Director Mike Leigh Draws Out Characters' Emotions, Seamless Performances

After watching director Mike Leigh’s latest film, Another Year, I thought of how it compared with his previous films, which I loved.  Another Year is a year-in-the-life of one English family and their friends.  Nothing is held back here…all of the neuroses, squabbles, anger, human foibles, addictions are laid bare on the screen.  It is a true, honest, character-driven tale of life.  Leigh specializes in those types of movies…subtle, yet bold stories of the human condition. 

Take Leigh’s Vera Drake, which packs a power-house of emotion with one of the most stunning performances on film in recent memory. Mostly known for her stage work in her native England, Imelda Staunton, as the title character delivered a tour-de-force turn as a 1950 London abortionist. Vera’s transition, from a contented lower-middle-class housewife/mother/domestic to a wanted felon is seamless. In the beginning, we see someone who does not have a lot but is always happy…always upbeat about all of the trials of her life…a good-hearted, good-natured person who does way more for others (including strangers) than she would ever think of doing for herself. Then, the little secret she’s kept from everyone in her life comes out with a vengeance and her whole demeanor/persona changes. She’s no longer Vera, whistling while she cleans up after others…she’s Vera, lawbreaker with years of hidden secrets. A less skilled actress might have taken this role and relied more on clichéd shifts in emotions. Staunton brilliantly transforms Vera from a strong-willed woman to a helpless criminal. Yet, the sparkle in Vera’s eyes never dies, no matter how hard the fight. It’s a depressing story, but Staunton’s performance of gives the audience something to hope for. 

Leigh’s Happy-Go-Lucky has to be my favorite of his films…a wonderfully sweet film that warms the heart and leaves the moviegoer feeling good about the future of filmmaking if movies like this can still be made. British actress Sally Hawkins, who was thankfully nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress for this role, stars as Poppy, a light-hearted, perky young Londoner who really does look at the world through those proverbial "rose-colored” glasses. She's always upbeat...even when life tosses curves balls at her, she's chipper. She doesn't want anyone to be unhappy or angry. When she encounters Scott, her weekly driving instructor, he provides a challenge for Poppy since he's always angry...at nothing in particular. Hawkins makes this movie a pleasure to watch with her continually charming demeanor. It might seem that too much of Poppy would be a bad thing...but I don't agree with that. Watching her made me want to be a better person. A lot of times, cheerfulness does not rub off...it only seems fake and too sappy. But here, in the way Hawkins plays Poppy, there are never any forced emotions.  It’s just impossible not to love Poppy. 

Another Year: 2010, PG-13, 129 minutes, directed by Mike Leigh, starring Jim Broadbent, Ruth Sheen, Lesley Manville and Imelda Staunton. 

Happy-Go-Lucky: 2008, rated R, 118 minutes, directed by Mike Leigh, starring Sally Hawkins, Alexis Zegerman and Eddie Marsan. 

Vera Drake: 2004, rated R, 125 minutes, directed by Mike Leigh, starring Imelda Staunton, Jim Broadbent, Heather Craney, Eddie Marsan, Sally Hawkins and Lesley Manville. 

Niles Public Library owns copies of these titles on DVD.