Another Year

What a brilliant film I was feeling pretty poor with flu or something so this mb wasn't the best choice when you are already feeling grim but am so glad I watched it. The acting is superb. The 'stereotypes' are spot-on. It had a sense (from the start) that something awful was going to happen but thankfully nothing did, I cared for the each of the characters, apart from son Carl, so wanted them to be ok. They weren't all ok tho as the theme running in it seems to be drink altho everyone in it drinks. Some just drink more successfully than others and no-one in the film chastises others for drinking. I found the 'WINTER' part the most compelling as a new character (Ronnie) appeared and there are some fantastic scenes with him and Mary, who is in it throughout. The successful, educated characters in the film were all very good people but, as in real life, they know how to talk to match the situation. The two less fortunate characters' dialogue with each other was much more raw. Mary talked out of nervousness and Ronnie didn't feel the need to talk unless he had something to say. There was quite a haunting scene at the end where these two characters were left in silence during very realistic dinner-table chat amongst the others.

Superbly acted, but also easily one of the most depressing movies I've ever seen. Unlike "Secrets and Lies," where Mike Leigh showed remarkable compassion for all of his characters, "Another Year" presents the "misfit" characters as merely pitiable. Do NOT watch this if you are single, in any way awkward or insecure about anything, or have ever felt like an outsider. This is for the smugly privileged/lucky ones who will pat themselves on the back for pitying the misfits.

A movie for only the most patient of film viewers, I caught Another Year on tubi (not listed on rottentomatoes). After some time is invested, the empathetic viewer will be rewarded with what I thought was a very original, maybe even ground-breaking, focus on facial expressions as characters interact with a needy friend. And it feels VERY real. On a side note: I don't know if this was intended by the director, but I found much humor in the interactions involving David Bradley. A man I only know as Argus Filch / Walder Frey plays a real person with some actual dimension in a scene that almost had me rolling on the floor.

This movie portrays the self righteous human capacity to disregard a human being in favor of labels such as an alcoholic, depressive and so on. The commonality of the therapist that knows everything except how to treat a friend with loyalty. The so called happy professional couple gradually dumping this old friend if she ever was one to them on the curb when things get inconvenient. She becomes their inside joke. Even the brother taken in while grieving his wife's death is a stranger in this so called perfect home. The obvious mistake was to believe these friends that Mary idolized would care for her. The last dinner scene is perfect as it shows the brother and Mary completely lost and shut out. Masterfully done. It shows how subtle indifference can be such a cruel thing.

This is yet another standout work by the great Mike Leigh. Wonderfully realized characters pass before us in a very strong screenplay, typical of Leigh but all its own as well. The cast is something of a who's-who of Stellar British stage and screen from the last thirty-plus years. The brilliant Jim Broadbent. Ruth Sheen's Gerri is precious here as one half of such an obviously loving, well-adjusted couple with Broadbent's Tom. Mix in Wight, Bradley, Imelda Staunton and her grace Lesly Manville and you know at least the performances will stand out. But this is Mike Leigh we're talking about. When did he ever take a serious mis-step? All the prep work he does with the actors before filming shows so well here as to why he takes that approach. They all seem like their characters are lived in; authentic. 4 stars

The large number of characters from the beginning in the film and dialogue-oriented actions may make us repeat to ourselves how the time of 129 minutes of the film passes? But as the film progresses, we encounter a wonderful film and the director of the film "Mike Lee" once again shows off his skills. We are witnessing a live and believable movie. This movie depicts the daily life of a family and their close people in four seasons.

Oh, how downright terrifying time and the awareness of life passing you by can be. Mike Leigh offers another dissection of the British middle class that anyone can relate to. Loneliness is a universal topic. Don't let the first few minutes trick you. This movie is not about Tom and Gerri. Mary and her sad little life are the main bedrock of the plot. But it's presented in a very unique way, so you never really follow her. Throughout the seasons, we see the absolute degradation of their "friend's" emotional state through the eyes of this merry couple. The movie contains many scenes that will cause you second-hand embarrassment for many reasons. Desperation and low self-esteem compound the awkwardness. Mary is a person you probably know and hope to never end up being. And just like in the movie, no one will ever have the heart to tell her or him how utterly pitiful their existence is.

A psychological drama of a happy couple who seem kind of an oddity among all their friends, who live very unhappy lives. Regardless of the angle, we find some psychological aspect to evaluate. The contrast between the couple and the friends can start several conversations. What is more each conversation is likely to vary depending whose perspective you are focusing on. The couple's recipe for happiness is passed on to their son, who soon reveals to be in a similar path. So, all those relatives emanate happiness that's not lived by any of their friends. Gerri, a counselor, can distance herself from her friends' problems in a way that seems a bit contrived for a friendship. She doesn't take the therapist's hat off particularly around the most troubled friends, like Mary. she seems to hold her friends responsible for their unhappiness. - something that is accurate but only to a certain extent. At the same time, it's The acting is fine. There's an overall element of aloofness. We are all in this together, some happy, some not happy at all

This is really quite a poignant film about the domestic life of an English family - a somewhat dysfunctional family but a fairly typical one otherwise - middle to upper-middle class etc. At first, it may appear a bit humdrum and it has a fairly slow plot pace but for me, it was the final scenes that really packed a punch. I suppose you could say I can relate to certain aspects of one of the characters. I liked how the camera angles chosen to help highlight certain things. The music played as the credits rolled at the end was quite good too. I thought it was quite a touching film, which I would happily recommend.

Una quantità di dialoghi e di parole che raramente si è vista in un film; ognuno dei quali al posto giusto, senza praticamente nessuna forzatura e senza mai annoiare lo spettatore. Si seguono le ordinarie vicende di una coppia di anziani e dei loro rapporti più stretti. I personaggi funzionano, specialmente i 3 protagonisti; man mano che si scende di importanza, i comprimari risultano essere un po' più caricaturali e piatti nelle loro strambe peculiarità. Non c'è una grande trama, solo una fitta rete di dialoghi che esplorano l'ampiezza delle emozioni umane. Molto delicato ed intelligente.