Another Year

Another Year is one of those film where not much really happens, but you come out feeling like you could quite happily sit through another two hours of it. It also might be director Mike Leigh's greatest achievements to date.

Leigh's method of making films, gathering a cast who improvise in rehearsals and generate script and characters between them, here creates a reality and depth to the relationships that really works. Leigh also takes the unusual step of having a central couple with effectively no problems or issues. Jim Broadbent's Tom and Ruth Sheen's Gerri are a couple in later middle age, happy with each other and fairly sorted. There is little in the way of character development. Gathered round about them are a range of the more damaged and lonely - notably Lesley Manville's Mary, slowly realising her dependance on Tom and Gerri.

Leigh is a very human director, and whilst he's not blind to his characters foibles, nor does he miss the opportunity to bring humour out of their situations, he never allows things to descend into mockery or caricature. There is almost an affection, for even his most ridiculous characters that allows both humour and feeling to co-exist quite comfortably. He also has a keen eye for the awkwardness of much human interaction, especially in one scene where Mary turns up at the house to find only Tom's recently bereaved brother at home.

Leigh is helped by an excellent ensemble performance by a superb cast. Manville grabs the attention with the showiest part and deserves plaudits for making Mary a very real person, rather than an alcoholic caricature. However, the strength of Broadbent's and Sheen's quieter turns shouldn't be overlooked, lovely understated turns with the power to convey much by a single look. Kudos also to Imelda Staunton's not perfect cameo early in the film.

Overall - 9/10 This might be Leigh's best ever film. Melancholic at times, but warm and funny and above all, very human. One of the films of the year.