Search - Kiss of Death on DVD

This one is excruciating and only for the hardcore Leigh fan

Mendicant Pigeon | pdx, or United States | 03/16/2008

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I'm a recent convert to Mike Leigh's films, having seen a couple of his weaker ones before seeing a couple of his brilliant ones. As such I decided to dig deeper into the oeuvre and found this. Contrary to the blurbs about the film, there is very little funny or humorous contained in the film; although, there is a good bit of irony and ironic whimsy. The story does revolve around Trevor an apprentice undertaker, his best mate, his best mate's girl and another female potential love interest. Trevor is socially awkward, but then so are his friends, all in their way and this is what this movie cues on as it progresses from scene to excruciating scene over the course of a metaphorical month as Trevor 'courts' his potential love interest. Don't expect a point to this film for there isn't one. This is actually what I love about Leigh's work to wit, that he spends as much loving care on the minutia and everyday interactions between people as he does on the big moments. The charm is found in the regionialisms, slang and playing off of then contemporary social mores of the white working class of Gt. Britain. In some sense, Leigh's films are like voyeuristic anthropological lessons as he takes us right into the tenement homes (council houses, often but usually tenements) of his protagonists and allows us to watch how these people live. Quite often, one suspects, the plot line is inconsequential to Leigh so long as he is able to make his point through his social commentary and criticism. This is really the only reason to watch this particular film and if you are interested in this sort of thing you are going to quite like it. If you are looking for something that is as good or event speaks to Leigh's better films, you are likely to be disappointed and should stay away."