Touches You

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

Elderly, womanizer British gentleman, somehow involved with spying, attracts young, beautiful woman who needs his help (The Russia House). Despite the huge age gap, she finds him attractive (The Russia House). He is unsure if he can trust her, because spying is a risky business, but she is a hot piece of a**, therefore worth the risk (The Russia House).In a top secret document, the gentleman discovers dirty business involving British Prime Minister and USA allied (The Ghost Writer). The document contains information about alleged torture of war prisoners. Unmasking the dirt may cause the gentleman serious problems, but he goes ahead (The Ghost Writer). He chooses the woman over his country, moves abroad and lives happily hereafter (The Russia House).To drag along the story a bit longer, a totally irrelevant sub-plot is added. The gentleman has a snobbish, single daughter, who got pregnant after one-week liaison with a "conceptual artist" (very important point, the "conceptual artist"... of course, such a spirited, upper class girl could not possibly get impregnated by a waiter). Since this is a liberal, "gauche-caviar" tale, more dirt is thrown to the direction of Israel, thanks to the Syrian, dove-eyed, beautiful, but emotionally damaged female lead. It must be made crystal clear that the "baddies" are the demoniac triad of USA-British Prime Minister-Israel and the "goodies" are everybody else, inclusive of the Muslim, scarf-wearing secretary.1 point is compulsory, 1 point to the atmospheric photography

The BBC has, over the past few years, quietly slipped out made for TV movies concerning the adventures of ageing ex MI-5 agent Johnny Worricker (Bill Nighy). Now, while they are lower budget and only air on cable (after which they nonchalantly lurk on netflix for a little bit) they are really well produced films that utilize some of the best actors in the business, and definitely deserve more attention than they've been getting. Page Eight is my favorite of of the series, and plays like a slow burning cloak and dagger yarn with shades of Le Carré and just a subtle hint of the 007 aesthetic. This is a story where the espionage lies not in fast cars, gunfights and action set pieces, but in terse conversation, shadowy political intrigue and laconic confrontation. Nighy, who never misses a beat in his work and really blows the mind with both skill and versatility, plays Johnny with a dimming rogues charisma and warmhearted sensibility. He navigates the many people in his life including his daughter (Felicity Jones has a terrific scene with him), ex wife (Alice Krige), old boss (Michael Gambon), and cranky MI-5 colleague (Judy Davis). The plot thickens when a bereaved girl (Rachel Weisz) who suffered the loss of family member in the middle east conflict, comes to Johnny for help. She believes her relative came across a document with some grim implications regarding Britain's involvement over there, and seeks the truth. Johnny dusts off the old spy game manual and does some sleuthing, arousing suspicion of some people in high places, including the sleazy Prime Minister himself (a dry, nasty Ralph Fiennes). The factual plot line is supported by the human element from Weisz and Nighy, each looking for both answers and redemption in their own right. It's a nice little package of a film with a wickedly pleasing finale, and solid work from every actor across the board.

This movie is fun, well-paced, slickly produced, and well-acted...and then the final act happens, and I found myself sputtering for the complete collapse of all involved character's respective motivations, integrity, and believability - someone involved in decision making decided that the movie needed a dopey, unconvincing romantic finish, and decided to completely reject all the character development, plot and, frankly, interesting things that had occurred up until that point, so as to meet it. This was recommended to me by someone who knew my deep appreciation for Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, and I think that recommendation was appropriate until about fifteen minutes before the curtain closed. Just a total disaster.Love the cast, love the feel - but completely disappointing, from an ultimately confused offering.

Yeah, OK I agree with what they all say about the genre, etc etc ... atmosphere, etc ... It is a good story and well-toldI always love watching Bill Nighy (does he play himself or is he just brilliant at that laconic type of character ...?) BUT REALLY must we always have the fresh young girl swooning for the fella old enough to be her GRAND-DAD? Really .. it makes me laugh and sob in equal measure .... the weak link in an otherwise agreeable drama for me .... I don't really have ten lines more to say, as everything else has been said, but if we want a mini-essay on the tragedy of old-men's pathetic fantasy lives I guess I can run to one. Why would that lovely young woman fall for Nighy? Even though I open my review saying he is very watchable, and entertaining I doubt there are many women who would really fall for this character in this context. And we NEVER EVER see a tight-bodied hunk fall for the Judy Dench element, do we, though she is every bit as gorgeous as Bill!