Polling the films of director Mike Leigh
The rules:
- your list can include no more than half of the Leigh films you've seen, up to a maximum of 5. So if you've seen seven of his films, for example, you can list only a top 3. It's only if you've seen ten or more of his films than you can list the maximum of five.
- i'll assume ballots are ranked unless you tell me otherwise. unranked ballots are fine.
- deadline for ballots: next Tuesday, in seven days, whatever day that is
- if anyone is watching films for these polls, then i'll extend the deadline three days, if someone requests an extension
- next poll: whoever posts the first ballot in this thread is free to nominate the director we poll next, unless you've nominated in this round already (everyone should get a chance). Already nominated this round: greg x, rischka, dt, silga, kanafani, brian d, greennui
umbugbene created an index on letterboxd of all of our previous polls here: letterboxd.com/umbugbene/list/index-of-all-scfz-director-polls/
one rule for nominees: at least 3 scfzers need to have seen 10+ of a nominee's films, or at least 4 scfzers need to have seen at least 8 of the nom's films, so if it isn't clear if that will be the case, we'll confirm that's true before moving forward
if 24 hours pass after a poll opens, and no one eligible to nominate has posted a ballot, then i'll nominate someone, and then we'll start over, and everyone will be able to nominate again
SCFZ poll: Mike Leigh
Life is Sweet
Nuts in May
Naked
High Hopes
seen nine, might watch one more soon
Nuts in May
Naked
High Hopes
seen nine, might watch one more soon
you can select our next director if you like, ofrene!
Seen 4:
1. Happy-Go-Lucky
2. Secrets & Lies
1. Happy-Go-Lucky
2. Secrets & Lies
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connordenney
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Sun Dec 30, 2018 12:26 am
I've only seen three. Close call but I'll cast my vote for
1. Another Year (2010)
1. Another Year (2010)
i have 10
secrets & lies
topsy-turvy
another year
life is sweet
a sense of history
i ADORE jim broadbent
secrets & lies
topsy-turvy
another year
life is sweet
a sense of history
i ADORE jim broadbent
I've seen 19. Most of them I've watched ages ago, so I can't tell them apart really. I really like his early TV movies, so I'll throw one in there.
Topsy-Turvy
Secrets & Lies
Abigail’s Party
life is sweet
Naked
Topsy-Turvy
Secrets & Lies
Abigail’s Party
life is sweet
Naked
meantime
*seen four (hated career girls and happy-go-lucky)
**and naked was my fav when i was young and foolish, but i've grown to really dislike that film. sure, it has a few good monologues here and there from thewlis, but really his tics and fits and quirky demeanor now just come off as mostly annoying to me. the unnecessary juxtaposition of thewlis' character with that other stupid one-dimensional character is really poorly done, and not nearly interesting enough in its meager collocations. there's nary an interesting shot in the film, but of course leigh has never been known as any sort of a shot-maker. really, it's a drab, ugly, sometimes-eye-rolling affair that has been a real slog for me to sit through, the last couple of times that i tried to watch it
*seen four (hated career girls and happy-go-lucky)
**and naked was my fav when i was young and foolish, but i've grown to really dislike that film. sure, it has a few good monologues here and there from thewlis, but really his tics and fits and quirky demeanor now just come off as mostly annoying to me. the unnecessary juxtaposition of thewlis' character with that other stupid one-dimensional character is really poorly done, and not nearly interesting enough in its meager collocations. there's nary an interesting shot in the film, but of course leigh has never been known as any sort of a shot-maker. really, it's a drab, ugly, sometimes-eye-rolling affair that has been a real slog for me to sit through, the last couple of times that i tried to watch it
Last edited by thoxans on Wed Jan 16, 2019 12:50 am, edited 1 time in total.
i agree on naked, it's really a shame it's his most noted film. there is lovely character work throughout his oeuvre :ugeek:
Hey I watched Naked when I was young and foolish and I really liked it back then. Maybe my old and foolish self would despise it. I guess we'll never know.
TOPSY TURVY
NAKED
VERA DRAKE
HAPPY GO LUCKY
MR. TURNER
In re: the tics and stuff in performances in Leigh's films -- yeah, I get what you mean, it can be a drag. When it works, as I think it does with Thewlis as Johnny and Ms. Hawkins in HAPPY-GO-LUCKY, it works very well indeed. When it doesn't, as with whatshername the nurse at the end of NAKED who comes home to find the house a mess and she gets so upset she can't finish her sentences leaving Thewlis to finish them for her, they're just damned annoying gimmicky tricks. Mileage will clearly vary as to which performances and which films do which.
NAKED
VERA DRAKE
HAPPY GO LUCKY
MR. TURNER
In re: the tics and stuff in performances in Leigh's films -- yeah, I get what you mean, it can be a drag. When it works, as I think it does with Thewlis as Johnny and Ms. Hawkins in HAPPY-GO-LUCKY, it works very well indeed. When it doesn't, as with whatshername the nurse at the end of NAKED who comes home to find the house a mess and she gets so upset she can't finish her sentences leaving Thewlis to finish them for her, they're just damned annoying gimmicky tricks. Mileage will clearly vary as to which performances and which films do which.
Last edited by Roscoe on Wed Jan 16, 2019 1:33 am, edited 1 time in total.
These matters are best disposed of from a great height. Over water.
Seen 16. Mike Leigh is a pimp and Naked is primo sadboy shit
Naked
Another Year
Life is Sweet
A Sense of History
High Hopes
Naked
Another Year
Life is Sweet
A Sense of History
High Hopes
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Caracortada
- Posts: 106
- Joined: Wed Dec 12, 2018 8:38 pm
Seen 8. He proves that movies about ordinary people can be more interesting than those about heroes.
- Secrets & Lies
- Vera Drake
- All or Nothing
- Happy-Go-Lucky
Seen 11
1. Secrets & Lies
2. Life is Sweet
3. Topsy-Turvy
4. Naked
5. Another Year
1. Secrets & Lies
2. Life is Sweet
3. Topsy-Turvy
4. Naked
5. Another Year
Seen 2:
Mr. Turner
But I also loved Another Year. Might watch two more if I find enough time (possibly Career Girls and High Hopes).
Mr. Turner
But I also loved Another Year. Might watch two more if I find enough time (possibly Career Girls and High Hopes).
guess i oughta check out a sense of history, esp seeing how it’s available in full on tha tube
Lesley Manville is a true standout in Another Year. And she upstages not just anyone, but Jim Broadbent and Ruth Sheen.
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oscarwerner
- Posts: 319
- Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2019 9:13 am
- Contact:
seen 11.
1. Mr. Turner (2014)
2. Vera Drake (2004)
3. Secrets & Lies (1996)
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my favorite top 3. Other films seem to me at a good similar level, difficult to judge....
1. Mr. Turner (2014)
2. Vera Drake (2004)
3. Secrets & Lies (1996)
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my favorite top 3. Other films seem to me at a good similar level, difficult to judge....
1. Naked
Leigh seen: 2
Leigh seen: 2
To please the majority is the requirement of the Planet Cinema. As far as I'm concerned, I don't make a concession to viewers, these victims of life, who think that a film is made only for their enjoyment, and who know nothing about their own existence.
seen 4 (didn't really love any of them)
mr turner
topsy-turvy
mr turner
topsy-turvy
"Most esteemed biographer of Peter Barrington Hutton"
Watched the only 4 Mike Leigh films that I've seen in 2014.
Throwing in votes for: Mr. Turner & Happy-Go-Lucky.
Throwing in votes for: Mr. Turner & Happy-Go-Lucky.
welcome to scfz, pc! just a request to everyone posting a ballot - please set it off from any commentary, so when i skim through the thread to tabulate, i notice it easily (otherwise i might skim over a post thinking it was just part of the discussion).