Mike Leigh Discusses Another Year and Why He Will Never Make a Superhero Movie

Mike Leigh has a reputation among press for not withholding his displeasure when confronted with a line of questioning he doesn't particularly care for. So our interview began with that slight pang of trepidation, only to give way to the reality that Leigh -- the six-time Oscar-nominated filmmaker known for such talky, trenchant English surveys as Life is Sweet, Secrets and Lies, Naked, Happy-Go-Lucky and next week's critically acclaimed (as usual) Another Year -- is willing to talk about most any subject if he finds that subject interesting. Up to and including, say, the almost ridiculous notion of a Mike Leigh-helmed superhero movie.

But first things first: Another Year focuses on a year in the lives of Tom (Jim Broadbent) and Gerri (Ruth Sheen), a happily married couple surrounded on seemingly all sides by decidedly less-happy friends and family -- including borderline alcoholics Mary (Lesley Manville) and Ken (Peter Wight). Movieline spoke to Leigh about the themes at hand in his latest film, the pros and cons of rewatching older work, his thoughts on award season and if we will ever see a Mike Leigh-directed comic-book movie (Hint: Don't hold your breath.)

Hello, sir.

Hi, Mike. It's Mike. And please don't call me sir.

I spoke to Sally Hawkins earlier and she wanted me to tell you that she sends her love.

Thank you very much, that's very kind.

When your name was brought up I mentioned that I would be speaking to you and she said, "Don't be scared."

Well, you have nothing to be worried about.

We were supposed to speak last week but it was rescheduled because you were recording the commentary track for the Another Year DVD.

Oh! It was you that was going to be late morning the other day? I hadn't realized that it was you. Fair enough, good, nice to talk to you.

Do you enjoy doing DVD commentary? I know there are a few directors that do not like doing it.

Well, I don't mind it. To tell you the truth, it depends whether you get on a roll or if you have anything to say, really. It's fine, you know. If people want to hear these things, fair enough. Actually, I was joined for part of it by Lesley Manville, who plays Mary. That made it quite a bit more fun, really.

So you two could play off of each other.

Yes, for just two or three scenes she came and joined in. It was quite interesting. Obviously, like many things, I could do without having to do it, but it's not as horrendous as some people will make out. But then, you see, I think some people have nothing to say. [Laughs]

Is it harder to sit there and analyze one of your newer films as opposed to an older film? Is it easier when you haven't seen something in awhile?

Had you asked me that question a while back, I would have said, "No, no, I could only do it for a new film." But, some time ago, I did four director's commentaries for old television films that had come out in a box set. And, actually, curiously, I found it quite stimulating and quite interesting and actually quite easy, really.

Why was it easier?

Well, just revisiting stuff and having to think about it. Thinking about what you did, to return to the old problems and old experiences. You perhaps come back to earlier work with a little bit of hindsight and a little bit of more experience. Or something.

When watching older projects, do you ever find yourself second-guessing some of the choices that you made?

Not very much. It's not so much a routine thing, but there are occasional and specific things like you think, actually that line of dialogue could have been better or it had been better if she had said this and not that. But really speaking, no. Because each piece of work lives where it was -- you were where you were when you did it and that's where it belongs.

Another Year centers on a relatively happy couple. If you weren't Mike Leigh, could you have gotten this film made?

Well, if in some hypothetical parallel universe, my actual finished films existed as mere scripts or pitches, I don't think any of them would ever have been made, quite honestly. So I think the simple answer to your question, which is a good one, is "No." I don't think they could have happened. Because it's not about the narrative, it's about what happens in the actual space. It's about the actual organic thing that's going on in front of the camera, isn't it? It's not narrative; it's not just ideas being worked out. It's actually the total experience. So, no, I don't think they would, really.

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