Naked (1993)

Parallel tales of two sexually obsessed men, one hurting and annoying women physically and mentally, one wandering around the city talking to strangers and experiencing dimensions of life.

Director:

Mike Leigh

Writer:

Mike Leigh

Stars:

David Thewlis, Lesley Sharp, Katrin Cartlidge

8 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
David Thewlis	...	Johnny
Lesley Sharp	...	Louise
Katrin Cartlidge	...	Sophie
Greg Cruttwell	...	Jeremy
Claire Skinner	...	Sandra
Peter Wight	...	Brian
Ewen Bremner	...	Archie
Susan Vidler	...	Maggie
Deborah MacLaren	...	Woman in Window
Gina McKee	...	Cafe Girl
Carolina Giammetta	...	Masseuse
Elizabeth Berrington	...	Giselle
Darren Tunstall	...	Poster Man
Robert Putt	...	Chauffeur
Lynda Rooke	...	Victim

Storyline

Johnny flees Manchester for London, to avoid a beating from the family of a girl he has raped. There he finds an old girlfriend, and spends some time homeless, spending much of his time ranting at strangers, and meeting characters in plights very much like his own.

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Plot Keywords:

sexual humiliation | existentialism | rape | cult film | sex in public | 

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Taglines:

When unbalance leads to submission

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 February 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mike Leigh's Naked

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$36,463, 19 December 1993

Gross USA:

$1,769,305

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,769,305

Company Credits

Production Co:

Thin Man Films, British Screen Productions, Channel Four Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

132 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to David Thewlis, the only serious improvisation filmed was the scene of Johnny meeting and antagonizing the poster man.

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Quotes

Poster Man: Shift.
Johnny: It's all goin' very well.
Poster Man: Shift out the fuckin' way, will you?
Johnny: No, I like Laurel and Hardy, you know, although apparently they didn't get on in real life, you know, another illusion shattered. Sorry about that pal, it's just I've had a lot of bad experience with walls, you know, what with talking to them and climbing them, and me dad's driven me up a good few of them in 'is time, you know what I mean? But I think I've got the secret. The saucy little secret, this solipsistic, sagacious ...
[...]

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Connections

References The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)

User Reviews

INTENSITY

Without a doubt, Mike Leigh's Naked is one of the most brilliant examples of filmmaking I have ever seen.

David Thewlis is nothing short of genius as the aimless Johnny, a combustible combination of brilliance and depression, who's mere presence in anyone's purview contaminates and destroys with the effectiveness of Round-Up.

Mesmerizing and fast-paced, there is no shortage of excellence in the smaller plots and characters: Greg Cruttwell is spectacular as the pompous, nouveau-riche Jeremy, and the two female leads, Leslie Sharp and Katrin Cartlidge provide well balanced juxtaposition as two very different femmes damaged.

Not for the faint of heart, Naked will test one's own philosophy, and leave you stripped bare.