Alexander Technique Made Easy Chapman

This is very much a film by Mike Leigh, if we know what that means we can better understand the nature of what is going on. People often see a director has this omnipresence, this great dictator of all you see. Leigh certainly isn't directing in this way and actually most directors don’t. Here the actors have developed their characters from an almost blank slate where leigh has merely hinted at the situations they find themselves in. This creates a more realistic character that can sometimes seem hyper real as actors screw down on the aspect they have chosen to emphasise. But don't let that makes you feel it doesn't ring true, it creates in fact a hyper reality where what we see expresses more deeply the hard truths of what people go through. The central character in all her grief and mental health struggles gives an Oscar worthy performance, and the actors who support her as characters and performers create an ensemble more than worthy of any prizes on offer. It has all the humour we have come to expect, and all the darkness. This is a movie for those who like to know people, but not those who like to be ‘entertained’. The themes will ruffle all our feathers and therefore I would not recommend this film to the light hearted. Its certainly one for the grown ups!

A strange film, that explores themes of mental health by using an iconic character, namely the Joker, in a unique way for such a well used persona. We see a troubled clown, another iconic symbol of mental health, really struggling with everyday life. The embodiment of this characters’ interior struggles by Joaquin Phoenix is what really sets the film apart. From start to finish everyone else in the film is an extra. When that includes De Niro you know you are in for something special. Phoenix develops graceful movement to express the sinister Joker, where others have him limping. Flashbacks and references to other films make this one belong inside film legend and it will stand the test of time and become as iconic as its’ main man. It keeps you interested, grabs your attention and doesn’t let go.