Jude (1996)

Anyone who has ever studied English literature knows that Tess of the D’Urbervilles (1891), The Mayor of Casterbridge (1886), and Jude the Obscure (1895) have a couple of things in common. The trio of British novels are scribed by Victorian realist Thomas Hardy — and all of them feature passionate protagonists dealing with ill-fated circumstances. Certainly a lot of working-stiffs today can relate to the title character in Jude (1996). The skinematic adaptation of Hardy’s 1895 tragedy centers around a smart guy, Jude Fawley (Christopher Eccleston), who is stuck in a go-nowhere, manual labor job. If that’s not frustrating enough, he had an unhappy marriage to Arabella (Rachel Griffiths) and is in love with Sue Bridehead (Kate Winslet) who, despite her surname, refuses to wed. But at least the dude still gets to fool around with both of these babes in bed! Thanks to the candid coverage of Michael Winterbottom’s direction, Ms. Griffiths and Ms. Winslet shed their threads on camera. Throughout the course of the sad story, flesh fans will be happy to know there’s a chance to glance at the skintastic actresses sans clothes. In fact, once you get a look at Rachel’s large left breast, it’s hard to know what Jude is whining about. Mr. Skin would gladly have his ambitions crushed for just one night with the saucy Aussie. That goes double for English rose Kate who shows off her boobs and pubes. The sexy sight is enough for us to hail Britannia with a major trouser salute!