nope.
something about Topsy-Turvy doesn’t work for me, but otherwise I agree.
I’ve never seen a bad one, but I haven’t seen them all. My favorites are “Life is Sweet” and “Nuts in May.”
I agree with Zak on Topsy-Turvy. Just couldn’t get into it. Not a reflection on the film.
I love everything I’ve seen. And Topsy-Turvy is one of my favorites. Perhaps the subject matter of Gilbert and Sullivan isn’t for everyone(most people I know can’t stand contemporary musical theatre much less late 19th century operettas), but I thought it was perfectly executed. It was like the second coming of ‘The Red Shoes’. And a real learning experience to boot!
He’s a national treasure of the UK, and whose films are accepted on a world stage. I love "Naked’, although it’s quite a raw and bitter film at times. He’s consistent in how he understands what it is to be a human being, the essentially goodness in people, the contradictions, the flaws in peoples’ character. He’s up there in the pantheon of great directors who make great films about human nature. It’s a sign of the times that people seem to warm to his brand of cinema, especially “Happy-Go-Lucky”, which managed to open in the UK and now in the U.S, just before the economic melt down, forcing us all to reevaluate our priorities and hopefully try to remain positive.
Yes, all Mike Leigh films are bad to me. Every one I have tried to see has been disappointing. Secrets & Lies, Naked, etc. I’m not sure I want to try his new one.
Abigail’s Party is a play for stage and television written in 1977 by Mike Leigh.
not a film?
I’ve only seen Happy-Go-Lucky and that was intolerable – Poppy is quite possibly the most infuriating character imaginable.
Sorry but I have to agree with William Burchett. I didn’t like that film either but perhaps I didn’t get it or I have some sort of personal problem with Mike Leigh’s style idk yet I still have to see his other films.
Career Girls was a bit predictable and full of cliches…but I still loved it for Katrin Cartlidge’s performance as a kind of female Johnny (in the college-era scenes).
I don’t think he’s made a bad film. Because of the unique working practices he’s developed, and the fact that as a film dramatist his heart’s always in the right place, all of his films are worthwhile, albeit to varying degrees.
I think his least good films are Happy Go Lucky and Career Girls. I was also indifferent to Vera Drake. I rather hated Happy Go Lucky, but I wouldn’t call it a bad film, because a) it contained some excellent work, for example Eddie Marsan’s performance was brilliant, and b) I had to think about it for days afterwards and have had numerous conversations about it since, and anything that provokes so much discussion can’t be bad.
Even a relatively weak Mike Leigh film is far better than most of the rubbish that gets churned out.
Career Girls is quite underrated in my book. Wonderful performances and not trite or predictable at all.
No one has seen Abigail’s Party?
I was startled by how flinty it was
i think Abigail’s Party is a TV film…
considering we’re talking about his feature films,i’d say he started falling with Vera Drake and Happy-Go wasn’t something extraordinary either..
however,some films like Topsy Turvy are extremely neglected…
What does flinty mean?
Unyielding. Stern.
Obama used it back in January to describe Chicago’s inner core. Chicago’s flinty toughness, he said.
Can’t think of a bad one – Mike Leigh’s a fine filmmaker. One of the most honest and down to earth directors working today. I thought both Vera Drake and Happy-Go-Lucky were excellent. Topsy Turvy was likewise excellent, as was Naked and Secrets & Lies. Would that there were more directors like him around.
I agree with Dimitris, Happy Go Lucky is just boring and a bit annoying in the Amelie sense of annoyance.
What about his style (not themes), do you think, makes him an auteur?
Life is Sweet, Secrets and Lies are not the only ones that have had me grinding my teeth. Topsy Turvy is by far my favourite, and Vera Drake was quite impressive too. Not seen Happy-go-Lucky
Career Girls (1997)
AND
Naked (1993)
I love Mike Leigh but these two are poisonous.
Elvis,dude,you love Mike Leigh but the above two masterpieces are poisonous????
and what’s with all the love with Vera Drake by everyone and the Secrets and Lies bashing????
Elvis
Naked is a hell of a movie, David Thewlis’ Johnny is one of THE great British movie characters, and yes He is poisonous, but that is the point.
Abigail’s Party was actually an episode of the BBC’s Play for Today, made in 1977. It’s what it says it is – a play. Leigh began his career working for the BBC on Playhouse and The Play For Today, and has been known to occassionally work in the theatre.
Happy-Go-Lucky IMO is irritating beyond belief, apart from the character of the driving instructor played by Eddie Marsan. No wonder Poppy pissed him right off, she did me as well.
Career Girls is a masterpiece? Wow, I TOTALLY missed that.
I absoloutely love Mike Leigh. I particularly enjoy Secrets and Lies and Happy Go Lucky but to be honest I love them all. Mike Leigh is a British Film Legend! xD
I am going to rewatch his films and see for the first time his tv plays. I like his dialouge but he does not really write it. I could not get into topsy turvy but will try agian.
Abel-I agree. Hated Happy Go Lucky but enjoy just about everything else he has done.
Abel-I agree. Hated Happy Go Lucky but enjoy just about everything else he has done.
Phil Worfel
I certainly haven’t seen all of his stuff but everything I’ve seen is consistently better than pretty much anything out there. Is there a Leonard Part 6 in his oeuvre?