Winner of the Palme d’Or and Best Actress (for Brenda Blethyn) at Cannes—Mike Leigh’s rich characterizations (with an incredible stable of actors), and trademark bittersweet take on realism transcends the soap opera trappings
Unlike Leigh’s previous effort, Naked, this is no major triumph and miracle of mise-en-scene, but I do like the detail and juxtaposition of Spall (and his wife) and their house in comparison with Blethyn. It’s a story of class (always important to Leigh)—in one scene Spall’s wife is wearing a vest that matches her wallpaper
family melodrama like almost all of Leigh’s work- tough conversations almost like you’re eavesdropping, realism (where are my subtitles?), characters that are genuine people, gritty- largely plotless- this is an auteur—half Ken Loach social consciousness and half John Cassavetes “are these real people or actors” rawness and authenticity.
Perhaps the greatest of Leigh’s squinty squeaky female performances- Brenda Blethyn— it is a big performance, lots of choices but undeniably powerful and successful. I can hear her saying “sweet heart” in my head right now. One of 1996’s best performances sadly overshadowed by Emily Watson in Breaking the Waves and Frances McDormand in Fargo
perhaps the greatest of Leigh’s squinty squeaky female performances- Brenda Blethyn— it is a big performance, lots of choices but undeniably powerful and successful. I can hear her saying “sweet heart” in my head right now. One of 1996’s best performances sadly overshadowed by Emily Watson in Breaking the Waves and Frances McDormand in Fargo
It’s not just the Spall character and his wife that tell the story of the class struggle in contemporary Britain—the adopted Marianne Jean-Baptiste (a very strong, confident black woman) is an optometrist, more reserved, from a different class as well
A family melodrama like almost all of Leigh’s work- tough conversations almost like you’re eavesdropping, realism (where are my subtitles?), characters that are genuine people, gritty- largely plotless- this is an auteur—half Ken Loach social consciousness and half John Cassavetes “are these real people or actors” rawness and authenticity.
It isn’t 100% baked and carried on throughout the film but I like the film structure and form here as Leigh cuts to photo sessions (Spall’s character is a photographer) of families- some smiling, some fighting—only the audio of Spall in these scenes
A great shot with the door framing the two women (friends including Marianne Jean-Baptiste) at 34 minutes in- slowly tracks in
Gutting screenplay and writing— “You can’t miss what you never had” and Spall says “Can’t you?” (he and his wife can’t have kids and it is ripping them apart both individually and as a couple). It cuts like a knife
The film takes its time. It is 136 minutes and it is 60 minutes in almost exactly before Blethyn and Jean-Baptiste talk on the phone
The Holborn tube station long take scene is really well done followed by another long take of both women at the coffee shop sitting on the same side of the booth
another long take of both women at the coffee shop sitting on the same side of the booth alone showing them in isolation
The Holborn tube station long take scene is really well done
The bomb dropped by Blethyn’s character at the 21st birthday party is at almost 2 hours in. It’s painful- tough to watch and again feels like non-actors which has to do with Leigh’s well-documented approach to actors, writing and characters—it feels like group therapy here in a good way- we’re all in pain. I feel some of Ari Aster and what he must be influenced by
Coming in 1996 (though Leigh and his work, which is consistent, predates it) you have to talk about the Dogme 95 movement with Vinterberg and von Trier
Can Judi Dench play Blethyn’s role here?
I think she can. Dench can do that squeaky voice as well along with devastating emotional scenes. (I think Vanessa Redgrave will be too regal for the role and Maggie Smith will not the have emotional range.)
Also can Dench play Vera Drake in Leigh’s 2004 film. She can be excellent there as well.
@M*A*S*H- Maybe, have we seen Dench play blue collar and not-so-intelligent like Blethyn’s Cynthia? I think I like Dench more as Vera Drake- though I am not recasting either role.
Not sure about unintelligent but doesn’t she play working class/ blue collar in Belfast? Maybe few more times in her rich (about 90 + theatre productions) careers on stage.
I think Dench has range she just didn’t get to showcase it a lot. I think she has never done an American film Or played an America character and why can’t she.
Thinking of Dench in American films/roles I think she can play Dianne Wiest roles. Don’t you agee? (If she can do an American accent- I’ve never seen her do one)
Drake
June 23, 2023 at 9:44 pm
@M*A*S*H- Not sure I have either- I think she can play some of the Wiest roles (I Am Sam is an easy one to see) but I don’t see the Hannah and Her Sisters role in her range
Can Judi Dench play Blethyn’s role here?
I think she can. Dench can do that squeaky voice as well along with devastating emotional scenes. (I think Vanessa Redgrave will be too regal for the role and Maggie Smith will not the have emotional range.)
Also can Dench play Vera Drake in Leigh’s 2004 film. She can be excellent there as well.
@M*A*S*H- Maybe, have we seen Dench play blue collar and not-so-intelligent like Blethyn’s Cynthia? I think I like Dench more as Vera Drake- though I am not recasting either role.
Not sure about unintelligent but doesn’t she play working class/ blue collar in Belfast? Maybe few more times in her rich (about 90 + theatre productions) careers on stage.
I think Dench has range she just didn’t get to showcase it a lot. I think she has never done an American film Or played an America character and why can’t she.
Thinking of Dench in American films/roles I think she can play Dianne Wiest roles. Don’t you agee? (If she can do an American accent- I’ve never seen her do one)
@M*A*S*H- Not sure I have either- I think she can play some of the Wiest roles (I Am Sam is an easy one to see) but I don’t see the Hannah and Her Sisters role in her range
Yeah I agree.