All or Nothing (2002/I)

Director:

Mike Leigh

Writer:

Mike Leigh (written by)

Release Date:

18 October 2002 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Comedy

Plot:

Penny's love for her partner, taxi-driver Phil, has run dry. He is a gentle, philosophical guy, and she works on the checkout at a supermarket...

Plot Keywords:

Hospital | Cab Driver | Marriage Problems | Working Class | Alcoholism

Awards:

3 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Timothy Spall	...	Phil
Lesley Manville	...	Penny
Alison Garland	...	Rachel
James Corden	...	Rory
Ruth Sheen	...	Maureen
Marion Bailey	...	Carol
Paul Jesson	...	Ron
Sam Kelly	...	Sid
Kathryn Hunter	...	Cécile
Sally Hawkins	...	Samantha
Helen Coker	...	Donna
Daniel Mays	...	Jason
Ben Crompton	...	Craig
Robert Wilfort	...	Dr. Simon Griffith
Gary McDonald	...	Neville

Also Known As:

All or Nothing (France)
Untitled Mike Leigh Project (UK) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

128 min | France:128 min (Cannes Film Festival) | Germany:121 min (TV version)

Country:

UK | France

Language:

English | Arabic | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Switzerland:14 (canton of Zurich) | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Brazil:14 | Canada:14A | Chile:14 | Finland:K-11 | France:U | Germany:12 | Iceland:L | Netherlands:AL | Norway:11 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Kent, England, UK

Company:

Les Films Alain Sarde

Quotes:

Rachel: Tell me again how lucky I am to be working here. I keep forgetting.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

Soundtrack:

Don't it Make my Brown Eyes Blue

One of Leigh's best

I'm a huge fan of Mike Leigh and his latest does not disappoint. It is a typically well-acted working-class human drama. It has all of the elements you would expect from his films: the preoccupation with the effect of socio-economic conditions on the mental health & family/romantic relationships of working-class people, the theatrical exaggeration of certain characteristics almost to the point of making the protagonists into caricatures and of course the perfectly judged score which hits just the right note in setting the mood of the piece.

The film centres around the family unit of cab driver Phil (the always excellent Timothy Spall), his wife (Lesley Manville) who makes up for his deficiencies in providing for his family by working in a mundane supermarket job and their 2 overweight children marooned in an insular existence with little chance of escape. The main focus is on their relationships, inabilities to communicate and articulate, and their individual outlooks. All or Nothing is extremely successful at conveying all of these aspects.

Of course Leigh being Leigh also extends his portrayal to take in other dysfunctional characters living in the same demoralising high-rise housing flats. These include alcoholics, abusive partners in relationships and a young woman who uses her sexuality as a tool to escape the grim reality of her environment/ family situation.

His bleakest since Naked but perhaps better realised and more coherent. There are (thankfully!) some moments of hope and optimism which are characteristic ingredients of his films but the abiding impression is one of hopelessness in the face of grinding poverty and ruined lives. A brave piece of work and an absolute must-see.