Full Monty – movie, Robert Carlyle, Tom Wilkinson

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Unemployed men in the north of England are willing to try anything to scrape together a living and at the same time, uphold their dignity. The plan is to hold a fund raiser in the bar, with male strippers.

This is a compelling story on many levels, for there’s more at stake than a bit of money and having some fun. Fatigued and out of work, the men wonder if they’re still men. Dave is afraid of losing his wife, Gaz is already divorced, and their suicidal pal Lomper is living a dreary celibate life

Given the programme, the film seems oddly innocent. It’s a comedy about male full-frontal exposure, or, as one character puts it, men prancing around Sheffield with their widgers hanging out. Rife with nudging and guffawing, the steelworkers turned male strippers are less raunchy than awkward and well-meaning.

What The Full Monty is, though, is political, in a gentle way. Great characters and very good acting by Tom Wilkinson and Robert Carlyle, among others. Worth watching even now, sixteen years later.

Michael Clayton – excellent movie

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This movie is 9 years old, so nothing new here, but George Clooney did such a fabulous job in a very tense and stirring story that I’ve watched it more than once, just last night again. 🙂 Tilly Swinton and Tom Wilkinson are also great in their roles. This is a muscular, rough story of a lawyer who is really ‘just a janitor’. His job is to clean up after the firm’s clients when needed, with the promise held out that ‘soon’ he’ll become partner in the law firm.

These are talented actors. Tom Wilkinson has done so many great films, from Full Monty to Secrets and Lies. Here he plays a senior partner in the law firm who is struggling with mental problems, along with the stigma of the work they do for their clients. Just another job for the janitor to handle. Have a look, this movie does not disappoint.

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