ALL OR NOTHING --------------
Phil Bassett (Timothy Spall, "Intimacy") is an overweight cabbie who lives in a London tenement with his common law wife Penny (Leslie Manville) and their two overweight children Rachel (Alison Garland) and Rory (James Corden). The daily grind has made Penny accusatory, Rory belligerent, Rachel withdrawn and Phil philosophical, but a discussion with a chic French customer makes Phil realize he wants "All or Nothing."
After diversions with career girls and period performers, writer/director Mike Leigh returns to the working class of "Secrets & Lies" and "Life Is Sweet." Within the confines of a dreary South London housing unit, Leigh and his actors make the everyday a revelatory look at human behavior.
Penny returns from her days as a supermarket cashier to make supper with Rachel, who works as a cleaner in a nursing home. Rory spends his days in front of the TV, or attacking the older but smaller Craig (Ben Crompton) in the courtyard. Penny's attempts to shape up Rory are met with verbal abuse which Phil tells her to ignore. Penny's gibes at Phil's lack of ambition and work ethic drive him into a shell.
Penny's coworker, single mother Maureen (Ruth Sheen), has an optimistic outlook on life and returns her sullen teenage daughter Donna's (Helen Coker) barbs with jokes. Donna goes out with Jason (Daniel Mays), a loutish thug lusted after by Samantha (Sally Hawkins), a sluttish tease and daughter of Phil's mate Ron (Paul Jesson) and his alcoholic wife Carol (Marion Bailey). Oddball Craig follows Samantha like a puppy.
These individuals are so caught up under the crushing weight of continuing their existence that they need a shakeup, some subtle, some seismic, to re-see those around them. As in life, not everything is wrapped up evenly or neatly. Leigh makes us feel like we've discovered behavioral science as character flaws' causal roots become clear. As in the title, it is abundantly clear that life is better for those who think positively. This is most evident regarding Maureen against Penny with Phil's 'That's life' attitude balancing the seesaw.
Once again, Leigh has gathered an ensemble who serve him well, with Spall's Bassett a true hangdog hound of well meaning mediocrity. Spall shifts gears from the apologetic existence he's created, crying that he's 'like a little tree without water,' adding incredible depth to seemingly simple Phil. Leslie Manville conveys the wearying effect of a constant nagger so well, it takes a while to realize the potency of her unwitting toxin. Ruth Sheen's Maureen emits the type of chummy, no-nonsense energy that makes for a stalwart friend or family member while Marion Bailey is almost scary in her rendition of a helpless, maudlin drunk. Robert Wilfort, Gary McDonald and Diveen Henry all make impressions in small roles as a doctor, cab company owner and dispatcher. Kathryn Hunter is terrific as Phil's muse-like fare, who connects with him in unexpected ways.
With "All or Nothing," Leigh reminds us of those little things, so easy to forget, that mean everything.
B
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