Hahahahahaha!
Wait, you're serious? Lame!
I Sympathize with Lars Von Trier.

LOL. Like most people who truly love films, I think his are brilliant. Of course, you're entitled to your opinion/disliking his films, but your entire post is of such immaturity it just makes you look like a fool. To put it mildly.
"The fundamental things apply, as time goes by."

haha ive seen a few of his films, naked, topsy turvy, secrets and lies. they're all boring as hell.
i refuse to ever watch another movie by mike leigh. and he does look like a garden elf

Because how dare a famous person have strong political opinions (especially ones that don't agree with my own)?! Some random person from some small town can write all the angry, misguided, extremist letters to the editor that he wants, he can speak at all the political rallies that he wants - but as soon as he becomes famous he better shut the hell up or risk the indignation of those who can't stand people sharing their opinions!

For the record, anyone who considers Leigh talentless is fooling themselves. You may not like what he's doing, but his ability to draw great performances from his actors and to observe certain detailed aspects of human behavior are unrivaled. He's one of the most observant, compassionate, humane filmmakers out there.
And to the OP: He's had some of the greatest British actors working for him, multiple times. Jim Broadbent is the greatest currently working British actor, and actors and actresses like Imelda Staunton and David Thewlis aren't far behind.
I suppose on a clear day you can see the class struggle from here

E SHUD DO A FLM WIV 2 WOMEN HOO WONT EACH UVAZ PUZZY BUT DA MEAN KNICKER NANNY IZ STOPPIN DEM, DEY DEN AV TA WRK TAGEVA TO GET A A HO TA GET DA NICKER N DEN DEY EAT WALKERZ CRISPZ DA E nd

I CONCUR.
I also despise his ong5b4oing political agenda pushing.
stopchasingyourtail

Once again Cannes have their noses up this self indulgent talentless wanker's arse. His is the only Uk film worthy of being in competition - of course it is.!!!

I don't wish to be condescending to the OP, so I will simply declare that Leigh's beard isn't really that bad.
"Don't leave us in the dark!"

His beard is pretty lousy. But George Lucas' beard is worse.

This message has been deleted.

Really? As a non-Brit I would think they would be immensely proud to have him, he's a real artist.

Your loss baby, your loss

You've got to learn how to form an opinion

For all the Mike Leigh haters out there..
Please read on him first before you bash him like this. How he does his film.. How he views film.. Much more organic than ordinary directors like Ridley Scott..
He's not overrated. He's not an ego maniac like most directors are.. Thats what makes him so special.

In a nutshell

Overrated my ass.
"Vera Drake" is one of the most emotionally devastating films I've ever seen. That film alone placed Leigh among my favorite living directors.
But I can understand why some English people might not like having him represent English film. I've heard that he's generally not liked in England (just like, from what I hear, most Germans don't care for Herzog) - but most of the rest of the world (at least the rest of the world film community) likes him. And that can be frustrating if you don't think he represents the best of what English cinema has to offer.
But, to me, Leigh is simply a great director. And though he does share some directorial characteristics with Ken Loach, I do consider them two entirely unique directors. Passing Leigh off as some sort of Loach "wannabe" only does both directors a disservice. And if you really view his films as "a bunch of RADA luvvies shrieking their way through a ridiculous pastiche of working- and middle-class life", well We come from two entirely different viewpoints. And you have a fundamental misunderstanding of what the man is trying to do. And you're wrong.
Any country should be proud to have Leigh as part of their film scene.

He's deeply overrated. His films, which are so lauded for their naturalistic style, are a bunch of RADA luvvies shrieking their way through a ridiculous pastiche of working- and middle-class life. Still, it's amazing how far any director can go by stealing from the Ken Loach style guide and convincing the Guardian to slaver over your back catalogue.

For all the Mike Leigh haters out there..
Please read on him first before you bash him like this. How he does his him.. How he views film.. Much more organic than ordinary directors like Ridley Scott..
He's not overrated. He's not an ego maniac like most directors are.. Thats what makes him so special.

Leigh is such a bad filmmaker that every film he makes goes into profit, with Secrets & Lies making back more than 10 times it's cost.
Leigh is such a bad filmmaker that he's revered in Europe and has won countless awards and nominations, and gives the British film industry great kudos.
Leigh is such a bad filmmaker that there are always people ready to put the money up for his projects.
Leigh is such a bad filmmaker that the cream of British acting talent (as opposed t5b4o 'stars') work with him time and time again - who's the better actor, Tim Spall or Hugh Grant?
Fear my ratings:
http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=26319984&s=reverse_uservote&o=00

Leigh's beard is the sex. I hear it's full of candy.
"I'll sue you in England!"- Harlan Ellison.

o dear, makes me glad im a film student, he doesn't use massive hollywood stars because independent british movies DONT use massive hollywood stars, the key here is DIFFERENCE IN CULTURE. Most british auteurs make the films they do to make (often) political points, Ken Loach for example. The whole idea is realism. They use small, often non actors to put this realism across. Seen Secrets and Lies? Do some research.

OK, so deadeye overstated his case somewhat, but I know where he's coming from. I'm a Leigh fan - on the whole, but I can see why someone might loathe his work (not least,
Vera Drake
, which is Leigh at his very worst). On the other hand, to my mind,
Bleak Moments
,
Meantime
,
Nuts in May
,
Abigail's Party
,
Naked
and
Secrets and Lies
are essential viewing.
The lion and the calf shall lie down together, but the calf won't get much sleep.

In defence of his beard, it's actually rather impressive, in my opinion. Keep up the good work, Mike.
Also, I'm not surprised that the original poster for this topic doesn't like Leigh; he makes films that are very much opposed to the Hollywood model of cause-and-effect style narratives and characters that have no real bearing on real life. Having read on his work and life, I would think he'd have a rather wry smile if he ever has the chance to read your comments.
To blame Leigh for the badness of British cinema is probably the most misguided of all your comments though. If money and prestige with American cinemagoers is all you are after for our industry, then I feel very sorry for you, dude. For a lot of us, that isn't what cinema is about.

Can't say I agree. I think he is the greatest director ever. I haven't seen all of his movies, but those I have are pure perfection. He seems to be able to get the very best performance out of all his actors and that is no mean feat.