Pegged as a Rom-Com unfortunately they forgot to bring the funny (to quote Josh Lyman).  Still, as all romances get pegged as Rom-Coms these days that could be excused if the script and cast could carry it through.  Oh dear.  Unfortunately while the plot had some measure of promise (in a cinematic version of easy-listening kind of way) the script really didn’t deliver, Cameron Diaz managed to play a character you couldn’t warm to at all, and English actors and scenes set in England all had the feel of having been written by an American (cow in the back yard?  tsk!) .  The star performance for me was that of 91 year old Eli Wallach who as Arthur was convincing and heart-warming.  The relationship between him and Kate Winslet‘s Iris was the only one that really convinced and showed more promise than the typical Hollywood shag ‘n’ runs that the rest felt like.  If only we could have spent more time with them rather than darting too and fro between overwrought dumped women in shiny LA and cutesy Surrey.  Oh, and is it just me, or does it never snow like that in Surrey at Christmas time?  Bah Humbug, straight back to Love Film for this one, send something better next time please.
The Holiday [DVD] from Amazon (if you really want to buy it)

I’ll say this quietly, my brother is a genius.  I’ll also quickly qualify that by saying only when it comes to selecting DVDs for me.  Iain is on a mission to educate me, and likes to buy me boxed sets.  I also like this, though when he gets something really stunning, it can get expensive.  This was the case when he bought me Season 1 of West Wing, which then forced me to buy the next six seasons.

My latest pressie was “Lie to Me”, which had also been recommended by another film ‘n’ TV buff friend.  I can only say this series is genius on a similar level to West Wing.  I would have bought and watched season 2 immediately only it’s not out yet.

The basic premise is an expert in the field of lying, and identifying when people are lying, helping various government departments to solve crimes, prevent terrorism and generally save the world.  The show starts Tim Roth, who manages to convey a troubled yet funny, flippant but deep character who comes across as utterly arrogant and yet inexplicably likeable.  Trying to pigeon hole his character, Dr. Cal Lightman, is like nailing jelly to the wall.  I still don’t know why I liked the character so much, yet I do.

From what I can make out, the science behind the show is mostly real, and only lightly embellished, which is just as well, as we have been busy trying to apply some of the techniques (result = complete failure mostly).  BBC One’s “Would I Lie to You?” has never been the same since.  Looking for micro-expressions and “tells” is fun, if rather futile with neither training or natural ability (a distinction the show explores nicely).

The science is fascinating, the characters (especially the lead) compelling and the plots – well, they’re mostly vehicles for the rest, but throughout the series proved interesting and well put together, though you can see some fairly extensive dramatic license being used in some otherwise worryingly believable stories.

If Kirsty Young banished me to my desert Island tomorrow I would be very tempted to take this series with me as my luxury.  I shall be buying the next one, so another expensive present, thanks brother dear…

Lie To Me – Season 1 [DVD] [2009]

Lie to Me – Season 2 [DVD] [2010]