
In writer and director Mike Leigh’s new film “Hard Truths”, Marianne Jean-Baptiste gives an outstanding performance as Pansy, a woman who seems pretty unhappy. She thrives on complaining and confrontation — often with total strangers in stores, parking lots and offices. Her husband and young adult son have put up with this for such a long time that they’ve become numb to it and don’t offer much to say.
At one point Pansy is asked, “Why can’t you just enjoy life?” In a pivotal scene about midway through “Hard Truths”, Pansy and her sister Chantelle (played by Michele Austin) visit a cemetery. It’s there that we begin to fully understand what Pansy is going through. She says, “I just want it all to stop.” This is one of the finest, most genuinely emotional scenes of any movie of the past year.
Though there are a number of explosive confrontations (over the top but very real), especially in the first half, that may make you want to laugh, it’s clear that “Hard Truths” is a drama — about mental illness, loss, grief and communication. Leigh’s screenplay is so brutally honest and authentic. I discovered a bit of myself in nearly every character — along with someone I know in every character, through their personalities, remarks, attitudes and behaviors.
Jean-Baptiste, already a Critics Choice and BAFTA nominee for Best Actress, deserves to be on the Oscars ballot as well. As “Hard Truths” continues to screen for more groups, audiences and Academy members, don’t be surprised if Austin is a surprise Supporting Actress nominee. The only real negative I have for the film is that it fizzles out in the final 10 minutes, which don’t pack quite the punch of everything that comes before. But the commentary is strong throughout, and outside of the last section, it’s a knockout of an experience.
LCJ GRADE: B+
Running Time: 97 min.