With very few exceptions, the back catalog of Mike Leigh films can't exactly be termed sunny, happy movies. The British writer-director has made his reputation as a cinematic social commentator with such unflinching dramas as 1996's "Secrets and Lies," 1997's "Career Girls," 1993's "Naked" — he even made his filmmaking debut with a 1971 feature titled "Bleak Moments."
But nearly all of his films seem downright chipper compared to "All or Nothing," a downbeat, working-class drama that may bring to mind films by Leigh's contemporary, Ken Loach — only without the sometimes suffocating political bent.
As well-acted and well-intentioned as "All or Nothing" is, however, the film comes perilously close to being too bleak, too pessimistic and too unflinching for its own good. (The black-cloud atmosphere may deter some of those who are already sketchy about whether this might be their cup of tea.)
The film tells several stories of working-class Brits but centers on the Bassett family, which is living barely above the poverty level. Matriarch Penny (Leslie Manville) is working long hours as supermarket checker and also works tirelessly for her pretty ungrateful family.
Her lazy, oafish son Rory (James Corden) constantly insults her and carps about her cooking. And her common-law husband Phil (Timothy Spall) is no help — he's a late riser who's been shirking his duties as a driver for a car service. Their nearly silent daughter Rachel (Alison Garland) works hard as well, though it's clear she envies her less-motivated "associates" Donna (Helen Coker), who is being abused by her boyfriend, and the promiscuous Samantha (Sally Hawkins).
Even with its moments of unexpected (though organic) humor, the film remains relentlessly dark. But it is well-photographed, and Andrew Dickson's subtle score never intrudes, and for a Leigh film, it never really seems to drag. There are also terrific performances; Leigh regular Spall is award-worthy for his performance as a philosophical taxi driver (he has possibly the year's best breakdown scene).
"All or Nothing" is rated R for frequent use of strong sex-related profanity, crude sexual slang terms and other explicit sex talk, brief violence (some fisticuffs), brief scenes of simulated sex, brief female nudity, scattered use of racial epithets and ethnic slurs, and brief gore. Running time: 128 minutes.
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