Word: leigh
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...Mike Leigh's Naked finds highlights in London lowlife...
directed by Mike Leigh...
This peculiarity of the British sense of humour is important to keep in mind when viewing "High Hopes." Otherwise Mike Leigh's sketch of the state of class warfare in London might become unbearably bleak. The film centers on Cyril and Shirley, a couple who live in a high-rise block, work as motorcycle couriers and are haunted by Cyril's dogged refusal to start a family. Although Leigh is sympathetic to Shirley's need for a child, the family portraits he draws would be enough to put anyone...
Throughout the film Leigh's vision of London is stark. His tendency to hold the camera completely still lends the narrative an almost documentary quality--Leigh rests on Cyril's mum's lined and bitter face or on a view of her gloomy kitchen. Pauses like these counterbalance the near-hysteria of Leigh's social caricatures. And the breathing space they provide force one to contemplate how close to reality those caricatures are. Because you can take it from me that British society does still revolve around antiquated, almost tribal social rituals. And Mike Leigh does dissect them with...
This will only be seen as a "feelgood" movie bythose who can thank their stars that they're notBritish. But Leigh somehow manages to steer clearof unmitigated pessimism. There are some greatone-liners, for example Vivien's classic blunder:"I would like to propose a toast to mum's birthday'cos it may be her last." There is also, inCyril's enduring idealism and his tenderness forboth Shirley and his mother, a reminder of theimportance of maintaining "high hopes...