Mike Leigh and the absolutely fantastic cast have made a masterpiece! There were so many psychological elements that mirrored my lived experience, that I kept wondering exactly where Pansy stopped and my own mother began! That aggressively stuck character who traps everyone around her-into the emotional glue trap of her own searing and violent pain - was expertly captured! Absolutely loved it. A tragic tale that makes you laugh at times and then rips you up with pain. Just brilliant!
Having just seen the film, I would say, be careful what you wish for! This is a very tough watch. The acting and direction is at times incredible ... BUT ... I am wondering, could this have been done in a way that did not make me think, a bit more of this, and I will want to leave the cinema, and/or do away with myself? In the end, I felt the best moments were worth my time, and certainly, as Mark so correctly says, no one makes films like this. But, I can't say I love this like I do many of Mike's films (especially Secrets and Lies) nearly all of which I would happily watch repeat times. Certainly there are some scenes in Hard Truths I would like to revisit (notably the Cemetry, and the Mother's Day Party). However, I can tell you quite categorically, I will never watch it all the way through again.
Very unsurprisng to hear Mike Leigh was rude. Some years back he used to commonly frequent the arthouse cinema in central London where I worked, though never had to deal with him personally he had a bad reputation amongst staff for ill temprered rudeness, I once heard him complaining posters for his new film weren't prominent enough saying 'Do you know what I've done for the British film industry' Quite the entitled prick.
Mike Leigh and the absolutely fantastic cast have made a masterpiece! There were so many psychological elements that mirrored my lived experience, that I kept wondering exactly where Pansy stopped and my own mother began! That aggressively stuck character who traps everyone around her-into the emotional glue trap of her own searing and violent pain - was expertly captured! Absolutely loved it. A tragic tale that makes you laugh at times and then rips you up with pain. Just brilliant!
Mike Leigh gets real life to the point it becomes uncomfortable And that's the thing..
Saw it today. Incredibly sad film. Reminded me of the lyrics of Black Dog by Arlo Parks - "It's so cruel what your mind can do for no reason".
“He just made the film. We watched it.” Yes, a Rorschach test is meant to probe the psyche of the viewer, not of the guy who made the inkblots.
Heard the interview on Radio 4 this week. Can't wait to see this
Having just seen the film, I would say, be careful what you wish for! This is a very tough watch. The acting and direction is at times incredible ... BUT ... I am wondering, could this have been done in a way that did not make me think, a bit more of this, and I will want to leave the cinema, and/or do away with myself?
In the end, I felt the best moments were worth my time, and certainly, as Mark so correctly says, no one makes films like this. But, I can't say I love this like I do many of Mike's films (especially Secrets and Lies) nearly all of which I would happily watch repeat times. Certainly there are some scenes in Hard Truths I would like to revisit (notably the Cemetry, and the Mother's Day Party). However, I can tell you quite categorically, I will never watch it all the way through again.
Top 5 filmmaker for me!
Very unsurprisng to hear Mike Leigh was rude. Some years back he used to commonly frequent the arthouse cinema in central London where I worked, though never had to deal with him personally he had a bad reputation amongst staff for ill temprered rudeness, I once heard him complaining posters for his new film weren't prominent enough saying 'Do you know what I've done for the British film industry' Quite the entitled prick.
Yes, I have heard similar from a friend who worked on one of his films some time back. She said he was not fun to be around.
Definitely rather watch an empty screen that Mike Leigh's twee, exploitative miserablism.
@@fintancoyle3311 Never meet your heroes.
For me it was a film about isolation, if when in close physical proximity with each other