SummaryInspired by true events, this film stars Richard Gere as Clifford Irving, a charismatic and charming writer who persuades the world that he is the authorized biographer for the reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes. (Miramax Films)
SummaryInspired by true events, this film stars Richard Gere as Clifford Irving, a charismatic and charming writer who persuades the world that he is the authorized biographer for the reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes. (Miramax Films)
The Hoax is a great ****'s just a little silly,however. But Richard Gere is great. It's one of his best movies. I highly recommend it:So don't miss it.
Entertaining and piquant. The film does possess some of the bittersweet qualities that usually mark Hallstrom's films, but it's generally a tougher, more incisive work that ranks as one of his best.
Hugely entertaining because director Lasse Hallstrom and screenwriter William Wheeler have greatly embellished the "truth" in Irving's book about the hoax.
It's pretty perverse for William Wheeler, who scripted this feature, to get most of the facts wrong, inflating details that don't need any spin. (As Irving himself remarked, "You could call it a hoax about a hoax.")
A film about an impressive hoax that uses the con man's dubious memories as source material.
In and of itself it sounded intriguing and at the same time hilarious, and while the film doesn't have much impact, it delivers in one crucial aspect, entertainment. It's already a relatively old film, but among all the films Richard Gere has been in over the last 20 years, I think it's one of his most interesting performances. A discreet movie to be honest, but I didn't mind watching it.
The Hoax is nothing like you'd expect. Sort of like the very definition of the title. Hey! There's your first clue. They are getting things right.
The Hoax
Lasse Hallstrom, the director, is an optimistic fellow. He has to be. Or so he projects himself as. Armed with a bizarre true story and even ridiculously funny script. The film easily has ten moments, steps in each act of the film that drops your jaw in the air. Now, that is a good script. But I think what Lasse does here is something much smarter and efficient. You'd think that after a while, the shock therapy would grow weary. But where there were supposed to be "mehs" there is perpetually an awe. And his first way in, is through the pace. It moves with a ferocious speed, even at times neglecting characters and their priorities. Lucky for them, they have a great cast and equally great performances in their side, especially Alfred Molina as the "co-author". There is another major improvement in the film and it is how meticulous it is. You'd think that a film like such, of such genre, that displays time passing by rapidly will rely upon montage sequences and a train of various scenarios whooshing in front of us. And instead we get proper hand picked set pieces driving carelessly in this safe street. Which makes me think about the genre, now. "The comedy" genre of the film is actually a major contributor in the dramatic elements. We get the essence of sketchy scenes. Now, where we draw lines in comic films are completely different then where we would draw in dramatic ones. Lasse pushes back and forth between these genres to make the most absurd plot swallow with delight in our face and the most mundane requirement feel like responsibility. That is what it all comes to, responsibility.
Production Company
Miramax,
Bob Yari Productions,
The Mark Gordon Company,
City Entertainment,
Yari Film Group (YFG),
H2L Media Group,
Mutual Film Company,
Stratus Film Co.