It's been a while since I’ve seen a film that operates with such understated grace, which is why I consider this among the stronger examples of what I like to refer to as “quiet” movies. Bill Nighy consistently delivers impressive performances when portraying characters who communicate through subtle expressions and hushed tones; The Girl in the Cafe comes to mind, where he also takes on the role of a government empl…

I don’t typically care for Bill Nighy's work, but here he delivers an exceptional performance. This is an adaptation of Kurosawa's "Ikuru" (1952), relocated to London, where Nighy portrays the meticulous “Mr. Williams.” He’s a civil servant who leads the public works department for the London County Council. His small team welcomes some fresh energy with “Mr. Wakeling” (Alex Sharp), whose introduction to the departme…