Too much of everything

The first must-see film of the year.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

Normally I write a movie review immediately after seeing the movie, because it is fresh to recollect the movie. When I was browsing the TV today and saw this movie, I stopped. I remember loving this movie when I had seen for the first time. Then I remembered that I did not write the movie review then. I was myself surprised, and I made it a point to write the review this time. So here it is. The story is beautifully told with passing of four seasons of a year – that is why it is titled ANOTHER YEAR. Tom (Jim Broadbent) a geologist and Gerri (Ruth Sheen) a counselor are older married couple who encounter friends and family with their underlying issues. First one is Mary (Leslie Manville) is a middle-aged divorcée receptionist, heavy alcoholic desperate seeking a new relationship – and eye Tom and Gerri's son Joe (Oliver Maltman) who is much younger - around 30 years old. Second is Ken (Peter Wight), Tom's school friend, who is overweight, a compulsive eater, drinker and smoker. Third is Ronnie (David Bradley) , estranged son of Tom's brother, who arrives late and is angry with everyone for not delaying his mother's funeral ceremony. Through the relationships of these characters, director Mike Leigh beautifully exploits the togetherness and loneliness with warmth, tenderness, kindness, giving, emotional loss, yearnings, and nurturing, growing old together. There are some well executed scenes that resonate with audiences in terms of the assembled cast and crew delivering on the spot improvisation and inventiveness in executing an endearing scene. Mary's drunkenness, Mary's romantic advances towards Joe, Mary's reluctance and rejection of Ken's advances, Mary's hostility towards Joe's girlfriend Katie (Karina Fernandez), Mary's apology to Gerri for her behavior and the last lingering scene where Mary is lost and uncertain on a happy dinner night. It is Mary's under-current role (exit & entry) all the way that weaves this story. It was not a wonder that Leslie Manville won several best actress awards for her brilliant portrayal of this role. A special mention for Director Mike Leigh for writing a script and screenplay that leaves trust and scope for exceptional improvisation to imbibe the flow of scenes and characters. Not many can achieve this finesse. I will go with 7.75 out of 10

Mike Leigh is among the best filmmakers working today, and he's crafted a little hide out of actors and audiences who continuously return to his work knowing that whatever it is that he's making will be top dog. Another Year stands along with his best films, if they could even be quantified - he's made so many great pictures that you lose count going over his filmography. In a way he reminds me of a British version of Robert Altman (though perhaps more dour); he has a wonderful way with words, and allows actors the freedom to explore their character's internal corners. Best of all, his films reflect life as it is - without judgment, without criticism; he wants us to feel them, and makes us empathize with even his most vile characters almost unconditionally. Another Year is among his most tranquil films, a reflection of life passing, and Tom and Gerri are among his most understanding, quiet characters - they listen, understand, and make peace when things are turbulent. Don't we all wish we had friends like that?

"Mike Leigh miserabilism" is definitely a thing—my fearless, insomniac wife warned me about "All or Nothing," the one with Timothy Spall as a bummed-out cabdriver—but "Another Year" is a different story. True, three of the main characters appear to be clinically depressed, one virtually catatonic after the death of his wife, but the film is really about Tom and Gerri, a well-matched, well-adjusted couple in their 60s trying to deal with their friends' (or in Tom's case, brother's—the catatonic one's) impending collapse. The Leigh technique of guided improvisation and many, many runthroughs really makes the big ensemble scenes work; Leslie Manville as self-absorbed, self-medicating Mary is the standout here, though I was grateful for a less fraught scene in which T and G's son turns up with a talkative new girlfriend (she was the fiery flamenco teacher in "Happy-Go-Lucky") and the four of them just have a lively conversation. Interesting that the sane, happy characters all have fulfilling public-sector jobs—psychiatric social worker, physical therapist, legal aid lawyer; Tom's helping to redesign the London sewer system. Jim Broadbent, who plays him, is delightful as always (unless you count "Cloud Atlas"), and though this one may not have the intensity of Leigh's best work, it really connects on an emotional level. Available on disk from Netflix.

First things first - the DVD categorically states that this is director Mike Leigh's 'best film to date'. It isn't and possibly could never be.That's because this is an 'Autumn' film - as is Leigh's career and the age of its chief actors. It glows rather than scowls, which Leigh's best and provocative material did, such as in Secrets and Lies.There's a certain sure-footed predictability about this one and it's best for those who've grown up with and alongside Leigh and his regular gang of improviso actors. I'd also say it's more Radio 4 than 2 with a cheery middle-class turn from a wonderfully rounded (& naturally bearded) Jim Broadbent and Ruth Sheen. He, as civil engineer, who can mock his own unimportance and she as counsellor attached to a large GP surgery. They're sort of like chalk and cheese but often a chalky cheese and their natural chemistry and dialogue is both comfortable and rewarding.Lesley Manville supplies the humour - as scatty, tippling medical secretary at the Surgery and who decides to buy a car. "What sort?" Tom (Broadbent) asks, "Small - and red" she replies. She admires but can't always respect her friend's rock-solid marriage and underneath, she is lonely, needy and insecure.As always with a Mike Leigh, a small band of lesser characters bolster and add flavour to the mix - depressive insomniac Imelda Staunton who is sent to Gerri (Sheen) for treatment, along with various friends and family, with such notables as Phil Davies providing solid performances.So, over the course of a year, we gently (not TOO gently!) see a death in the family and a birth. As is usual in Leigh's character-led comedy- dramas, it comes to an agreeable end, without fanfare nor finality and we are left subtly satisfied, rather than on a high, or low.I have to admit that I put off buying this film as a DVD until now as it appeared to be too cosy and perhaps taking a direction away from where I prefer Mike Leigh to be. But, the central couple become rather like Aunty and Uncle, totally believable, very human and with some foibles that have to be endured, rather than enjoyed. For any lover of Leigh, it's a must, though that sedate pace and lack of Hollywood (or indeed the typical Brit comedy formula, as in Made in Dagenham, Tamara Drewe or The Full Monty) will put some off.I watched it twice in two days and like a familiar jumper, could ravel myself up in it again, actually quite soon!