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Amazon.co.uk Review
In between his breakthrough film (Life Is Sweet) and his world sensation (Secrets and Lies), filmmaker Mike Leigh created his most abrasive and daring film, Naked. This "Angry Young Man" for the 1990s follows an acidic wanderer (Cannes award winner David Thewlis) who observes a corrosive Britain. An intellectual, bitter film filtered with debauchery and black humour, Naked follows the bemusing Johnny as he crosses in and out of doorways, drifting into old acquaintances and new lost souls. It is more of a character film than sheer entertainment and thus it can be hard to watch but it offers one of the great performances of the 1990s. Thewlis would have been an Oscar shoo-in if he'd worn a dinner jacket and repressed his emotions. He didn't, and his brilliant work went unrecognised in mainstream America. --Doug Thomas
Product Description
A cynical and pessimistic Manchester drifter, Johnny (David Thewlis), arrives in London, afflicting his ex-girlfriend and her flatmate with an unsolicited visit. When he isn't having rough sex with the roommate or pestering the night watchman at a sterile, modern office complex, he berates his ex for her bourgeois urban tendencies. Leigh's portrait of a deteriorating world at the end of the twentieth century is an intense drama, which packs an even greater punch due to Thewlis's stunning performance as the bitter Johnny.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Naked hit me like a sledgehammer when I first saw it. Unmatched in intensity, it examines several lives in different degrees of detail with one thing in common. They are all alone - even the girls who share the flat and the rich City boy with his girlfriends and conquests. Johnny links them together - his interactions with them, at times gentle, at times vicious and vile. We see, through excellence of acting and writing which is taut but often exuberant, how the morass of London isolates as often as it brings together.
This is a true London film, made up mostly of non-Londonders. It shines a light onto people living in the early 90s, recession-hit, post-Thatcher period. It is a political film, polemical and angry. Johnny is seemingly full of wonder at the world, railing against the 'me, now' generation, and yet deeply cynical about the purpose of existence.
Mike Leigh was accused of being misanthropic with Naked, focusing on the worst of human nature. But you can take from it what you want - in some people's lives there is little or no redemption, but there are moments. Moments of joy, kindness, laughter - even among the despair. You can take the great lines, the arguments, the speeches, the quotations. Take the fact that your life might have gone down the route of many of those people, but didn't. If it sounds like I treated this film like a religious experience, for many years I did. It is beautiful and powerful, rich and epic in its themes. I've never seen another film that spoke more to me about people.
This is a true London film, made up mostly of non-Londonders. It shines a light onto people living in the early 90s, recession-hit, post-Thatcher period. It is a political film, polemical and angry. Johnny is seemingly full of wonder at the world, railing against the 'me, now' generation, and yet deeply cynical about the purpose of existence.
Mike Leigh was accused of being misanthropic with Naked, focusing on the worst of human nature. But you can take from it what you want - in some people's lives there is little or no redemption, but there are moments. Moments of joy, kindness, laughter - even among the despair. You can take the great lines, the arguments, the speeches, the quotations. Take the fact that your life might have gone down the route of many of those people, but didn't. If it sounds like I treated this film like a religious experience, for many years I did. It is beautiful and powerful, rich and epic in its themes. I've never seen another film that spoke more to me about people.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is one of the best British films that i've seen in a long time. David Thewlis gives an incredible performance. I'm not a huge fan of some of Mike Leigh's more recent films bit this is one of his best in my opinion. (I also recommend Meantime and High Hopes). I can't really think of any films to compare this to as it is unique but if you like dark, thought provoking cinema then you should watch this. Also, there are some good extras on this criterion edition which make it worth buying.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This Mike Leigh film is outstanding! I believe it was nominated for several awards at the Cannes film festival, and rightly so. David Thewlis plays Johnny, a complex anti-hero, which you love and loath in equal quantities. The dialogue is hilarious, witty, condescending and at times just plain mean.
The standout scene for me is when Johnny is invited into a security unit by a guard out of sympathy. Johnny then proceeds to destroy this poor man's hopes and dreams with a scathing philosophical monologue about our future as a human race. The supporting cast are equally good, in particular Greg Cruttwell as the nihilistic, vain and deeply shallow landlord. The music score is eerily compelling and haunting , and fits perfectly with the characters and scenery.
Unfortuntly Leigh hasn't made anything this dark or disturbing before or since. However he's still more consistent than most directors, and has become somewhat of a master at making thought provoking films.
The standout scene for me is when Johnny is invited into a security unit by a guard out of sympathy. Johnny then proceeds to destroy this poor man's hopes and dreams with a scathing philosophical monologue about our future as a human race. The supporting cast are equally good, in particular Greg Cruttwell as the nihilistic, vain and deeply shallow landlord. The music score is eerily compelling and haunting , and fits perfectly with the characters and scenery.
Unfortuntly Leigh hasn't made anything this dark or disturbing before or since. However he's still more consistent than most directors, and has become somewhat of a master at making thought provoking films.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
one in the eye
No matter how many times I've watched this film Johnny still gets away with wearing a disgusting rodenty little tash all the way through without anyone ripping it right off. Read more
Published 1 month ago by thetruthshallsetyefree
Haunting
This film to me is one of the most haunting and significant films I have ever seen - probably THE most. Read more
Published 5 months ago by S. Brown
Lousy picture quality but worth it for the commentary
My complaint has nothing to do with the film, one of my favourites, but the DVD. There has been no attempt to restore the picture for this release and clearly a VHS print has... Read more
Published 9 months ago by J.Cullen
A classic, dark, dirty Mike Leigh film.
The film stars David Thewlis, as a cocky, clever drop-out loner Manc who visits London. As he roams the streets he meets several varyingly odd people. Read more
Published 13 months ago by T. BROOKES
Naked by Mike Leigh
I adore this film...one of Mike Leigh's finest hours. Seller delivered promptly (and was courteous enough to send an email asking me if it had arrived & requesting I leave... Read more
Published 14 months ago by rudimentary mary
Good Film
Great British film but was unaware it contained either Dutch or French subtitles (that I was unable to remove for viewing)Before I purchased the DVD
Published 18 months ago by Trev 27
On the Streets, or just side-stepping onto them....
Despite this probably being Leigh's most 'marmite' film, I still like it, a lot. David Thewlis' central character, Johnny, is a scruffy petty criminal who scabs his way onto people... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Tim Kidner
1993 to 2010 and still rocks!
There is not a lot more I can add to the other 19, 5-Star reviews. But I've added some comments to the lone-star dissenter's review! Read more
Published 18 months ago by Paul S. Hyett
Why no Oscar nomination?
That was the first question to pop into my head even before the end credits roll! David Thewlis is simply awesome! Read more
Published on 8 Mar 2010 by B. Tan
Great film - but why no PAL version?
I can't give this film any less than 5 stars, but why is a British film only available on a US DVD? Why is there no region 2 version? I would love to own this film.
Published on 4 Dec 2009 by J. A. Chapman
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