Re watched Mike Leigh's 1993 gem NAKED last night. The movie has aged well and is still as moving and perplexing as it was on its previous viewings. David Thewlis as Johnny, may be the best character creation in Mike Leigh's career, and that's saying quite a bit considering the majority of his films deal with women. The film works on quite a few different levels....life's missed connections, the yearning for A FEELING, and staying true to yourself. Johnny remains true throughout the film, which many may feel isn't necessarily a good thing since he is somewhat of a prick, but I like his spunk and his willingness to keep going despite his miseries.
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A favorite film and my favorite director working today. from the naked, hectoring contempt of thewlis' mancunian refusenik character, johnny (a character i've always wishfully suspected to be modelled on the fall's mark e. smith) to the naked ambition of the psychopathic, yuppie landlord, leigh's film renders late thatcherite britain as a twilight world full of isolated, desperate, but ultimately unforgettable, individuals. BB
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