Meantime

Name: Meantime
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: July 23, 1986
Duration: 102 min
Rating: 69
Cast: Alfred Molina, Gary Oldman, Jeffrey Robert, Leila Bertrand, Marion Bailey

1986

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Generally favorable reviews based on 4 Critic Reviews

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Movie Details & Credits

Carlton Film Distributors | Release Date: July 23, 1986 | Not Rated

Starring: Alfred Molina, Gary Oldman, Jeffrey Robert, Leila Bertrand, Marion Bailey, Pam Ferris, Paul Daly, Phil Daniels, Tilly Vosburgh, Tim Roth

Summary: When one brother gets a job from their wealthy aunt, the other becomes increasingly jealous.

Director: Mike Leigh

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 102 min

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Critic Reviews

Chuck Bowen

Leigh captures the restless, maddening, emasculating, demoralizing stench of poverty and unemployment with an acuity and piquancy that’s nearly unrivaled in cinema. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

Like all of Leigh's films and plays, it was devised though improvisational exercises in which the actors created characters based on someone they knew. As such, it is a mixture of flawlessly played ensemble scenes and brief, often wordless moments. Read full review

The Guardian Danny Leigh

A made-for-TV story of an unemployment-wrecked family in Dalston that brought together fresh faced talents Tim Roth and Gary Oldman. Filled with the deadpan naturalism that became Leigh's signature. But what's most remarkable about it is the showcase it provided for its two new stars, each beginning his career at what was another time of crisis for British cinema. Read full review

Walter Goodman

The first hour is given to aimless glimpses of aimless existences, and the second, in which Colin finds a sort of deliverance, is contrived in concept and awkward in execution. Read full review

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amheretojudge

Jun 23, 2019

A through and through study of human behaviour, economics and hats.

Meantime Leigh is rebellious in here. He is breaking the rules, he has got an attitude, he has got a crooked smile, so basically he is in a teenager phase. But Mike Leigh, the director, matured sooner than the usual. He isA through and through study of human behaviour, economics and hats.

Meantime

Leigh is rebellious in here. He is breaking the rules, he has got an attitude, he has got a crooked smile, so basically he is in a teenager phase. But Mike Leigh, the director, matured sooner than the usual. He is fooling you for an almost two hours of this film. The entire film is dedicated to its last act, which is anything but cinematic. And in order to make it live up to the expectations of "the finale" he works smoothly from the first frame. For instance, the sadness is physically acted out. A loose behavior in a public place is Leigh's window. The strangers are his target. And background score, to elevate the poignancy.

Yet, Gary Oldman steals the show. Not for, he is the face of it. But he is the soul it. Watch him wear those shameless pants and you will be attracted to his performance of being incredibly repellant to you and the characters around him. Leigh speaks through manners. Ergo, when a guy with simply good mannerism enters the frame, the film is lit with his presence that comes off as a shining knight of this tale. He leaves pretty soon, there is no place for decency in this house.

If Oldman gets to flex his muscles, Tim Roth is kept on hold; plus, it is uncanny to watch Roth play a good boy. But Phil Daniels has the difficult task to bridge all these relations with a practical body language that not only grounds this house but also communicates the most with the audience with his flaws and mistakes and selfishness; if you can call it that. I have never wanted the film to not end more than this film. Meantime, leaves you satisfied and with images to what or how things will be, dream away, I wish I could see Roth having a breakfast with his family that morning.… Expand

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