9. Naked
Directed by noted British film maker - Mike Leigh, Naked is a much darker and violent film than the rest of his film oeuvre. It follows the exploits of Johnny, who rapes a woman in a Manchester back alley and then flees to London. Johnny is an extremely intelligent man who is educated and eloquent. He is frequently condescending and nasty to the people round him who he clearly feels are his inferiors. Johnny is arrogant, full of himself and verbally cuts to pieces anyone who stands in his way. He likes rough sex and seduces his friend's flatmate for the sheer hell of it. Johnny then goes on an odyssey through London's seedy side, parroting his nihilistic philosophy to anyone who will listen. He is haunted by the spectre of his ex-girlfriend's landlord - Jeremy who is a complete and utter psychopath. At the end, Johnny suffers dreadfully at the hands of some casual thugs and is turfed out of his flat - fading back to the underbelly of society. Various theories are possible in explaining Johnny's behaviour. He may be untreated bipolar and parts of the film hint at childhood sexual abuse. The film succeeds as a transgressive masterpiece due to the performance of David Thewlis as Johnny, a man who just about hates everyone and everything. His bile filled rants are quite entertaining and reveal an intelligent, if warped sensibility about the world around him. Personally, I think Johnny just speaks the truth (albeit in a harsh and smug kind of way) and people around him can't face up to it because it is too bleak for 'ordinary citizens' to listen to. They therefore find it repellant. But it's the truth! I guess truth hurts. Never has such a transgressive but honest film been made. Searing, passionate honesty all thanks to the director having balls the size of church bells and a top class performance of David Thewlis as the fiercely intelligent and rancourous anti-hero.