The protagonist is a cross between John Lennon and Socrates.
Interesting character study that explores toxic masculinity (Jonny, Jeremy, Archie), and various self destructive / unproductive coping strategies that are touched by it (every other character). There's no real plot or character development, it's more a series of vignettes that illuminate something about human nature centered around Jonny's aimless wandering around London.
Outstanding performance from Thewlis
Good enough if you like retro character driven movies, driven by witty scripts, depicting the 90s from two extremes (the desperate homeless guy with a range of social issues, and the banker who looks to have modelled half his personality from reruns of American Psycho) interacting in post Thatcherite London. But I imagine that for anyone born post 1990, this will all be a bit meaningless....
Witty, cutting, sarcastic dialogue. Sleazy characters. David Thewlis is as great as ever. Mike Leigh shows how the world is full of lonely, desperate people. I enjoyed seeing Johnny's interaction with different members of society. It felt like a Todd Solondz / Jim Jarmusch mash up in that respect. But it also delves deeper into the dark side of society and male / female relations. Whether you like the characters or not, it's very interesting film-making.
One of the best Mike Leigh movies I've seen. Great dialogue and characters. The story follows Johnny who is socially isolated, and sort of living in despair. Out of the two main male characters Johnny is more misantropic where as Jeremy is more filled with a sadistic hatred. Exellent portrayal of outsiders. There aren't many movies with charcters like this, done this well. A super tight movie until near the very end and it kind of loses it's intensity, focus and resolve; but still good. Not too keen on the ending, and not because I wanted the story to end on high, but because I don't think the illogical rash things Johnny does gels with his character. There is also no clue as to why he makes these destructive decisions, which cN come across as contrived grittiness in the end. When I think about Jeremy he seems more of a red herring than a fleshed out character, as I didn't feel there was a pay off to him. I think Jeremy did serve some purpose for intrigue and dark tone. Some people over at imbd get bogged down on if Johnny was intellectual or not like its a big deal. I think Johnny was intellegent at times but its more awareness. I don't feel he was conventionally intellegent or had above intellegence and he sometimes used his intellect to be cynical and manipulative, which is who he was.
Still this is way better than the average movie and a show of skill, but a bit of an empty journey.
Shout by Matthew Luke BradyBlockedParent2019-10-18T22:24:26Z
"I used to be a werewolf, but I'm all right no-OOWWWWWWWWWW!".
Imagine 'A Clockwork Orange', but if Mike Leigh directed it.
David Thewlis performance as Johnny is absolutely mind blowing and pure genius. One of the all time best. A despicable, yet care-free man that uses his intelligence to distracts you from how rotten he truly is.
'Naked' doesn't shy away from presenting it's razor-sharp commentary on assault and rape, but will be hard for some to stomach. The script is fantastic with two stellar performances from Lesley Sharp and Katrin Cartlidge, and Leigh finest work.