A film for people who are not in a hurry. Great story. Tender performances (Emily Mortimer and Bill Nighy are wonderful). A story of stubborn determination, small village power plays and unexpected allies. Great supporting cast (Young Honor Kneafsey is a stand out). Definitely a movie for book lovers. I give this film an 8 (great) out of 10. {Drama}

War widow Florence Green (Emily Mortimer) decides to open a bookshop in a small English town. She is opposed by the well-connected Violet Gamart (Patricia Clarkson) who wants to use the old house for an art center. Violet is outwardly polite while ruthlessly schemes against her. Edmund Brundish (Bill Nighy) is a wealthy recluse who becomes her greatest supporter.

The tone is a little odd. It's quiet, polite, and pastoral while the reality is underhanded cruel gossip. Emily Mortimer is able to personify that clash of realities. The movie needs more of Patricia Clarkson. It needs to be higher intensity but it becomes a library show. It's quiet and it feels like it's constantly shhhing the audience. It could have been more interesting if Bill Nighy could connect with Mortimer a lot sooner. There are lots of opportunities to raise the tension but the movie stays in that quiet zone for the most part until the climatic explosions.

Once again, I see criticism of a film because it moves to slowly. It a modern curse. I looked one day and found that 25 percent of the films available were based on comic book characters. Most of them involve the same tired martial arts, with overdressed villains who are going to destroy the world. I like escape and enjoy good adventure too, but this is what mainstream cinema seems to have become, so when something introspective comes along it is seen as boring. We've given up the effort to look into the souls of people. Here is the story of a good woman who becomes victimized by a cruel town led by a rich, narcissistic human being. It is slow moving but the message is really striking. Emily Mortimer has so much emotion in her face and manner. For those of you that gave this a single point, perhaps she should have used a round kick and snapped off the old lady's head.