Naked

Naked (1993)

Runtime: 131 minutes

Directed by: Mike Leigh

Starring: David Thewlis, Lesley Sharp, Katrin Cartlidge, Greg Cruttwell,  Claire Skinner

From: Thin Man Films

Another great movie I won’t watch again. Before last night, the only Mike Leigh film I’d seen was 1983’s Meantime, a dreary yet captivating look at a family struggling during a recession in Thatcher’s England. I knew enough about Naked going in that it wouldn’t be an easy watch-that was proven to be the case once I finally watched the film via a DVR recording made when it showed on Turner Classic Movies way back 6 months ago.

David Thewlis was Johnny, an unemployed lout who constantly smokes cigarettes when he isn’t having sex or trying to have sex-an intellectual type who believes in conspiracy theories… and is a terrible human being. Turns out, he wasn’t the only terrible man shown in Naked. The women are also struggling in a miserable nihilistic look at a UK post-Thatcher but even if he’s arguably not the worst man you witnessed in the picture, Johnny is a misanthrope that sucks the energy and light out of a room like a vampire, but not before souring the entire atmosphere of the area-it was almost like he salted the ground, preventing anything to grow from the ground.

Naked is not an easy watch; as expected going in, not only is the language as crass as I’d expect from this sort of British movie, the world as presented is an unpleasant one. After all, the movie BEGINS with a sexual assault, and it’s not the only one you see in Naked. Yet, the journey was captivating despite the grim nature. Despite all the F-bombs and other words I can’t say in full, there’s acres of memorable dialogue. The direction, cinematography, and score set the mood and fit the story. Yet, it’s the cast that delivered, especially David Thewlis as Johnny. This fascinating role catapulted him into high-profile roles ever since. Sure, that meant appearing in the awesomely bad Island of Dr. Moreau remake but I’ve seen him in the likes of Wonder Woman and I understand he was swell in those Harry Potter movies.

It'd be a crime to reveal much more, re: Naked. The title was apropos-there are naked people throughout, including full-frontal from Thewlis if that’s your thing.