Screening Log

This new site feature is a collective effort to summarize our viewing habits. Occasionally, you will find titles here that are coming to a theater near you, in addition to films viewed on television, and even films viewed in piecemeal. The screening log is archived each month; to view past entries select a month in the menu below.

July 2006 activity

Total Log Entries: 71

Total Comments: 23

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Naked / UK / 1993

The pontificating and vagabond Johnny is the most memorable character Mike Leigh has ever crafted, managing to either offend or captivate every person he comes across within moments. Although I strongly laud this film, I can’t confute the charges of misogyny brought against it. The supplementary disc in the Criterion edition is prefaced by an interview with Neil Labute, whose In the Company of Men elicited similar charges. His defense of Leigh — which I don’t find entirely persuasive — attributes Johnny’s resolute mistreatment of women to his schizophrenic nature; locked in a perpetual resolve to benefit his present, Johnny has little patience to ensure any sort of platonic or romantic commitment for his future. The women who do commit to him are not misled, however. Like moths to a flame they are drawn to his extraordinary character, and end up harmed.

by Rumsey Taylor | Source: The Criterion Collection DVD
05 Jul 2006 11:20 AM | Comments (1)

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  1. Devin / 26 May 2007 / 9:14 PM / URL

    One of the most fascinating character studies I have ever seen. Thewlis, who would go on to play Professor Lupin in the Harry Potter films, has yet to top the role of Johnny.

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