Scanialara You won't be disappointed!

Listonixio Fresh and Exciting

StyleSk8r At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Bob This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Desertman84 The Girl in the Café is a British TV movie that stars Bill Nighy as Lawrence, a mild and unprepossessing British civil servant and Kelly MacDonald as Gina,a young woman whom Lawrence has met in a café.It was written by Richard Curtis and directed by David Yates.The film tells the story of Lawrence, a civil servant working for the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who falls in love with Gina, a young woman whom he meets by chance in a London café. Lawrence takes Gina to a G8 summit in Reykjavík, Iceland, where she confronts the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom over the issue of third world debt and poverty in Africa, much to Lawrence's embarrassment and the anger of his employers. However, he realizes that she is right and tries to help persuade the Chancellor and others at the summit to do something about the issues concerned.The burgeoning relationship between these two seemingly mismatched souls is obscured by egomania, xenophobia, and foot-dragging. Ultimately, the time comes when both Lawrence and Gina must make crucial decisions, with not only their own future but also the future of humankind in the balance.This is one fun and entertaining film about life, love and most amazingly how one person can make a difference in the world. Also,it has a lot of laughs and a great message about the present times.And most of all, Nighy and Macdonald have never been better than in their work here as they carry the film effectively.

jdowner76 I had heard some good things about this film and happened to see it at my local library so I picked it up. It was even better than I had heard. The script and acting in this film are remarkable. Richard Curtis is always good (Notting Hill, Bridget Jones adaptations, Love Actually, et al.) and this movie does not disappoint at all in its writing. It's an amazing blend of humor and poignancy, insecurity and gravity. But it's the parts where nothing is being spoken that are most amazing here, and I give Curtis and Yates equal credit for knowing when to let the actors own the roles. And boy do they own them. Kelly MacDonald was incredible, and rightly deserved the Emmy for her role. She says so much just in her face, without ever opening her mouth. You absolutely feel her sorrow just watching her -- her eyes, her mouth, her posture. This is full body acting (no pun intended). But I must say Bill Nighy is even better. The way he walks, the way his hands, at rest, have two fingers slightly extended. His loneliness, insecurity and doubt take physical form with him. He squirms in an uncomfortable moment and you can see his mental anguish as he tries in vain to work out what to do. It's just astonishing acting. I think I was even more impressed with him since I know him mostly from being the creepy villain in Blade and Pirates of the Caribbean 2 and 3, and the irreverent, washed-up rock star in Love Actually. I give him more props for pulling off this vastly different character in light of those other roles. I highly recommend this film to anyone who loves a good script and good acting. The story's pretty good too. Clever and inspiring without being too preachy or excessively anti-American (as it very well could have been). For the love of good film-making, see this movie.

jande9 This movie is a gem. It starts off on a simple premise, a shy older man meeting equally shy young woman, and having them slowly and painfully develop a relationship. You learn a lot about the older man, but the young woman is a mystery, her character unrevealed, but half way through the movie she starts to assert herself, and her character then comes out and takes the movie on a completely unexpected direction.Lawrence is so shy and awkward he is almost a parody but Bill Nighy manages to present the character in an open and expressive way that is believable and interesting. So many of these types of characters are presented as repressed, which stifles the actor and makes the character less attractive but Lawrence honestly and openly shows his inner turmoil which makes the character very appealing.Gina is also shy, but as presented by Kelly Macdonald there is much more than that going on. She seems to be in pain, and her shyness is mixed with fear. Her vulnerability enhances her attractiveness, and Lawrence cannot stop thinking about her. We never quite find out why she is attracted to him, but the attraction between the two characters is strong and believable, and forms the core of this movie.As is usual in movies from the UK, the supporting roles are not just simple stereotypes but fully formed complex characters giving the actors who play them a lot to work with, and they all succeed in beautifully bringing all these characters to life.If you like your movies simple, well written, beautifully acted, you will enjoy this. I really enjoyed it. I hope the producer does a sequel because I would like to spend some more time with Gina and Lawrence.

imprator It seems that most (possible all) reviewers are unaware of the political background to the making of this film.This movie was made in anticipation of the 2005 G8 summit, hosted in the UK. It was broadcast shortly before the summit. Gordon Brown, then the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer (in other words the finance minister/secretary) made a big noise in the months leading up to the summit about increasing aid to poorer countries, cancelling debt etc. He wanted to save the World, and to be seen doing it.No doubt his aims were in part genuine – he's a big government, high tax, high government spending, "social justice" type of politician. However, his crusade was also a part of his campaign to make himself appear to be big, important and popular - in pursuit of his ambition to become UK Prime Minister. (In June 2007 he achieved his ambition.) The BBC as an institution are generally inclined towards the same big government, high spending approach as Gordon Brown, and this is reflected in their programming. During the run-up to the summit they ran a series of programmes deliberately designed to create and bolster popular support for Gordon Brown's position and the "Make Poverty History" campaign. This film was one of those programmes.The BBC were open about the film's motivation in their original press release announcing the production. However, they were not as open to the public at the time the film was broadcast. No mention was made at that time of the political content. The movie was promoted entirely as a love story starring Bill Nighy (who was then enjoying the greatest degree of popularity and success that he has experienced during his career).In other words the BBC set out to entice viewers to watch a politically motivated morality play whilst pretending that it was nothing more than a love story.The film was written by Richard Curtis, a member of the Make Poverty History campaign. A quote from the BBC press release announcing the film makes things clear; "The Girl in the Cafe is a passionate plea to everyman - wrapped in a love story, a comedy and a unique drama." The full press release can be found on the BBC's website.The political storyline deliberately mirrors reality. The fictional UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, like the real one, is seeking to save the World – and in exactly the same manner. Other G8 countries are selfishly unwilling, but the girl in the story (Gina) magically metamorphoses from quiet, reserved and (apparently) entirely apolitical into an impassioned and eloquent champion of beliefs which are identical to those of the real "Make Poverty History" campaign.What we have with this film is a story which begins as a romance between two reserved and lonely people, and then veers unsubtly into the promotion of a particular political viewpoint. It is only fair that people should be aware of this before they decide to watch a production that is promoted as a mere romance.The film itself is OK up to the point at which the politics take over. I can't really rate it as more than OK; it is very flat and pretty grey.Once the political messages start flying I guess the viewer's enjoyment will depend on their own political standpoint. If they are in the "something should be done" camp, or find themselves in that camp after watching this movie, they will rate the film highly. However, if they hold differing viewpoints, or regard the film's political points as shallow and simplistic, I very much doubt that they will enjoy the production. Without the political content the film is terribly weak – because the political content is the main story.The storyline deliberately leaves the political issues unresolved, although it hints at a positive outcome (as seen from the political perspective of the writer). The point that the film seeks to promote is clear when the film's broadcast date is placed in its chronological context; if sufficient pressure in the form of public opinion is brought to bear upon the politicians a positive outcome (again, from the writer's political standpoint) can be achieved at the real 2005 G8 summit. The writer is telling the viewer "It's up to you. Do something about it – now."This being said, the story does contain certain dark overtones. Gina ruins the lead character's career by making her suspiciously capable political stand. Can their meeting really have been coincidental? After all, she breaks up with Bill Nighy's character at the end of the film. Perhaps she used him for her political purposes and then, her aims achieved, dropped him as he was of no further political use to her? Bill Nighy's character suspects as much, in his diffident way, but she points out that it was he who spoke to her first in the café. But did she place herself in a position where he would be likely to do so? And if he hadn't spoken to her first, would she have then been the one to initiate contact?In a normal film my conclusion would be that Nighy's character was used by the girl for political purposes. But this isn't a normal film, so it is interesting that the writer should choose to address this possibility. Perhaps his aim was to eliminate all possible suspicions concerning Gina's motivations in viewer's minds by the inclusion of the "You spoke to me first" scene. However, if this was his aim, he failed – at least for this viewer.The unresolved questions at the end of the film add a little interest, but not enough. Not nearly enough for me to recommend this movie to potential viewers.Avoid.