Hard Truths marks the 10th Mike Leigh film I've watched. Tonight, at Lincoln Center in New York, I saw his masterpiece Secrets and Lies followed by Hard Truths. Unfortunately, Hard Truths is one of the most miserable films I've ever seen.
The protagonist, played by the talented Marianne Jean-Baptiste, is constantly unhappy and abrasive. While her performance is excellent, the character spends the entire film yelling and complaining.
There is no discernible storyline and a complete lack of Leigh's uncharacteristic sense of humor. If this movie had been made by an unknown director, it likely wouldn't have seen the light of day. The only reason I gave this film 3 stars is due to Marianne Jean-Baptiste's acting.
It's disheartening to see how audiences are impressed by the media and blindly praise any production and the celebrities. Sadly, I found myself leaving the theater feeling that I'd just wasted an hour of my life.
