Angel (2007)

Watching Michael Fassbender is heaven — especially when he’s nude in Angel (2007), also known as Real Life of Angel Deverell. Not to be confused with the supernatural American TV series Angel (1999-2001) or the Puerto Rican movie Ángel (2007), this British flick is based on the novel by English author Elizabeth Taylor. The romantic drama is set in Edwardian England when the eponymous character (Romola Garai) rises from misfit to aristocrat. Initially, she’s an outsider with an active imagination. She dreams of being a famous writer despite the fact that her mother (Jacqueline Tong) is a shopkeeper and her aunt (Janine Duvitski) is a housekeeper. But once Angel actually pens her masterpiece and sends it out for consideration, publisher extraordinaire Theo Gilbert (Sam Neill) offers to print the book if she reworks some parts. Angel tearfully refuses, Theo gives in to her wishes, and the novel becomes an immediate hit. Consequently, the bestseller is followed by more bestsellers. Fame and wealth come to Angel as well as a secretary named Nora (Lucy Russell) whose brother is Esmé Howe-Nevinson (Fassbender). Angel falls for and marries him even though he’s an arrogant artist and not really into her. When World War I breaks out, Esmé uses service as an excuse to get away. Unfortunately, he loses a leg while fighting. If that’s not bad enough, Angel loses a baby and her book sales plummet. But at least, Esmé returns to bare his bum while bedding Angel — making us all horny little devils!