http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443518/


Did anyone else catch this movie? From imdb: Lawrence (Nighy), an aging, lonely civil servant falls for Gina (McDonald), an enigmatic young woman. When he takes her to the G8 Summit in Reykjavik, however, their bond is tested by Lawrence's professional obligations. When I saw the trailer for it a few weeks ago I was totally excited because I LOVE Bill Nighy and I'm also a big fan of the gorgeous Kelly Macdonald. I thought, "Wow, I'm going to get a cool British Romantic comedy about a lonely older man and a pretty girl who changes his life!" Well, it was a good movie but by the end I soon realized....



Oh well what is one to do. The scenery was nice and you felt like they liked each other even with all that above.

Agreed on all counts. I enjoyed it, but man was it preachy. They seemed to way oversimplify some of the issues as well. The snapping was very powerful though.

Yeah I saw it again last night and I just happen to sit through the credits while doing something else. All of a sudden the music stopped and then I heard the snaps until the credits were done. I agree, very powerful.

I agree as well. I like Bill Nighy, and the ads for this movie made it seem like nothing more than a quirky romantic comedy, so I TiVoed it. If the ads had been more honest I probably would have watched it anyway, but I don't appreciate being tricked into watching a ham-handed lesson on the appalling state of world poverty. I might watch it again and zip through some of the preachy parts but, for me, it's not a keeper.

Would you guys be happier with the film if he had taken her to his mother's house and she said questionable things there instead of the G8 summit? I mean, the point (aside from the politics) of her saying all that stuff was to have him stand by her and show her how he cared. She changed his life, and she was saying the stuff that he only wished he had the courage to say himself. Yes, it was sorta preachy...but to disagree with what was being said is disgusting.

I swear, it doesn't seem like anyone on this website likes anything anymore. Everyone complains about basic romantic comedies saying that there is no weight in them, then when someone comes out with a romantic comedy with something to say, everyone bitches about it being misrepresented, preachy, and weighty.

I, for one, loved this film. Greatest film I ever saw...no. But a great film nonetheless. W

Uhm first of all you're just wrong. NO ONE said they disagreed with anything she said. Gimme a fuckin' break. The ONLY problem I see is that this was avertised as romantic comedy. NOT a "We are the World special". Even if it was advertised as that kind of special we still would've watched it. To be blind sided by the political stuff was just a bit strange. I think we all generally liked it so perhaps you should read the posts carefully before you shoot your mouth off....


...and by the way, although it was still a decent flick, there was very little romance or comedy in this movie. Especially after the preaching started.

After having seen this again think this was the problem some of the other countries had with Britian's proposal. They made it seem like, "hey just throw some cash at these countries and all poverty and death will stop". Bullshit. The problems are far more complicated and deep seated than that and it seemed like the some of the others, like the American reps for instance, at least wanted to know the money was going do some real good and not just get wasted.

Yes, but it's very convenient to say "We only hold back the money because it is going to get wasted" and then continue to spend time and money on non-life and death issues. Close your eyes and imagine the same death tolls from war, famine, and disease suddenly cropping up in any caucasian-majority country or region, and try to imagine the scale of the world response compared to Africa. The number one issue that needs to be addressed along with providing aid is making sure that corruption in these countries does not prevent the effective use of the aid, but to throw one's hands up and say "It's just too messed up, it would be throwing away our money" is the lazy and selfish way out. I don't think the movie suggested that the solution was simple, just that so far we haven't really begun to try to solve the problem - and that will be to our everlasting shame.

I don't have to close my eyes. I've seen how the world responds to white countries in trouble and how they ignore African issues.

Hmm. I still think they simplified it but I agree that the corruption of African governments is at the heart of their many many problems. So what should we do? Go in "Iraq war style" and take their governments down one by one? I wouldn't have a problem with that but it seems the World has low opinion of that type of action....at least they do when America does it.

Sorry, I guess I had a Matthew McConaughey from "A Time to Kill" moment there
Maybe it's pie-in-the-sky thinking, but I think if America showed itself willing to take the lead (in a partnership) in establishing a world-wide movement to not only pressure corruption out externally, but to support and bolster change from within the countries, those who don't immediately join in would be shamed into it. These governments don't have the command infrastructure and heavy hand of a more developed country like Iraq, and I believe that something like the Rwandan genocide could have been quelled with a force significantly smaller than the amount of U.S. forces currently in Afghanistan. The first step is to show more than a passing interest, and if Americans can't drum up the concern and willingness then shame on us - and our leaders should do it anyway.

I liked it too and agree with what everyone else is saying about it becoming more politcal than romance unexpectedly.

I love Bill and the concept of this May-December romance with just the back drop of politics appealed to me. I mean, I personally wouldn't mind a hookup with him. Still it was a good movie especially to see him in such a subdued role when his "breakout" roles are so energetic and commanding. And the "message" in the movie was very informative, if unexpected.

Ok, I missed the snapping. What did it signify?

This was the first time I've seen Kelly MacDonald, and I think as I was watching this I was developing a major crush on her, so that kind of overshadowed the political message of the film for me. I watched it again later and absorbed that aspect more than the first time.

The snapping was for every three seconds another child dying.