Mike Leigh (NAKED, ANOTHER YEAR) stopped by the Criterion Collection production office and DVD closet! Shop Mike's Closet Picks! www.criterion.com/shop/collec...
I just found out Mike Leigh after accidentally found Happy Go Lucky because I was just searching what else Sally Hawkins had done and that was an amazing film. Then dig in to his filmography, I honestly never knew how amazing of a filmmaker he is and since he's a senior now yeah he's a legendary filmmaker
He makes such wonderful human movies, I met him and I wanted to cry how genuine and good this person is, he thinks everybody is important so he treats everybody nicely and this is what we all should do!
Bicycle Thieves (De Sica) Vivre Sa Vie (Godard) A Hard Day's Night (Lester) Late Spring (Ozu) Judex (Franju) Also mentions director Louis Feuillade Fireman's Ball (Foreman) Berlin Alexanderplatz (Fassbinder) Jules and Jim (Truffaut) Divorce Italian Style (Germi)
+buffery333 I have to agree with you about that. I don't think you can watch JULES ET JIM and not see the influence on Wes Anderson at least in sensibility. But I don't think Truffaut contributed as much to Anderson's visual sensibility as much as Tati would have, but I can't remember if Anderson considers Tati to be an influence.
I love that he's pulling films that aren't even his favorites, but more like honorable mentions, so that anyone out there can maybe discover it as a favorite of their own. Probably my favorite of the Closet Picks series.
Honestly, I don't think he would end up talking about the movies. He'd probably tell some really weird existential story, change into a chicken suit, hop onto his horse, and then ride off into the sunset with his DVD's...
Mike Leigh-Thank you for PETERLOO. I saw it in Cleveland last spring. Don't know how it fared worldwide , but I appreciated your care to give us a bleak & obscured episode in UK history. And Bravo encore' for Topsy Tervey, and Mr. Turner. You've earned your place in the Criterion Collection .Thank you.
For him to say Yasujiro Ozu knows how to capture the family experience and relationships is quite the complement coming from Mr. Leigh considering he directed one of the best family crisis movies ever (Secrets and Lies).
He is amazing ! I saw all of his movies, at least 5 times each movie. And what makes me love his work is ''His will to tell us that we are nothing more than humans '' . He does it perfectly ... All or Nothing is made of heaven , others as well !
To me, he is one of the greatest living directors and it's always fun to see one of those commenting the films that they saw as kids, teenagers, students. No many surprises there, but a few expression "this is life", "great look at family" are all meaningful to his own work.
He projects his energy and enthusiasm in such away that it becomes very contagious. And this is certainly a lesson in how to reach or resonate with your target audience.. ! Thanks for being so interesting and enlighing on all levels...
Thanks so much. My late husband used to hunt up a lot of great foreign and art movies. I've found it difficult to get to the really good ones now. I always loved Mike Leigh movies and plays. We saw one in a small venue in Berkeley years ago where all the actors smoked clive cigarettes. Anyway. So pleased with these great recommendations. Also, the fact it's not too hard to find them. Thanks again
Oh, sweetheart, darlin' we need more Mike Leigh in the collection. Literally any and every film that isn't in already will do (but, preferably, Secrets & Lies, sweetheart).
I'd appreciate a list of picks for each of these videos in the intro. It's not always easy to hear and see what has been chosen. If I were in the closet I'd certainly grab a handful of Mike Leigh's films. He's brilliant beyond words!
A lovely installment of this series. I wish more of your guests would take the time to delve into all the reasons they are picking the films that they are and not just hastily grab a bunch, muttering the titles under their breath (i'm looking at you, Alfonso Cuaron).
I love these Criterion Closet videos. I particularly enjoy how differently each person approaches their opportunity. For instance, Mike Leigh pulls a title, talks about it, and then puts it back. Whereas Tavi Gevinson absolutely robbed them blind and walked out of the closet with, it looked like one of every title in there...
Well, if you noticed he is the only one who puts the dvds BACK in the shelf instead of putting them in his bag! This is the generation who did not prioritize buying, owning or consuming things but were really concerned about the thing itself - film art and their memories about it in this case. (Varda was another one)
I loved Mike Leigh's films, have watched a few Ozu flicks but couldn't articulate what I liked so much about them, then the man here comes and helps me. Thanks, Criterion!
He's just such a wonderful man, his eye for real people & situations is iconic & always thought provoking. I so wish he was a politician because he really cares about what matters & is important in life.
Very interesting and reminded me to that i have to watch Firemen's ball again too. Ps: thanks Mr Leigh,and your Psycho joke in the powerful Naked cracked me up.
@@hd-xc2lz Honestly, there are five B&N stores in what I would consider driving distance of my house and only one of them has Criterion movies (or really any movies at all).
Criterion consider adopting some editing techniques from Amoeba Records "What's In My Bag?" series where they speak to artists. When each subject shows a dvd, they show a quick clip from that film so the audience can understand it's significance to that artist. I liked this one with Leigh but the static shot is boring and causes me to drift off. Add more action with the scenes and I'm sure the audience will enjoy it and probe deeper into checking Criterions rich vault of film special editions.
+Pirate7X "Add more action with the scenes" What are you, a marketing executive? These are videos about these artists. I don't see how anyone could be bored with Mike Leigh, or William Friedkin, or Bill Hader, or Laurie Anderson, etc. etc.
I think Criterion are quite unapologetic when it comes to the closet format, they put the person on camera, give them the floor to talk about whatever they please and cut when they're finished. I've never had any problem with the way it is.
One of the cleverest and most unique directors ever. To work without a script and basically 'wing it' defies belief. That's Mike Leigh. A true visionary. 'Nuts in May' being my favourite. _"I'LL KNOCK YOUR HEAD OFF!"_ Brilliant.
@@FungusMossGnosis Yes. Leigh is a favorite of mine too. He's got a great eye for familial relationships. Another Year is a masterwork! Side note- his dvd picks are inspired. I have to look for his flat, next time I watch A Hard Day's Night. Lol
Glad to see that title is now on criterion and in the UK , great film , blethyn won a golden globe , everything so perfect so real , spall in the final scene , the secrets and lies of family life , and strife 😢
For such an excellent filmmaker his descriptions/analyses of other films just don't cut it. No need to say 'great' so many times, we know you like the film because we can see it in your hands.
1. Bicycle Thieves (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_Thieves) 2. Vivre Sa Vie (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Life_to_Live) 3. A Hard Day's Night (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Hard_Day%27s_Night_(film) ) 4. Late Spring (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Late_Spring) 5. Judex (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judex_(1963_film) ) 6. The Firemen's Ball (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Firemen%27s_Ball) 7. Berlin (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Alexanderplatz_(miniseries) ) 8. Jules and Jim (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jules_and_Jim) 9. Divorce Italian Style (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divorce_Italian_Style)
it blows my mind that I also saw my first entirely non english and subtitled movie when I was 17 as well- and I'm only 19(the movie was Incubus by the way). Though in my childhood I did see some foreign movies like The Gods Must Be Crazy and some sort of Foreign titles like the Babe movies as well.
"I used to sit in the cinema thinking 'Wouldn't it be great if you had a film where the people were like real people'. " I love that Mike Leigh spent his lifetime making films his young self would've fallen in love with. Vera Drake is still one of the most incredible films I've ever seen, with performances so real they're sublime.
Leigh is one of my favorite directors. Excepting his latest (yet to watch), I've seen all of his films (incl. his shorter films for TV). His 'trademark' static shots in tight locations (doorways and hallways) very closely mirrors Ozu's interior setups. I'm not sure if that's just a coincidence (since -- especially in Leigh's earlier works -- he filmed in actual homes and such...and, therefore, was forced to work in close quarters) or if he was influenced by Ozu's camera setups.
I asked him for directions once. I was in a serious hurry and trying to find a cut through a little street in Soho to Tottenham Ct Rd and checking I wasn't about to hit a dead-end and make my situation worse. A man and a women were coming towards me and I briefly stopped and asked if I could cut through. He was very helpful. As he was speaking, my brain was going "wtf that's Mike Leigh". After I jogged off my brain also went "You should have said 'thanks for the direction'.." I'm glad I didn't.
I’ve never seen Mike Leigh talk like this before, and I’ve seen him on lots of programmes, mainly on films. Talks with directors like this (and John Sayles version and Ken Loach in the flesh) are just so enlightening about themselves, the films they make and those that have influenced them. More like this, please, less of the shelf raiders!
buffery333 He is referring to Loius Feuillade Who made the original "Judex". Great filmaker pretty much the french Counterpart to D.W. Griffith. He made some amazing films that were originally realesed as seriels Such as "Les Vampires","Fantomas"and Tin Minh"
Everyone calling for Criterion turning these DVD picks into a formula / series; I disagree. Actors, directors are all unique. The way it is done is perfect. It gives them maximum freedom. If they want to talk a lot, let them. If they want to keep it short, let them. What they pick or talk about is up to them, no pressure. I like it best this way :).
I like what Leigh has to say about movies of Godard: they are 'very constructed', nevertheless remain vivid, even 'raw' all the same. This captures nicely Godards unique talent, I think. There are many (rightful) critics of Godard the man or the political 'artiste engagé'. But his best films still speak for themselves.
Fans of Mike Leigh should check out 'nuts in may'. It was an episode of a british anthology show. Very hard to find but i think you could get it in a Mike Leigh box set or perhaps online. I have a pirated copy.