Without giving too much away, this is a fairly good movie about a con artist trying to steal millions from an unsuspecting mark... that takes a hard left turn into a very uncomfortable storyline from which it never recovers.
Ian McKellen is an old grifter taking advantage of greedy businessmen and lonely widows alike in The Good Liar, but he may have met his match when he tries to steak Helen Mirren's fortune. If he's not what he seems, neither may she be, and we're kept guessing as to what kind of film this will be. Will it take a comic turn, or a tragic one? Will the criminal be redeemed through love, or will revelations make them impossible and/or undesirable? We're in safe hands with the two leads, as you can well imagine, giving performances that prey on our natural sympathies. I'm a big fan of con artist stories, and this is a good one, but I really do prefer the first two acts and their cat and mouse game, than the revelations that necessarily come in the third. The resolution is satisfying, but the "truth" of what's really happening comes by way of a large spoonful of melodrama, which is hardly my favorite genre.
Liked the early "Talented mr ripley" part feel more but didn't exactly object to the route the film chose to take in the latter half. I think my favorite aspect was the music. You don't get a score like this that often these days.
Could have been so much better. Great performances and an intriguing premise muddied by a confused plot that seem to be hopping between two entirely different stories and ends up failing both of them.
The writing doesn't improve on the worst parts of the book, namely the long exposition after each twist, surprisingly so as I have always found Hatcher's skills at subtle plot writing to be quite the opposite and with far more delicate matters than the ones at play here.
How can a movie fails so badly when the actors, director and writer are all so talented is beyond me.
Add your comment
Comments 1 - 7 of 7
AlbertSnow
Without giving too much away, this is a fairly good movie about a con artist trying to steal millions from an unsuspecting mark... that takes a hard left turn into a very uncomfortable storyline from which it never recovers.chunkylefunga
Fantastic actors, predictable plot.Siskoid
Ian McKellen is an old grifter taking advantage of greedy businessmen and lonely widows alike in The Good Liar, but he may have met his match when he tries to steak Helen Mirren's fortune. If he's not what he seems, neither may she be, and we're kept guessing as to what kind of film this will be. Will it take a comic turn, or a tragic one? Will the criminal be redeemed through love, or will revelations make them impossible and/or undesirable? We're in safe hands with the two leads, as you can well imagine, giving performances that prey on our natural sympathies. I'm a big fan of con artist stories, and this is a good one, but I really do prefer the first two acts and their cat and mouse game, than the revelations that necessarily come in the third. The resolution is satisfying, but the "truth" of what's really happening comes by way of a large spoonful of melodrama, which is hardly my favorite genre.Earring72
Great casted movie with a nice premise that takes a sharp unfortunate left turn in storyline in the final 30minutes.Forzelius
Liked the early "Talented mr ripley" part feel more but didn't exactly object to the route the film chose to take in the latter half. I think my favorite aspect was the music. You don't get a score like this that often these days.boulderman
Never seen a film/script/novel so predictable.I postponed watching it. Then it was on again.
I wasn't up for another film so put this on. 5/10
BadFluffy
Could have been so much better. Great performances and an intriguing premise muddied by a confused plot that seem to be hopping between two entirely different stories and ends up failing both of them.The writing doesn't improve on the worst parts of the book, namely the long exposition after each twist, surprisingly so as I have always found Hatcher's skills at subtle plot writing to be quite the opposite and with far more delicate matters than the ones at play here.
How can a movie fails so badly when the actors, director and writer are all so talented is beyond me.