FuzzyTagz If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Nayan Gough A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

Allison Davies The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Bob This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

danielflattery Mike Leigh has often been called a proponent of Social Realism and yet Naked, as his most unique and striking work, escapes this category. The constancy of the monochromatic darkness that surrounds Leigh's nocturnal oddysey is highly surreal and distinctly memorable, appearing to represent a futile search for intelligent company by protagonist, 'Johnny', who is played by David Thewliss. Almost every scene in 'Naked' is shot in dim lighting and generally with only one visible source of light. This helps to cast shadow and leaves whole areas of the scene totally black and, combined with exclusively low angle shots, leaves the impression that we are witnessing something of society's darkened underbelly.It is interesting that the one instance where Leigh opts for a bright, open setting is the scene where Johnny finds solace in the company of an optimistic and philosophically minded night watchman, with whom he jousts verbally. The well lit reception area in which the guard works seems to represent salvation for Johnny. Soon after however, the scene plunges back to darkness, culminating with the two hunched on a stairwell, Johnny appearing to have corrupted the nature of his companion. Johnny later refers to him as an 'insecurity guard'.Leigh's approach towards actors is somewhat revolutionary and Naked is no exception in this regard, with Leigh directing the cast to improvise extensively and formulating the script from the results. This approach leads to a naturalism or nakedness that is seldomly surpassed. The script is dynamic and totally unpredictable. Thewliss was directed to read the bible and the teachings of Buddhism as research for the role and frequently quotes from both, creating a haunting contrast with his character's overt atheism.The camera work features many long, tracking shots, the most impressive of which is the final shot of Thewliss, limping down the street after having stolen a wad of money from his newly reconciled girlfriend. Throughout the shot's minute and a half, the camera remains just in front of Thewliss, looking backwards at his slow progress. The camera here deliberately avoids the road ahead and is very striking for that reason, seeming to suggest the difficult and uncertain path that lies ahead for both Johnny and the society he inhabits.

Lee Eisenberg Mike Leigh has spent his career focusing a lot on the United Kingdom's underclass. Another characteristic of his works is the slow pace, so as to help acquaint the audience with the characters. Both of these are apparent in 1993's "Naked". The movie shows a stark contrast between the working class and ruling class, as evidenced by David Thewlis's and Greg Cruttwell's characters. But this isn't simply a story of who's good and who's bad. These are multidimensional characters. Basically, it's a look at the bare reality of life for large numbers of British citizens, while also touching on issues like alienation and misogyny. Thatcherism had eviscerated the ideals of the '60s, leaving people hopeless (and we can see many of the characters living in cramped spaces).I don't know if I would call it Leigh's best movie - he's made a number of good ones - but it offers a good look at the desperation felt by large numbers of the UK's citizens in the wake of Thatcherism. The protagonist's conspiracy theories sound like something that Charles Manson would dream up.Anyway, good movie. Also starring Lesley Sharp and Katrin Cartlidge (who later starred in the Oscar-winning "No Man's Land" but died of blood poisoning shortly thereafter).

gavin6942 Johnny (David Thewlis) flees Manchester for London, to avoid a beating from the family of a girl he has raped. There he finds an old girlfriend, and spends some time homeless, spending much of his time ranting at strangers, and meeting characters in plights very much like his own.What to make of this film... is Johnny an anti-hero? We follow him, making him our protagonist of sorts, but can we really stand behind him? I should think not. Yet, we listen to his ramblings about bar codes, the Bible and Nostradamus and see how he affects people. Is he insane or just misunderstood? David Thewlis is an incredible actor and he is a joy to watch even when he might not be playing the most honorable person. Great to see him perform so strongly in the days before "Harry Potter".

chase_g An aimless, pointless, waste of time. Painfully overacted, especially by the nurse, but in general the endless speeches of David Thewlis reveal themselves to not be driving at anything in particular. The movie seems a self conscious attempt to show how much angst they can pack into a painfully slow two hours. If you can keep up with how fast Thewlis is talking you will realize that everything he says is only pseudo-intellectual trite word play. The fascination with rape and the scrawny posh psychopath are never shown to have any meaning, and there is hardly any plot to speak of. All of the female characters are an insult to women everywhere, as they fawn obsessively over a grimy tramp, and go on the occasional emotional tirade. The same melodramatic song is looped constantly. And if they were trying to send a nihilist message the millennial 'end is neigh' delusions only serve to remind us that Johnny is simply a nutter.