All Or Nothing (2002) | Timothy Spall, Lesley Manville

All Or Nothing (2002) | Timothy Spall, Lesley Manville | don't like it? go watch legally blonde instead.

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All Or Nothing (2002)

	All Or Nothing (2002) Timothy Spall, Lesley Manville MGM (Video & DVD), 2003 average customer review:based on 20 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Three-time Oscar®-nominated* writer/director Mike Leigh (Topsy-Turvy, Secrets & Lies) delivers this "rewarding vibrant poetic slice-of-life drama" (Variety) about an ordinary family dealing with the complexities of life and a crisis that takes them on a tumultuous emotional journey. In a crowded South London apartment building, Penny, a working mom, struggles to keep her wayward daughter, her lazy son and her disillusioned partner on the right path. But when tragedy befalls one of her loved ones, she finds that support comes from the most unexpected places and brings the most surprising results. *1999: Original Screenplay, Topsy-Turvy; 1996: Director, Original Screenplay, Secrets & Lies

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Mike Leigh

It is hard to think of another more consistently powerful film director than England's Mike Leigh and "All or Nothing" is yet another example of his exemplary work.

Many here have used the word "depressing" to describe this movie and, if you don't look very far from the surface, that is understandable. Look a little deeper and you see redemption at play in the lives of these characters whose lives seem stuck in permanent reverse.

"All or Nothing" features some mainstays of Mike Leigh films in its cast, including Timothy Spall ("Secrets and Lies," "Life is Sweet") Lesley Manville ("Secrets and Lies," "High Hopes") and Ruth Sheen ("High Hopes") and each are superb here.

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don't like it? go watch legally blonde instead.

how is "poor people, weak people, unsmart people, unhappy people, unsane people, violent people, fat people, ugly people" like a cliche? if people want 'a smile' there are plenty of (cliched) films out there about rich, talented, beautiful, perfect, boring people to keep you occupied. complaining about directors like mike leigh making films that are too depressing (and they're not, actually, if you pay attention instead of wondering when the fast cars and low-cut dresses are going to come in) is missing the point by so far i wonder how people who do it ended up at the film in the first place. did you get lost on the way to disneyland?

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depressing but good

Like many films from Leigh, you probably don't want to watch if you're feeling down. It's not a light film or an uplifting one. But, I thought it was very well done and acted and believable. Is it an accurage reflection of working-class life in the UK? I don't know. But, it's worth watching as a well-done film.

Bleak but brilliant

Many of have complained about the sheer, utter, inescapable bleakness of ALL OF NOTHING's working-class world, but there is no denying the emotional force of the pitch-perfect performances here. I wish American films took the time to stop, look, and listen, patiently observing real life as it carefully unfolds. I defy anyone not to cry at the film's climax, as the culminative effect is devastating. I don't know of any other director who is so good at drawing rich, detailed, nuanced performances from all of his actors - this time including Leigh regulars RUTH SHEEN, TIMOTHY SPALL, etc. This is truly "ensemble" acting at its best! Another Mike Leigh winner - not as good as SECRETS & LIES or LIFE IS SWEET, but certainly among his best.

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Bleak & Depressing

Everything about this movie is depressing of the lowest order. The background is set in a housing project of three main families. Timothy Spall's character is a taxi driver whilst his partner is a counter lady for Safeway. Both of them have a dejected daughter who works as a cleaner in a retirement home whose work colleague is a lonely & sad old man who suggests to go out with her, a lazy & obese son who only cares to eat, watch TV & fighting with other children whole day long. Timothy is an disillusioned taxi driver who himself is less than motivated to work long hours. One of their neighbours happen to be Timothy's character's colleague whose wife is an alcoholic & a horny daughter. Another neighbour happens to be a cheery mother whose angry daughter has to come to terms with pregnancy. A tragedy would befallen one of them and aid would come from the least expected source. All of caricatures here are too busy minding their day to day life that they lack the perspective of cherishing what truly matters in their lives. An honest, gritty and well-made movie with superb casting. Commendable watching.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4

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