Paul Greenwood reviews
All Or Nothing
- Cert:
- Running time: 128 minutes
- Year: 2002
- Released: 18th October 2002
- Widescreen Ratio: 1.85:1
- Rating: 3/10
Director:
(All or Nothing, Naked, Secrets & Lies, Topsy-Turvy)
Cast:
Phil Bassett: Timothy Spall
Penny Bassett: Lesley Manville
Rachel Bassett: Alison Garland
Rory Bassett: James Corden
Maureen: Ruth Sheen
Carol: Marion Bailey
Ron: Paul Jesson
Cecile: Kathryn Hunter
Samantha: Sally Hawkins
Donna: Helen Coker
Jason: Daniel Mays
Craig: Ben Crompton
Call it a premonition, Murphy's Law or good old fashioned bad luck, but
sometimes you should be careful what you wish for. In my Sweet Sixteen
review I noted that I wasn't a huge fan of Mike Leigh's output and that I
would take Ken Loach over him any day of the week. For my sins, I
subsequently found myself at the beardy one's latest release, All Or
Nothing. Given the choice over again, I'd have to opt for nothing. For this
is an excruciatingly tedious domestic drama, as far removed from the energy
and insight of Sweet Sixteen as it is possible to be.
The story, such as it is, follows several days in the working and social
lives of a group of neighbours in a London housing estate. Phil Bassett is
a struggling taxi driver, lazy and shiftless, but with a good heart and a
sweet nature. His partner, Penny, works in the local supermarket and finds
it tough to make ends meet for her family. Daughter Rachel is overweight
and miserable and is a cleaner in an old folks' home, while very overweight
son Rory makes his father look like Worker of the Year, spending his time
watching television and screaming abuse at his timid parents.
As for the neighbours: Ron, workmate of Phil, is married to Carol,
alcoholic friend of Penny. Their daughter Samantha is the neighbourhood
slapper, pursued by the clearly disturbed Craig. Witty and wise Maureen,
supermarket colleague of Penny, is bringing up daughter Donna on her own.
Donna has fallen pregnant to her waster boyfriend and is finding it hard to
cope.
If this sounds like a complex study of a web of relationships along the
lines of
Lantana,
be warned that it isn't. Many of the characters are
inserted randomly and disappear just as fast. There are so many unresolved
plot lines and relationships that you begin to wonder why some of the
characters are even in the film. Many scenes serve no purpose other than to
pad the running time out to a cheek-shifting 128 minutes. While Spall's
character engaged some sympathy, I found myself not remotely interested in
the plights of the other participants, and the end really couldn't come
soon enough.
One thing that can't be faulted (for the most part) is the acting. Spall
has become one of the most respected and sought after actors in the country
and his work here is excellent. With his sagging shoulders and his Droopy
like expression, he totally convinces as a man thoroughly fed up with his
lot in life. Very good too is Manville as his partner, while Sheen is
outstanding. The rest are pretty decent too although Ron and Carol are
little more than grotesque caricatures.
Many critics are raving about All Or Nothing. They might be right and I'm
just missing the point, but I found it a desperate chore to sit through.. At
the screening I attended, one audience member left after about fifteen
minutes and I desperately wanted to follow him. I've never walked out of a
film and I'm willing to bet I never shall, but this was a mighty close
call. As Spall's character would say, "It's whatsisname - shite".
Review copyright © Paul Greenwood, 2002.
E-mail Paul Greenwood
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