Secrets And Lies DVD

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What is it about Mike Leigh's films that are so special? Is it the wryly observed ideas in his scripts, or perhaps lack of them? He is reknowned for making the actors ad lib and feel their way through the parts rather than giving them structured formats to work to. "Secrets & Lies" is an excellent example of what a Mike Leigh film is usually about. Family tensions. Recriminations. Barely concealed antagonisms. Simmering threats. Mix all that in ...
...drama that seems very real. The story is based around the lives of a sister and brother. She (Brenda Blethyn) is a single mum of a surly 20 year old daughter, and whilst just about financially coping with her life, she also has a drink and self-esteem problem. He (Timothy Spall) is a successful photographer with a high-street studio, and a wife who's bordering on the obsessive/compulsive side, who occasionally jumps over the border with both feet. ... Read review

Advantages: Brilliant acting !
Disadvantages: Not suited to those who like action every second!

...lightning Drama! There are secrets that affect all members of this family and the painful truth revealed! There are brilliant performances from all concerned , especially Brenda Blethlyn as neurotic and lonely Cynthia. With 5 nominations for Oscars and 3 BAFTA Awards, this film is a rare treat, and treated with compassion. I feel its one of the the Directors best films to date, may he continue! A film to be enjoyed again and again. Thanks for the ... Read review

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...people in fact can keep secrets for each other that seems obvious for any one involved to figure out for themselves. It's easy for us to say it, because we're not in it. Therefore I believe, that Mike Leigh's handling of the story is absolutely fabolous. The film gives you a great story, superb acting, interesting characters, emotional wrenching scenes, an intelligent blend of humor and seriousness and a wonderful plausible ending. I recommend you ... Read review

Advantages: Brilliant cast
Disadvantages: Need to concentrate to gain anything.

...This film is an emotional rollercoaster and not for those who like escapism. I've seen it 7 times over the last 4 years; there's something new everytime. Again, Mike Leigh has come up trumps with a star cast including Brenda Blethen. This film is very much for the realist in you. The stark contrast between rich and poor; between the hygiene freak and the slummer. What this Film Four Classic prooves to the viewer is very specific... just like ...
...'Honesty is the best policy'. The film obviously wasn't made with a huge budget. The scenery is what you would recognise from walking through your town centre, or entering your nextdoor neighbours. This is a tear jerker for those with a conscience or basically, those who have lived. I wouldn't recommend it to Action lovers as I am one too. The film is slow moving but a brilliant comment on society and the way we work. You can buy this film for ... Read review

Advantages: Bitter sweet humour, superb acting
Disadvantages: Too much like a TV drama

Mike Leigh is one of Britains best directors - along with Ken Loach he is the cinematic voice of the working class and the disillusioned mr and mrs suburbia. Though unlike Loach who always portrays the situations with painful realism(Raining Stones), Leigh creates darkly comic adult fables, generally with a liberal dose of warmth hidden somewhere in the despair(such as his brilliant Life is Sweet). I found this to be in a similar vein to that film, ... Read review

Advantages: A brilliant film we can all relate to on one level or another
Disadvantages: None.

...◄♦ Secrets and Lies.♦► ~ Secrets and lies is a morality tale. Produced in 1996. Directed by Mike Leigh and Screenplay by Mike Leigh. It falls into the category: Drama. The film company was Channel 4 films, and it is a film that is hysterically funny, and poignantly sad, from one moment to the next.~ ◄Synopsis► The film opens with us witnessing a Funeral. There is young woman attending that the camera focuses on, she is crying... The funeral is for her adoptive mother, and the mothers death brings forth a real need in the woman, Hortence Cumberbatch played by Marianne Jean-Baptiste, to trace her birth mother. Hortences father had died a few years ago, and now realising she is now on her own, brings about thoughts of what her birth mother might be like, if indeed she is still alive. So Hortence... Read review

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Advantages: I got through a bottle of red wine
Disadvantages: £2 is a lot of money.......

...of “Infinity True Stories” which has such other titles as “Sharing the Secret”, “The Lies Boys Tell” and “To Live For” (how very tacky). Embarrassed I hid the DVD away of the shelf between “One Hour Photo” and “The Passion of the Christ” (now that was another mistake!), and it was only today that I decided I’d give it a go. Hubby has had to go to work today (it’s a Sunday) followed by some scuba diving lectures, and I’ve been left to my own devices. So, the bottle of red was opened and I watched the film. ***The film*** The film begins as a mother (Annie) gets her three kids ready for school, before going to work in a Diner. Her husband walked out on her five years ago, and she is portrayed as a bit of a victim, and the loving mum who will do anything for her kids. Annie agrees to look after some money for her drug dealing boyfriend called... Read review

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Advantages: Everything, great cast, plot and drama from start to finish
Disadvantages: None

...Minds - Meet Matthew Gray Gubler (13 mins) - Deleted Scenes - Easter Eggs (hidden features) Episodes for Season 1: 1. Extreme Aggressor 2. Compulsion 3. Won't Get Fooled Again 4. Plain Sight 5. Broken Mirror 6. L.D.S.K. 7. The Fox 8. Natural Born Killer 9. Derailed 10. The Popular Kids 11. Blood Hungry 12. What Fresh Hell? 13. Poison 14. Riding The Lightning 15. Unfinished Business 16. The Tribe 17. A Real Rain 18. Somebody's Watching 19. Machismo 20. Charm And Harm 21. Secrets And Lies 22. The Fisher King The special features make this DVD even more exciting. Viewers are able to see how the show is created, i.e. how the director and writers come up with the well designed plots, the motivation they get to write the scripts etc. We also get to see deleted scenes, which could have been used for alternate endings, this is a great feature... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful