Mike Leigh

LMLM Posts: 63,320
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Any fans of Mike Leigh?

I have seen a few of his films over the years. I have seen Happy Go Lucky, Vera Drake, Life Is sweet and Another year. I am on a look out for more. They all left me speechless.

I find him an extraordinary filmaker. His scripts just seem so real. He tells story about real everyday people and gets such beautiful performances from his actors.

Comments

  • PunksNotDeadPunksNotDead Posts: 21,125
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    Abigails party is a fantastic piece of film.
  • my name is joemy name is joe Posts: 4,450
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    secrets & Lies, and Naked are two bona fide classics
  • Judas82Judas82 Posts: 239
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    I love Happy Go Lucky, Vera Drake, Life Is Sweet and Abigails Part.

    I too would like to see more of his films. Love his style as a director.
  • stud u likestud u like Posts: 42,100
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    Judas82 wrote: »
    I love Happy Go Lucky, Vera Drake, Life Is Sweet and Abigails Part.

    I too would like to see more of his films. Love his style as a director.

    Which bit?
  • JackassfanJackassfan Posts: 3,430
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    He is one of my favourite directors and i have loved all his films that i have seen, his best are...

    Naked- David Thewlis was outstanding (one of the best performances of all time)
    Secrets & Lies
    Another Year
    Vera Drake
  • PJ68PJ68 Posts: 3,116
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    secrets and lies is one of my favourite films.

    he makes films about decent ordinary people, i love them. another year was heartbreaking in parts
  • MrMarpleMrMarple Posts: 3,424
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    Secrets & Lies contains (IMO) one of the best acting performances of all time.
    Brenda Blethyn is outstanding. Hilarious & Heartbreaking at the same time.
    It is the performance of her career if you ask me.

    I defy anyone not to shed at least one tear while watching her performance as Cynthia.

    How the hell she didn't win the Oscar is a mystery to me.
  • LMLM Posts: 63,320
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    MrMarple wrote: »
    Secrets & Lies contains (IMO) one of the best acting performances of all time.
    Brenda Blethyn is outstanding. Hilarious & Heartbreaking at the same time.
    It is the performance of her career if you ask me.

    I defy anyone not to shed at least one tear while watching her performance as Cynthia.

    How the hell she didn't win the Oscar is a mystery to me.

    I adore Brenda Blethyn, she is one of our most underrated actresses.
  • Judas82Judas82 Posts: 239
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    Which bit?

    y o y did I forget the y? :D .........her naughty bit , she was partying after all
  • yorkieUKyorkieUK Posts: 2,159
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    Nuts in May and Grown Ups are favourites of mine.

    How can anyone forget the "Zoo Song" from Nuts in May:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daEocG2dKCU

    :)
  • IntotheSunIntotheSun Posts: 6
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    I'm surprised you, the OP, even like Mike Leigh. I thought it would be a bit highbrow for you. It doesn't have Postman Pat or Britney Spears in.

    I think that's the perfect way to end my time on Digital Spy.

    *waves and asks for profile to be deleted*

    Mwah!
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 496
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    A lot of Leigh's work is excellent , but in imo Television would be the more natural home for his films.
  • rfonzorfonzo Posts: 11,771
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    Yes, I think he is an underrated genius. His greatest strength is his characterisation and the range of characters that he creates. Secrets and Lies and Nuts in May is a fine example of this.
  • LMLM Posts: 63,320
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    I watched All or nothing today
    Brilliant film

    Timothy Spall and Lesley Manville give brilliant performances. Depsite a small role, Sally hawkins excelled as well.
  • stripedcatstripedcat Posts: 6,689
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    As I think this thread shows, "Secrets and Lies" is probably his most popular and accomplished film. A heartbreaking story. Good performances as well.

    I also think that "Life is Sweet" is very good as well.

    "Naked" is I suppose a slightly darker tale from Leigh. Certainly it is bleak.

    "Career Girls" is probably a smaller film from him. It has its moments. It's more a character study though.

    "Topsy-Turvy" is interestingly offbeat from Leigh. A period piece with some musical bits.

    "Happy-Go-Lucky" was okay, but I did find Sally Hawkins' character a bit grating and irritating - I'm sure they're people like that in real life.

    "All or Nothing" did get slated by some of the critics. It is bleak and overlong, but I suppose it is more about when a tragedy strikes you and how you cope with it. That I suspect is probably its redeeming feature.

    "Vera Drake" was another departure for Leigh(much like "Topsy-Turvey") in that it dealt with a topical issue(abortion) rather than focusing mainly on the characters(it does that as well by the way).

    Those are the feature films of his that I have seen.

    As for his TV movies:-

    "Abigail's Party" - I suppose you could argue that some of the characters are stereotypes, but it does have a biting satire about it and middle class values.

    "Nuts in May" - This is a tricky one. Unlike "Abigail's Party" there isn't the intended satire here, but I suppose it is more geared towards Keith's character. It has funny moments, but it is more lightweight when compared to Leigh's other work.
  • mr mugglesmr muggles Posts: 4,601
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    High Hopes turned me on to Leigh. More of a black comedy about socialism in Thatcher's time.
    Naked is a tough ride that doesn't let up, and Career Girls has some really bleak moments too - but they really remind me of being a student in the late 80s and all the people that were slipping through 'the system' in Baroness Margaret's era. Some people had ra-ra skirts and Wham! Others had lives that had elements of Naked...

    One of my favourite cinematic moments was the scene in Life Is Sweet where Alison Steadman has a heart-to-heart with one of her daughters in the bedroom about the ups & downs of life. Beautifully played and understated. Another Year shows that he still won't compromise for the audience!
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 3,231
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    Naked is the one to see. He's hit & miss with me, his characters often descend to quasi-Eastenders histrionics, but Naked's great.
  • sheila bligesheila blige Posts: 8,010
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    lombard wrote: »
    Naked is the one to see. He's hit & miss with me, his characters often descend to quasi-Eastenders histrionics, but Naked's great.

    I find him a bit hit and miss - although I loved Nuts In May and Abigail's Party.

    I find Ken Loach a more consistent director.
  • barbelerbarbeler Posts: 23,827
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    Naked is depressing and funny in equal measure, but also undoubtedly his masterpiece.
    Nuts in May is simply one of the funniest films ever made, although I will admit that it might leave a few people feeling slightly confused. :D
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