Movies: Girl in the Café & The Station Agent

I’ve been doing a lot of watching and a whole lot less (read: zero) blogging lately. So here’s the consequence: my own reviews of two notable films I’ve seen. You might notice that I’ve mentioned seeing several movies which might have given you the impression that there were more than two (2) movies. Well you surmised correctly and are justifiably entitled to the quizzical furrowed brow and the “huh, only two?” ejaculation (I got the expression “ejaculation” from the Hardy Boys series and you can imagine the many pre-pubescent, undeniably infantile giggles I got from reading passages like: "'So!' she ejaculated, as the boys appeared." – teeheehee). I know, pathetic. Anyway, I digress – which I am wont to do – so before I wander again, here goes:

Part I - Girl in the Café

Let’s start with the film Girl in the Café. I’ll refer to it as an inspiring movie that breaks hearts to lift the spirits. It is so inspiring and uplifting that I was motivated to dedicate whatever dismal earnings I have been, well, earning from my Google Adsense and will try to have it donated to my favorite cause: Make Poverty History. That’s right folks, you now have a very good reason to click on them thar ads in this dang blog. So go ahead, click it, click it real good. I’m sorry? Oh yeah, yeah … the movie. Which one was it? Right, right. The Girl in the Café.

Well, the story is about a dreary old chap (Lawrence) played so effectively by Bill Nighy (Love Actually, contrast his portrayal here with that in Underworld: Evolution) who meets, Gina, a seemingly shy and unassuming girl, portrayed by the beautiful Kelly Macdonald (whom I thought I first saw in an episode of Alias only to find out that she was in Trainspotting and Finding Neverland). Where did they meet, you ask? What’s the title? The seemingly chance encounter develops into a blossoming romance that was soon tested by the politics of world charity. Huh? Well, yeah, quite unexpected and some would call it a bit of a stretch but I think the entire film more than makes up for this small glitch. Personally, I think it made the entire story a little more believable ironically. The backdrop is Reykjavik Iceland, home to Björk and some such oddities, where the 2005 G8 Conference was to take place. Should career take precedence over love, profession more than convictions, politics above aid to those dying from extreme poverty? In the end we learn that these are not really opposites but can and should instead go hand in hand. For a review click here. Here’s a decent synopsis.

Next: Part II -- The Station Agent (which will come hopefully soon)

P.S.: Oh, before I forget again, I'm reviewing only two because these are the films which I really liked from the slew of others I saw. The rest were what you might call eye candy. Here are Pinoy sayings that best describe my attitude towards movies: "Walang masamang tinapay." and "Walang mapait na tutong sa taong nagugutom."