luciakristina

A wonderfully gentle, realistic little slice of life in a West Country English village. Neither a shallow sitcom nor a slapstick cheapie, talk prevails over action. A group of wonderful middle aged and older actresses join together giving this the professional backbone it deserves. Frequently humorouous, but written as gentle and subtle conversation rather than smart one-liners. A reminder that kindness and humour, even sarcasm, can go well together.

I imagine the series wouldn't translate well into an American setting, it should be enjoyed in it's original, albeit slightly eccentric setting.

Coben's books are all eerily alike, and sadly, this movie adaption is no exception. Boring and formulaic from the get go, it never recovers. No character development, subtlety or surprises. I tried hard to ignore my prejudice against American crime fiction (James Patterson being the worst offender). At least Coben seems to write the books himself, but at this stage I reckon I could write the next one... maybe an easy way to make those elusive millions without actually having to put in the hard work? Dreams are free...however, I'd be boring myself, I've read too many excellent - predominsnzly British - whodunnits. By all accounts, American audiences are looking for different fare.

Why this perceived need for remaking excellent British programmes into inferior US versions? Watch the original with American "subtitles" if you must. Is it to prove that you can do everything better (you can't)? That the original milieu/nuance/screenplay doesn't translate? That the characters aren't credible? Or do American audiences not accept "foreign" productions?

Emotional complexity is lost, action supercedes dialogue and the music is trite. In other words, the usual. Where is Olivia Coleman when she is so desperately needed? Mumbled "I love you"s do not make up for expressive silences or looks.

Sad.