Heartless

Just seen this on Amazon and added it to My List, Angus Deaton in a film who'd have thought it I most definitely wouldn't? I just had to give it a shot especially with the description of his character, as and I quote, Handome, Charming and Gregarious.

Quite frankly about the only person likely to consider him as Handsome would be Angus Deaton, because that's his opinion of himself every time that he gazes in the mirror.

The first time that I clapped eyes on Angus Deaton was on the television programme, Have I Got News for You as the Chair, along with the head panellists of Paul Merton and Ian Hislop. He was in the show for a while and I firmly expected him to remain as the permanent show chair, and indeed I got the strongest impression at the time, that I wasn't the only one who felt that including Angus Deaton himself. But eventually he left the post and the show itself, which he seemed to take as a personal slight as he considered himself irreplaceable.

But the show has kept on for Series after Series without him at the helm, have virtually a recyclable or revolving chair occupied by different personnel from show to show.

The other telly show that I've seen him in was One Foot in the Grave as a next door neighbour to the eponymous Victor Meldrew, I must say that I liked him in that comedy programme. Which is one of my all time favourite comedies, they were I feel ideally cast as awkward neighbours, being almost mirror images of each other as characters.

Viewing this movie I am not altogether surprised to see that it's a TV film especially as I can scarcely imagine one featuring Angus Deaton, making much of a fuss at any self respecting high street cinema.

His character Harry Holland is an extremely vain, pompous, self opinionated, barrister, he declares himself as a "Divorce Lawyer" a term that's also used here on IMDb, it is not surprising to see it here as this an American website, but no self respecting British barrister would dream of calling himself a lawyer.

Holland needs a heart transplant after suffering a severe heart attack, afterwards he feels compelled to know the identity of the donor and promptly heads, north of the border in search of as much information that he can gather into his benefactor.

Possibly the best source of local colour may or not be Rick the editor of the local rag, who once Holland gives him the gist of his search promptly considers that Hollands story, may well the nearest chance that he'll ever have of getting onto a local gravy train.

Something that is absolutely guaranteed to put me right off even a half way OK movie is slush, and this film perambulated along its merry way until, well rather like Harry Hollands ticker it hit the skids. Quite frankly one of the worst people that I could possibly even imagine, as any kind of (oh dear) romantic leading man is Angus Deaton.

UNfortunately it is movies like these that make English retirees move and populate Scotland ! Absolute trite and as far removed from reality as you can imagine it . However I do not regonise the spot and would appreciate if someone could identify , to me it was a collage of places and not set in one spot.Acting was good however and Angus very convincing . Suppourting cast was staid and totally without true interest. As ssiad before if pople think this is true Scotland then they need to look again !.

Overall- trite !!these sort of movies funded bu Scottish money but do the reverse for Scotland !!

This was a good movie.

The cast were excellent.

Simone Lahbib played a great part.

The movie gave me fond memories of Scotland, i actually thought it was filmed on the Isle of Skye when you have a picturesque scenery, around the lochs of Scotland .

The friendly nature of Scottish people, your half way there.

I think the previous comments did not reflect the true spirit of the movie.

I was amazed the movie was filmed at East Kilbride

May be not a complete waste of one and a half hours, but I can think of plenty of better ways to spend the time. In fairness though this one off TV drama did have a couple of things going for it, the beautiful scenery for one, and the acting wasn't all that bad.

The problem I had with it though was the script, painfully predictable, and it had been done before. In essence there was not much need to watch the program, the advertising trailer pretty much gave you all you need to know to plot the course of the story from beginning to end.

However I managed to sit through it, and I must admit at some points laughing at the humour, the dog incident and the small Scottish band were notable moments. They could not save it though. There were small glimpses that the cast and crew were trying to produce something with meaning and purpose, in fact the only reason I can think of for why they had Angus Deayton with that ridiculous hair cut was to make him look uglier, but in the end the inevitable predictability of it all was its down coming.

...including the sublime, divine Simone Lahbib. Here all dark and wind-blown. Exotic. Earthy. Really, the woman is a chameleon. I've yet to see her play anything near the same role twice. And the only reason I've seen her in as much brit TV as I have, most of it unavailable in the states, is the kindness of fellow "Bad Girls" fans. Thank you. Aye, I'd watch her in anything.

This film has some of the quirk and fey scots charm of the series "Monarch of the Glen"...which Ms. Lahbib also graced for a season.

A simple little romantic comedy for TV, it reminds one a bit of the movie written and directed by actress Bonnie Hunt, "Return to Me," since the plot involves a heart transplant recipient unaccountably drawn towards the widowed partner of the deceased.

The music is lovely and will stick in your head afterwards. It's a confection light as candy floss (or the recurring balloons sent over the loch)but there are some genuine heartfelt moments that will stay with you. Though even romantic comedy in Scottish hands has something of a brash in-your-face tone to it.