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Time Keeps On Slipping, July
11, 2000
If you've any doubt of the difference
between English and American cultures, watch this early Mike Leigh
flick and then think about the fact that it was made for television.
The writing in this dark little number is better than that of
most of the movies released over here, let alone anything American-made
you'll ever see on television.
These are dark character sketches,
and I too was reminded of Leigh's Naked as watched, though this
movie doesn't share so much of Naked's explicit philosophizing.
It does share similarly benighted characters, however, and a central
character with the same shiftless way and easy ability to say
whatever pops into his head.
Phil Daniels portrays this character,
Mark, the story's wise fool: he knows enough to understand his
situation is a horrible one; he's quite adept at analyzing whatever
goes on around him, and he's revolted by it; but he does little
to extricate himself from the situation; his attitude reflects
that of most in the film, except perhaps for his aunt who is always
somewhat futilely trying to adjust the status quo.
Mark and his brother Colin and
their father (who looks perfectly like an older Phil Daniels)
are all on the dole, along with Gary Oldman's character Coxy.
As Mark's half-witted brother, Tim Roth really steals the show;
he's so deep into his part, it's easy to forget he's acting. The
character development in this story belongs mainly to Roth's character
and though the movie seems to start out focusing equally on all
involved, events gradually accumulate to have the greatest effect
upon him. Interaction especially with Coxy and his brother stirs
him to life, and the consequences are both amusing and touching.
Some viewers won't be happy with the ending--the change may not
be profound enough for them--but the change is there and it's
a sign of inward struggle, a slight pulsing signal of hope .
Kudos also to Marion Bailey who
plays the boys' mother. Her role is not a particularly sympathetic
one, but in one striking scene when she plays hurt, your heart
goes out to her anyway. You understand that beneath her surly
exterior there's a woman needing affection from her sons.
Often amusing and surprisingly
touching despite its torpid atmosphere, this cunningly simple
movie is most greatly enrichened by its characters, many of whom
will stay with me for quite some time.
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