The A posteriori le cinema series is an opportunity to celebrate the 7e art by revisiting key titles that celebrate important anniversaries.
ometime in a while, not often, a film devoid of stars, a trending topic or any kind of hype — in short, a film that no one expects — hits theaters and becomes something of a phenomenon. 25 years ago, British comedy The Full Monty (The big game) won that kind of surprise success, driving crowds and ensuring a bright future: a play and a musical show were made from it, and recently Disney announced the production of a series bringing back some of the original cast. It is true that basicallyThe Full Monty had an ace up his sleeve, or rather, up his pants.
We are referring here to the plot, which tells how a disparate group of unemployed English people decide to form a troupe of naked dancers inspired by the famous Chippendales.
This bizarre plan is hatched by Gary (Robert Carlyle), who, like most characters, lost his job when the local steel mill closed. Added to the financial worries of Gary, who is now living on his own, are problems related to the custody of his son, Nathan. One day when he sees dozens of women lining up for a performance by the dancers of said Chippendales troupe, Gary has an illumination.
With his best friend, Dave (Mark Addy), here he is holding auditions to set up a troupe that will “show everything”. Enter Gerald (Tom Wilkinson), Lumper (Steve Huison), Barrington (Paul Barber), Guy (Hugo Speer): a motley assortment of unemployed — or adventurous —, even desperate men.
Changing Masculinity
In this respect, beneath its humorous surface, The Full Monty addresses a host of serious issues: depression and suicidal thoughts, erectile dysfunction, body image problems, repressed homosexuality… Which issues will, we specify, have a happy ending.
In an interesting essay published in The Film MagazineAnnice White notes in this regard: “Different notions of masculinity are presented [dans le film], there is no single conception of what it means to be a man, or more precisely, a working-class man. Most important for these men is to make money in a world where it is increasingly difficult, so they embrace the historically feminine act of undressing in order to embrace a new form of masculinity that will allow them to recover a provider role. »
The author also notes that The Full Monty talks about the place of men in a changing world, a world in which women hold more power than before.
“Peter Cattaneo’s film presents women as fulfilled (relatively), and apart from momentary hints of misogyny that remind us of the narrow vision of masculinity that our protagonists must unlearn in their constantly changing situation, women, employees, are family members who have the power, and are the ones who choose how they spend their money. […] Ultimately, they become those to whom the protagonists of The Full Monty cater (both in the narrative, and, more broadly, as a target audience for the box office), even if the group’s acceptance of this reality is not without its bumps. »
Screenwriter Simon Beaufoy uses affectionate humor to show how a group of fallen men reclaim their dignity by stripping
Apart from the, let’s say, alluring nature of the proposal and the more than perfect interpretation of the cast, the key to the film’s success undoubtedly lies in the dramatic thickness of the characters. When including The Full Monty On its list of Britain’s 100 best films, the British Film Institute (BFI) noted: “Sheffield’s declining steel industry does not set itself as the backdrop for an uplifting comic fairy tale, but screenwriter Simon Beaufoy uses affectionate humor to show how a group of fallen men claim their dignity by stripping naked. […] For all its wonderful sequences — the dance moves in the unemployed queue, the striptease finale removed — the film remains resolutely focused on the lives of its protagonists. »
And to add that Beaufoy enjoyed even greater success in 2008 with Slumdog Millionaire (The lousy millionaire).
Authentic reaction
Undoubtedly the culminating moment of the film, which immediately cultivates expectation in the matter (the title is a well-known expression meaning that we unpack or exhibit everything), the final number was not, in this case, shot in last. In an article from Guardiandirector Peter Cattaneo reveals that said stripping sequence was rather filmed in the middle of production.
“If we had saved it for the end, it would have become an issue that would have made everyone tense,” he explains. Robert [Carlyle] — after talking to the guys — made it clear that I could only do one take of them naked. In the script, the final reveal was written as a full-frontal reveal. But I knew we wouldn’t be able to show the genitals, so I tried to be smart: I thought I’d film from a low angle view of the crowd, who would have their hands up in the air to hide [les parties intimes]. But it was too hard to accomplish spontaneously. Then I realized that I just had to film them from behind, showing a row of pairs of buttocks. »
In the same article, we also learn that the extras, mostly extras, had brought alcohol on the sly. Above all, apart from the team and the actors, everyone was unaware that they would indeed go “to the end”. The audience’s reaction of surprise — and delight — at the end is genuine.
The consecration
When it was released on August 15 in the United States and August 29 in Great Britain, the film received an enthusiastic critical reception, but where there was often a hint of condescension.
This excerpt from Kevin Thomas’ review, in the Los Angeles Timesis representative of this: “If you don’t expect the depth and subtlety of a working-class film by Mike Leigh [Secrets & Lies,Career Girls], The Full Monty could give you heartwarming pleasure with more serious undertones than you ever imagined. »
The already winner of a Palme d’or Mike Leigh, nothing less… On the other hand, on the box office side, the verdict was unequivocal: endowed with a meager budget of 3.5 million dollars Americans, the film made 258 million. The consecration came with the announcement of the Oscar nominations, where The Full Monty was selected in the categories of best film, best director, best original screenplay, and finally, best music, prizes which he won.
Like what, when “we have nothing left to lose and therefore nothing to hide”, according to the film, it happens that lots of people feel challenged.
The film The Full Monty is available on Disney+ and in VOD on most platforms.