After their previous collaboration in the Academy Award nominated film Another Year, Sony Pictures Classics and acclaimed director Mike Leigh will join forces to...
She might overtly come across has neurotic but there is a subtext in Manville's work here which ultimately allows the viewer to pity the character in the final season of the film when all possible compassion for the character, at least from her immediate friends is paper-thin. It's another strong female heroine designed by Leigh, but this one doesn't illicit the kind of passion that will have propelled her in awards season, but it nonetheless made a mark back at Cannes and has remained throughout the year.
We all know which actress will receive all the acclaim for her part in Another Year, but such as Ruth Sheen's perf, it would be an error to diminish the value of a supportive role that Jim Broadbent carries in this film. A sensible, caring and loving supportive husband who really has everything going for him and Broadbent makes it look so darn easy and natural that I'd be the first to not acknowledge the part. Since 1990's Life Is Sweet, Broadbent and Leigh have now worked on four projects including his unforgettable perf in Topsy-Turvy and the judge part in Vera Drake.
I love the fact that Mike Leigh works with the same players and has the knack for creating such memorable, strong and plenty of times fragile female characters. In Ruth Sheen's case this is the fifth time they've worked together, but you'd be hard pressed to remember the bit roles she had in 1996's Secrets & Lies, 2002's All or Nothing and 2004's Vera Drake.
As his film Another Year continues to build hype toward awards season, director Mike Leigh is already on to "discussing" his next project. As he told L.A Times, Leigh is gathering interest and funding towards a period film surrounding the life of the influential 19th century British landscape artist, J.M.W. Turner.