Review of "Naked"
NAKED (1993)
Directed by Mike Leigh
Written by Mike Leigh
Starring David Thewlis, Lesley Sharp, Katrin Cartlidge, Greg Cruttwell and Claire Skinner
This bleak drama exposing the seamy underbelly of 1990s Britain is one of prolific film-maker Mike Leigh's best works. After raping a woman in an alley, unemployed, but intelligent, misfit Johnny (Thewlis) steals a car and travels down from Manchester to London, where he intends to hide out in the flat of his ex-girlfriend Louise (Sharp). However, no sooner does he arrive when he seduces her flatmate Sophie (Cartlidge). Louise soon gets sick of Johnny and he takes to wandering around the London streets all day and night, encountering various other loners and misfits, whom he regales with long philosophical rants.
This film, in common with much of Leigh's work, was almost entirely improvised by Leigh and his cast over an eleven week rehearsal period (the original script was only twenty five pages long) and they come up with a film that is both intelligent and witty. David Thewlis gives one of the most astonishing performances in recent cinema as Johnny, making a completely loathsome character, strangely charismatic and sympathetic, even though he is never likeable. Lesley Sharp and Katrin Cartlidge provide the movie with some much-needed heart and they also give superb performances. However there are many other memorable characters including an aggressive Scottish couple (Ewen Bremner and Susan Vidler), a lonely security guard who guards "empty space" (Peter Wright), and the sadistic Yuppie landlord (Cruttwell) The film is impressively shot on the London streets, with a great feel for the interplay of light and shadow. Despite the fact that nothing seems to date as much as the recent past, this film has aged well, and with it's central themes of loneliness and urban alienation is as timely now as it was when it was first made, if not more so. The overall tone of the film veers between tragedy and comedy, bleakness and compassion, cynicism and hope. This is quite a long film, however, and consists almost entirely of people talking, with minimal action, and so some viewers may find that it tries their patience, but it is well worth giving it a shot. However, the film is certainly overlong at times and since there really is no actual story it lacks shape and drive. This is a powerful and disturbing film, although there isn't much graphic violence on display.
4 out of 5
Directed by Mike Leigh
Written by Mike Leigh
Starring David Thewlis, Lesley Sharp, Katrin Cartlidge, Greg Cruttwell and Claire Skinner
This bleak drama exposing the seamy underbelly of 1990s Britain is one of prolific film-maker Mike Leigh's best works. After raping a woman in an alley, unemployed, but intelligent, misfit Johnny (Thewlis) steals a car and travels down from Manchester to London, where he intends to hide out in the flat of his ex-girlfriend Louise (Sharp). However, no sooner does he arrive when he seduces her flatmate Sophie (Cartlidge). Louise soon gets sick of Johnny and he takes to wandering around the London streets all day and night, encountering various other loners and misfits, whom he regales with long philosophical rants.
This film, in common with much of Leigh's work, was almost entirely improvised by Leigh and his cast over an eleven week rehearsal period (the original script was only twenty five pages long) and they come up with a film that is both intelligent and witty. David Thewlis gives one of the most astonishing performances in recent cinema as Johnny, making a completely loathsome character, strangely charismatic and sympathetic, even though he is never likeable. Lesley Sharp and Katrin Cartlidge provide the movie with some much-needed heart and they also give superb performances. However there are many other memorable characters including an aggressive Scottish couple (Ewen Bremner and Susan Vidler), a lonely security guard who guards "empty space" (Peter Wright), and the sadistic Yuppie landlord (Cruttwell) The film is impressively shot on the London streets, with a great feel for the interplay of light and shadow. Despite the fact that nothing seems to date as much as the recent past, this film has aged well, and with it's central themes of loneliness and urban alienation is as timely now as it was when it was first made, if not more so. The overall tone of the film veers between tragedy and comedy, bleakness and compassion, cynicism and hope. This is quite a long film, however, and consists almost entirely of people talking, with minimal action, and so some viewers may find that it tries their patience, but it is well worth giving it a shot. However, the film is certainly overlong at times and since there really is no actual story it lacks shape and drive. This is a powerful and disturbing film, although there isn't much graphic violence on display.
4 out of 5