probably a touch longer than it needed to be, but a worthy watch; functionally directed by Mike Leigh.

Very funny, very good. Close to being Python-esque in its comedic commentary on the upper class.

That was pretty fantastic. It takes a lot of skill to make a 30 minute monologue this enticing, but Jim Broadbent delivers without reservation. Scathing and hilarious, brilliantly written and delivered. The cinematography plays second fiddle to the performance but Leigh inserts some nice touches.

Leigh and Broadbent does mockumentary. Hilarious and strangely touching.