Where I work, in Camden, north London, it's not unusual to spot the famous. Sometimes they're good - Jonathan Ross, Ray Davies, Jude Law. Sometimes they're bad - Chris Evans, Russell Brand, Amy Winehouse. But today I had a top spot - Mike Leigh, who was filming in the market.
I don't usually go into the market if I can help it because it's full of German students in silly hats and/or scary looking women with heroin sores asking you for money, but there's a fantastic chinese food stall there which is really fresh and we get a company discount.
So unable to resist I went there this lunchtime, and there was Mike Leigh filming right outside. I'm a huge fan, but he was busy directing Sally Hawkins in his as yet untitled project, so I felt it was wrong to interrupt him. Plus, he looked like a right old curmudgeon.
I recently got Who's Who and Grown Ups on DVD and they are naturally superb. I wanted tell Mike this very much, thought better of it. Alan Bennett is one thing, Mike Leigh is quite another.
5 comments:
I think Grown Ups may well be the best thing he's done, if only for the fantastic cast. I've also always had a soft spot for Home Sweet Home, or Postmen on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, as it's not also known.
I still find it a bit annoying that, even now after several really popular recent films, he's still generally treated by the press as The Abigail's Party Man, as if that remains the apotheosis of his career, rather than an atypical and slightly above average entry on his CV.
Is Grown Ups still only available on Region 1 DVD? My player's so old it only plays Region 2s. Bah!
I think you made the correct decision there. I imagine Mike Leigh to be capable of brusqueness on a level even one such as yourself can only dimly aspire to.
My oddest Camden spot was Damian Lewis dressed from head to toe in faded denim, including a denim flat cap. Mark C spotted him posing on the Tube with his wife and baby. Just stop it.
Yes, I'm glad I kept quiet.
There's very little old Mike Leigh on DVD region 2 apart from the obvious. I've not seen Home Sweet Home, and it nags at me that I must get hold of it.
It is annoying he's the Abigail's Party man - after his body of work!
As for Damian Lewis - a colleague saw Helen McCrory in the dry cleaners in Camden with an armful of Damian's designer duds barking a the man behind the counter saying 'these suits are worth over £4000. Take care of them!'
Nice and down to earth then.
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