Imagine Stephen Poliakoff had started writing a script for a film, and half way through the script was stolen by the writers of The League of Gentleman.

This is such a difficult film to review, because there is so much going on, it's probably one of the most random films you'll ever see.

When you watch it, you'll keep waiting for the moment where the twist come, only they don't stop at one twist, they deliver countless twists.

Roald Dahl would have absolutely loved it, the kind of story that would have played around in his genius mind, it plays out like a movie version of an episode it Tales of the Unexpected.

The story is subjective, you'll either love it or hate it, personally I loved it. It's one of those films I got into, and forgot everything in the world, I got utterly absorbed into it.

The acting was sensational, Helen Mirren forever dazzles, McKellan left me speechless, the combination of these two was delectable.

Beautifully filmed and put together, the historical sequences looked tremendous.

A few laughs, a few shocks, I could easily sit through this again.

Loved it, 9/10.

I've always loved films where the tables are turned. Here we have a supreme con-artist, McKellen, setting his sights on well to do Helen Mirren. McKellen has been running an investment scheme and he works his magic on Ms. Mirren. The problem for him is that he is so overconfident that he doesn't sense the dangerous game he is playing. He and Jim Carter (Downton Abbey) are not just successes but are sadistic as well. The acting is superb from these experienced thespians. I knew that this wasn't going to be about a devastated old woman or a man who sees the error of his ways, so I rubbed my hands together and waited. I was not disappointed.

There were a few reasons for wanting to see 'The Good Liar' in the first place. The premise sounded fascinating and the sort that is right up my street. Of all the stories of the films released a couple of weeks ago, that for 'The Good Liar' was the one that intrigued me most. Have liked some of Bill Condon's other work, especially 'Gods and Monsters' and 'Kinsey'. Am someone who loves Ian McKellen and Helen Mirren (especially McKellen),two of Britain's national treasures, in intriguing roles for them.

Seeing it with my mother, who also likes very much this type of film, a big part of me really enjoyed 'The Good Liar' and found more good things than not so good things. The performances of the two leads being the strongest asset. Did think that with a better final act in particular, where it does fall apart somewhat, it could have been a better film than it turned out to be though. It actually should have been a better film than it turned out.

As said, there are things done well. McKellen and Mirren are both great here, they have both given better performances sure but they have challenging and quite different material for them and they both overcome the hurdles with aplomb and with nuance (even in parts that aren't as dialogue-heavy),charm and intensity. McKellen's material is more difficult, as it is a departure role for him and it must have been hard trying to make a character where one can see what Betty sees in him when it is obvious early on that he is not one to trust. The two sparkle together and looks as though they're worked with each other for years, one thinks from the beginning that it would be a typical romantic comedy but it turns out to be much more than that. The acting throughout from all is very good, Russell Tovey particularly good.

Other strengths are the photography, whether in the slickly and beautifully filmed present day scenes or the darker and grittier hue of the 1940s scenes, nice varied use of locations (the period detail in the flashbacks showing that a lot of homework was done recreating the period) and Carter Burwell's brooding score. The script on the most part very much intrigues and is darkly funny when needed and charming when needed. The story entertains and compels enough, especially in the scenes detailing what Roy is really up to. The writers clearly had a lot of fun with Roy and it is evident on screen and Betty is a sensitive contrast.

For all those good things however, there are debits. The darker tone of the second half is too much of a juxtaposition that it becomes feeling too much like a different film. Still attention grabbing sure but a bit jarring. 'The Good Liar' has two big plot twists. The first one coming off quite a lot better, it was more predictable as there is a lot of foreshadowing and suspicion before the scene happens, but the scene was still quite suspenseful in particularly the build up.

Where the film is particularly let down is with two things. The train station scene requires some serious suspension of disbelief and happens too much by chance, what should have been quite a tense scene and it began like that ends in a truly absurd way with too much sheer luck when this close to being caught. The final twenty five minutes or so, with the second plot twist, is more surprising but it is introduced too suddenly and the whole ending was just far too melodramatic in an again too juxtaposed way and quite silly.

In conclusion, liked it on the most part but expected more considering how good the premise was. It could have been potentially very good if the final act was significantly less flawed. 6.5-7/10