Leigh produces another cracker

All or Nothing

Director: Mike Leigh

Cast: Timothy Spall, Lesley Manville, Ruth Sheen, Sally Hawkins, Marion Bailey, Paul Jesson

Cert: 18.

Leigh is a brilliant, highly-individual moviemaker.

He has the ability to allow his actors time to develop their characters to the full, while he gets on in the background with moving events along. It makes for a innovative and unique product.

And his regular use of the excellent Spall, all unkempt, unshaven and world-weary, more often than not produces work of sterling quality. As it does here.

Set over a week-end in a London apartment block, we follow the decidedly mixed fortunes of several families, the highs and lows, the triumphs and failures, the all-or-nothing battle to get through another day. And, as usual with Leigh, famous for his improvisational style, the ensemble playing is shot-through with quality and humanity.

Star Rating: 4/5