Another Year

A typically plotless Mike Leigh film, Another Year charts the comings and goings of several characters, including Jim Broadbent’s Tom, Lesley Manville’s Mary, and Ruth Sheen’s Gerri, over the course of one 365 day period. It’s clear right from the get-go that Another Year benefits substantially from its uniformly impressive performances, as the stark reality of the characters proves instrumental in initially drawing the viewer into the proceedings – with the lion’s share of praise certainly due to the film’s stars. (Broadbent and Sheen are absolutely spellbinding as content, down-to-earth married couple Tom and Gerri, while Manville does a superb job of crawling into the skin of a desperately unhappy figure.) There’s subsequently little doubt that the film’s lack of momentum isn’t as problematic as one might’ve expected, although it’s hard to deny that certain stretches fare a whole lot better than others. (One of the more compelling interludes involves a dinner party that grows more and more awkward as Mary unsuccessfully hides her feelings of distaste from another guest.) It’s also worth noting that unlikely some of Leigh’s past efforts (eg Secrets & Lies), Another Year doesn’t build to a larger-than-life, deeply cathartic finish; instead, the movie concludes with the various characters in an emotional state that’s not too far removed from their mindset at the beginning (which, in turn, prevents the film from packing the kind of punch generally associated with Leigh’s efforts, despite the decidedly bleak nature of the final shot). This is, ultimately, a rather minor complaint for a movie that’s otherwise brilliantly acted and achingly authentic, with, in particular, Manville making quite a substantial impact as the perpetually depressive Mary.

*** out of ****