The Waiting Room (2007) Reviews

• Just loved this movie

  PGMHeuts-12009-01-29

  Just loved this movie. Pretends to be nothing more than it is: a beautiful, romantic, (almost) real life portrait of people/couples having their problems and their joys. Good acting - as usual - by Anne-Marie Duff (probably known by most people for playing the Fiona character in the first two seasons of the television series Shameless) and most of the others too. Even though you know - almost from the beginning - how the movie probably is going to end, the way towards reaching this end is paved with interesting scenes about inter-personal relationships in all kind of ways: (married) couples, ex-husband, neighbours, single mother and very intimate and personal (no, not in that way) relationships at work. Everything to me was very convincing. The whole story takes place in a suburban London environment. I can surely recommend this one!

• Love, fate, and being ready to meet the right person

  gradyharp2012-08-30

  In this era of casual relations, one night stands, quick partnering soon broken by separation, divorce as the standard, single parent homes, and all that seems to have replaced longevity in relationships, it is not surprising that Roger Goldby wrote and directed this little British film that deals with all these aspects - and yet leaves a window for redemption open. The film is well cast, stylishly acted, and while it can be a bit tedious at times (sort of the way life is tedious at times) it still manages to leave room for hope that real love can really happen. Anna (Anne-Marie Duff) meets Stephen (Ralf Little) at the train station where the elderly Roger (Frank Finlay) is waiting for his wife. Though words don't really happen there is a chemistry that is evident. But the two part - Anna is divorced from Toby (Adrian Bower) and lives as a single parent with Charlie (Polly Rose McCarthy) and Stephen is living with Fiona (Christine Bottomley) in an emotionally flat line situation: Stephen spends his days working at a nursing home where he relates very strongly with his elderly patient Helen (Phyllida Law). Obviously something is missing in their lives. Next door to Anna lives a couple - George (Rupert Graves) and Jem (Zoe Telford) with one son Joe (Finlay Kenny Tighe) - and Anna is in a sexual relationship with George despite her friendship with Jem. George and Jem are not at all happy: George's affair with Anna is the only glue that holds their marriage together. But Anna obsesses about Stephen (though she doesn't even know his name - his is just 'a lovely man') and when George decides to leave Jem for Anna, Anna confesses she does not love George and makes him return to his role as husband and father, and thanks to the love little Joe has for his Dad and family it looks as though that will last. Meanwhile Stephen confesses to Fiona that he doesn't love her (he is obsessing for the mysterious Anna) and in a series of events and changes and fantasies blended with circumstances and needs Anna and Stephen finally meet again at the train station - or do they??? It is that kind of harsh reality accompanied by loving fantasy that draws us into this very intelligent, distinctive film. The acting is top drawer and the photography and direction make the whole story work. Maybe there is a place of fate or destiny...it is nice to believe in that if only for the duration of a lovely little film. Grady Harp

• Ralf Little has a pee - twice

  kjewitt2009-06-24

  There's nothing I dislike more than male directors pointing cameras at women sitting on the bog. In this film there are two long caressing shots of a naked Ralf little having a wizz. Apart from that, there isn't really enough story to sustain interest for nearly two hours. It would have made a decent soap episode, but the dramatic problem - getting two fairly sensible characters to give up on failed relationships - isn't really big enough for a feature. Acting is good throughout, although RL has "little" to do. Cinematography is excellent and congratulations to all concerned for getting up and doing it. There are far worse things on at the cinema. My favourite bit was the video which the kids kept playing, of Dad on the telly.