Meantime (1984) (TV)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Mike Leigh

Writer:

Mike Leigh (deviser)

Release Date:

23 July 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

An odd film, primarily looking at how the dole affects the underclass in Britain. Tim Roth stars as Colin...

Plot Keywords:

Skinhead | Elevator | Bet | Friend | Beer

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Marion Bailey	...	Barbara
Phil Daniels	...	Mark
Tim Roth	...	Colin
Pam Ferris	...	Mavis
Jeff Robert	...	Frank
Alfred Molina	...	John
Gary Oldman	...	Coxy
Tilly Vosburgh	...	Hayley
Paul Daly	...	Rusty
Leila Bertrand	...	Hayley's Friend
Hepburn Graham	...	Boyfriend
Peter Wight	...	Estate Manager
Eileen Davies	...	Unemployment Benefit Clerk
Herbert Norville	...	Man in Pub
Brian Hoskin	...	Barman

Directed by
Mike Leigh

Writing credits
Mike Leigh		(deviser)

Produced by
Graham Benson	....	producer

Original Music by
Andrew Dickson

Cinematography by
Roger Pratt

Film Editing by
Lesley Walker

Casting by
Sue Whatmough

Art Direction by
Diana Charnley

Costume Design by
Lindy Hemming

Makeup Department
Sandra Shepherd	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Vivien Pottersman	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Steve Finn	....	second assistant director
Chris Rose	....	first assistant director

Art Department
James Ede	....	painter (as Jim Ede)
Steve Ede	....	carpenter
Mon Mohan	....	graphic designer
Dave Newton	....	property master
Chris Seagers	....	assistant art director
Peter Walpole	....	property buyer
Steve Wheeler	....	propman

Sound Department
Eddie Dougall	....	boom operator
Malcolm Hirst	....	sound recordist
Peter Joly	....	assistant dubbing editor
Billy McCarthy	....	sound recordist
Trevor Pyke	....	dubbing mixer
Mike Shoring	....	boom operator
Charles Ware	....	dubbing editor (as Charlie Ware)

Camera and Electrical Department
John Abrahams	....	camera grip
Roger Bonnici	....	electrician
Ed Buziak	....	still photographer
John Cantwell	....	electrician
Brian Herlihy	....	focus puller
Ted Read	....	gaffer
Adam Walton	....	clapper loader

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sue Gibson	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Jeremy Hume	....	assistant editor
Toby Reisz	....	second assistant film editor

Music Department
Andrew Dickson	....	musician
George Khan	....	musician

Transportation Department
Roger Pomphrey	....	unit driver

Other crew
Joanna Campling	....	unit publicist
Neil Chaplin	....	production accountant
Simon Henson	....	unit runner
Caroline Hill	....	production assistant
Hugo Luczyc-Wyhowski	....	unit runner (as Hugo Wyhowski)
Heather Storr	....	continuity
Lisa Whitmore	....	accounting assistant

Production Companies

• Central Production
• Mostpoint (in association with) (as Mostpoint Ltd.)
• Channel 4 Television Corporation (as Channel Four)

Distributors

• Carlton Film Distributors (1999) (worldwide) (all media) (sales)
• Carlton Visual Entertainment (2001) (UK) (DVD)
• Channel 4 Television Corporation (1984) (UK) (TV)
• Imagine Home Entertainment (1993) (UK) (VHS)
• Prism Leisure Corporation (2005) (UK) (DVD)
• Wellspring Media (2001) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Joe Dunton & Company  equipment (as Joe Dunton Cameras Ltd)
• Mr. Lighting  electrical equipment

Runtime:

90 min | USA:102 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Australia:M | UK:15

Filming Locations:

England, UK

Company:

Central Production

A typical early Mike Leigh comedy-drama about the working class.

The trusties of English working-class life (of misery). It sounds (and looks) depressing, but turns out to be more entertaining than one would imagine; after all, this isn't a Ken Loach film. The reasons why it's good are the usual ones in a Mike Leigh film; interesting characters, excellent acting from the entire cast, and well thought-out dialog. Roth is particularly good, and shows all the Hanks's and Di Caprio's how mental retardation is really supposed to be played. The film gets better as it goes along, and all's well that ends miserably. The film could have been titled "No Hope, Hand Me The Rope". Generally, one should check out Leigh's early movies; the ones up until the late 90s.