Mike Leigh

Jake Gyllenhaal on Berlin Film Festival Jury Pictures
Jake Gyllenhaal

Jake Gyllenhaal Gets to Know His Fellow Berlin International Film Festival Jurors

Jake Gyllenhaal and his fellow members of the jury at the Berlin International Film Festival gathered this morning for a photocall.
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Jake Gyllenhaal and his fellow members of the jury at the Berlin International Film Festival gathered this morning for a photocall. Before entering the Grand Hyatt, Jake stopped to sign autographs and pose for a few photos. He then linked up with Charlotte Gainsbourg, British director Mike Leigh, and Dutch director Anton Corbijn. Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, German actress Barbara Sukowa, French director François Ozon, and Algerian writer Boualem Sansal round out the group of jurors. Jake and company will decide which of the eighteen films in competition takes home the prestigious Golden Bear Award for best picture. Diane Kruger's Farewell, My Queen is among those in contention, as is Angelina Jolie's In the Land of Blood and Honey.

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Happy-Go-Lucky Review
Movie Review

Happy-Go-Lucky: A Sweet and Stirring Slice of Life

When Happy-Go Lucky begins we meet Poppy, a single woman in her 30s, who has just discovered a new bookstore and does her darnedest to charm the store clerk with her goofy persona — despite the fact he's completely annoyed and hardly acknowledges her.
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When Happy-Go Lucky begins we meet Poppy, a single woman in her 30s, who has just discovered a new bookstore and does her darnedest to charm the store clerk with her goofy persona — despite the fact he's completely annoyed and hardly acknowledges her. This opening struck me as awfully precarious and could have easily bombed due to Poppy's perkiness, but it doesn't.

And that's because the star of the movie, Sally Hawkins, who plays the optimistic Poppy, is so brilliant in this role, and this would-be cringe-worthy moment successfully launches one of the sweetest movies I've seen in a long time. To see why I loved it so, read more

Trailer for Happy-Go-Lucky
Movies

Movie Preview: Happy-Go-Lucky

As far as movies go, the Fall is probably going to get a little depressing.
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As far as movies go, the Fall is probably going to get a little depressing. Not like "crap these movies are depressingly bad" - depressing, but more like "these movies are bleak and make me die a little inside" - depressing. That's why I feel like it's practically my duty to bring you the trailer for what will undoubtedly be a little ray of sunshine come this October: Happy-Go-Lucky.

It's a little British film that was written and directed by Mike Leigh, and while I can't seem to locate a plot from watching the trailer, I know this much is true: it lifts my spirits. Even the IMDB description of the movie makes me happy: "Poppy is a thirty-year old Primary School teacher in contemporary North London. She has great friends, a job she loves and a full life." I'm already charmed by Sally Hawkins who plays Poppy and, I dunno, this trailer just gives me the warm fuzzies inside. Which I'm pretty sure is the goal.

To check it out for yourself, read more