Vacuuming Completely in the Nude in Paradise

Following the high of Trainspotting, director Danny Boyle washed out with A Life Less Ordinary and The Beach before returning to basics with this gritty, kinetic 2001 BBC production based on Jim Cartwright's play. Cartwright also wrote Little Voice, and there is a kinship between the pathetic, washed-up promoter played in that film by Michael Caine, and Tommy Rag, the vacuum cleaner salesman portrayed by raging bull Timothy Spall here. Tommy makes Alec Baldwin in Glengarry Glen Ross look like Mr. Rogers. Careening through town (“I'm on a kamikaze commission,” he thunders), he will do and say anything to realize his goal of winning Salesman of the Year honors, including practically terrorizing the old or the destitute to sign on the dotted line. Michael Begley costars as Pete, an aspiring DJ, who takes an apprentice sales job with Tommy's company so his girlfriend can quit stripping. Pete is appalled by Tommy's tactics, but inexorably falls under his influence, until another opportunity comes knocking. Unfortunately, Tommy's comeuppance and downfall is a foregone conclusion, and Tommy himself is more repellant and grotesque than fascinating. Optional. (D. Liebenson)