KexUK One of the best films I have ever seen! A beautiful, sensitive and acutely observant expose of English attitudes and protocols. . It's actually secondary that the background subject matter of the plot is so vitally important in our modern world. . The interplay of nuance between the lead characters is a charmingly captivating carousel of attraction and inspiration. .Yes, I give it 10. 10 because it was a totally intelligent and enjoyable surprise.Well acted and beautifully produced. Enchantingly written by Richard Curtis like all good magic it will envelop you in it's reality.

Benedict_Cumberbatch This surprising made-for-TV dramedy, written by Richard Curtis ("Four Weddings and a Funeral") and directed by David Yates ("Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"), shows that the simplest ideas sometimes give us the best movies. Lawrence (Bill Nighy) is a lonely civil servant that invites a young woman he met in a café, Gina (Kelly Macdonald), to join him at the G8 Summit in Iceland. What he didn't expect is that the introspective Gina would speak up to his superiors about what she thinks they should decide/worry about.I've been a fan of Bill Nighy for a while now; he can be funny ("Love Actually"), hateful ("The Constant Gardener") and moving ("Notes on a Scandal"), but it was this movie that made me say to myself: what a tremendous actor. His subtle, multi-layered performance is the soul of the movie. Kelly Macdonald, that great character actress from "Trainspotting", "Gosford Park" and "No Country for Old Men", among others, also makes Gina a believable and adorable character (I disagree with what she says about Björk being the "coolest woman on the planet", but I agree with most of her ideas). "The Girl in the Café" won the Emmy for Outstanding Made-for-TV Movie, and both Nighy and Macdonald were nominated for Golden Globes for their performances.Don't avoid this thinking it's a TV-movie-of-the-week sort, because it's better than most flicks that hit the multiplexes. Otherwise, you'll miss a real gem. 8.5/10.

fwomp I love watching Bill Nighy. He's got the emotional range most actors envy. Doubt this? Try watching SHAUN OF THE DEAD and then LOVE ACTUALLY and you'll see what I mean. He can be dry as a bone one minute (Shaun of the Dead) and funnily spirited the next (Love Actually).So when I learned that he'd been in an Emmy winning TV movie, I leapt at the chance to see it.THE GIRL IN THE CAFÉ is your basic character story with some fine acting ...if a bit stilted. The stilted feel really isn't that big of a surprise considering this was a made-for-TV flick. Although there was some nudity (which I'm sure was not shown on U.S. television and saved for DVD), the story does have that prime-time feel to it rather than big screen chops.The story is that of Lawrence (Bill Nighy) and Gina (Kelly Macdonald), two lonely souls who meet one day in a café. Lawrence works for the government as an analyst who's preparing for the G8 summit in Iceland. Gina is ...well ...we're not quite sure in the beginning what Gina does. But she's attractive and Lawrence and she chat briefly during the lunch hour. They arrange a second "date" and meet later that week. Lawrence confides much of his job to Gina, telling her about Britain's battle to lead the fight against third world poverty and AIDS, but also mixing his own sense of defeat into the conversation, knowing that much of what he's doing will be bartered down to almost nil come summit-time talks.Gina seems to take most of this in stride, hardly raising an eyebrow at the horrors of money over meals that Lawrence feeds her mind. That is until Lawrence invites her to accompany him to Iceland for the G8 talks.Time and again Gina opens her mouth during high-level dinners and lets spew her mind about the number of dead and dying in third world countries that Lawrence told her in confidence. Battling his job versus his growing attraction for Gina, Lawrence risks all by keeping her at his side.In the end we learn that Gina's past is directly connected with death and that she's not working because of her recent release from prison.Although Kelly Macdonald does an admirable job as the lost but vocal Gina, her lines seemed overly-rehearsed or set to a teleprompter, while Billy Nighy delivers his in an uncomfortable fashion befitting a man who has poor woman skills.The dangers of losing oneself in a thankless job are hit hard within the film's framework, while also showing the battle we forge when trying to form bonds with those of the opposite sex. All of this is done with the G8 Summit looming heavily in the political background, making for some strikingly nervous dialogue that you know will be coming from Gina as the film continues.In the end, this is a good made-for-TV film that Bill Nighy fans should check out.

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.