New Year's Eve Time-Waster -- Abridged Classics: Jude the Obscure

The first thing you have to know is that Jude is one of my favorite movies, and is definitely my favorite Brooding English Period Piece. It's not Hardy's book; it's less scathing social satire and more doomed romance/Jules and Jim than Hardy's book. And Rachel Griffiths and Kate Winslet really ought to be cast in the reverse roles. But the performances, the cinematography, the score -- were all fabulous, and cemented Michael Winterbottom as a Genius Director. That he hasn't made a movie as good since is immaterial.

But as much as I loved this movie, I think this is hilarious: