The Good Liar

Name: The Good Liar
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime
Released: November 15, 2019
Duration: 109 min
Rating: 55
Cast: Aleksandar Jovanovic, Bessie Carter, Celine Buckens, Dino Kelly, Helen Mirren

2019

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 31 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 72 Ratings

See All

5.5

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

5.5	Your Score
5.5	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 72 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

The Good Liar: Let The Game Begin (Trailer)

Now Playing: The Good Liar: Let The Game Begin (Trailer)

Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. | Release Date: November 15, 2019 | R

Starring: Aleksandar Jovanovic, Bessie Carter, Celine Buckens, Dino Kelly, Helen Mirren, Ian McKellen, Jacqueline Ramnarine, Jag Patel, Jim Carter, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Julian Ferro, Laurie Davidson, Lily Dodsworth-Evans, Lucian Msamati, Mark Lewis Jones, Michael Culkin, Nell Williams, Patrick Godfrey, Phil Dunster, Russell Tovey, Ruth Horrocks, Sonia Goswami, Tunji Kasim

Summary: Career con artist Roy Courtnay (Ian McKellen) can hardly believe his luck when he meets well-to-do widow Betty McLeish (Helen Mirren) online. As Betty opens her home and life to him, Roy is surprised to find himself caring about her, turning what should be a cut-and-dry swindle into the most treacherous tightrope walk of his life.

Director: Bill Condon

Genre(s): Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 109 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

The Guardian Peter Bradshaw

Nov 7, 2019

This movie rattles along with terrific energy and dash and the flashback sequences show that it’s actually far more daring and ambitious that you might expect. It’s a great duel between McKellen and Mirren. Read full review

Moira Macdonald

Nov 14, 2019

As a movie, The Good Liar is just so-so, but as a master class in performance and star quality, it’s a pleasure. Read full review

Kenneth Turan

Nov 14, 2019

Perhaps the biggest bit of fakery involved is that for all its twistiness, The Good Liar’s plot, which can be more than a little frustrating, is as much of a liability as a benefit in a production where the characters turn out to be more involving than their story. Read full review

Phil de Semlyen

Nov 15, 2019

Director Bill Condon (Gods and Monsters) can do this stuff with his eyes closed, and sometimes it feels like he might be doing that as the plot chugs from London to Berlin and secrets are duly uncovered. But there’s enough visual flair to elevate things above standard genre fare. Read full review

Jim Slotek

Nov 14, 2019

A preposterous mess of romance-with-secrets, generations-old closet skeletons and revenge, The Good Liar is the kind of fragrant dramatic cheese that Sidney Sheldon would have squeezed an ‘80s network mini-series out of. But the never-before-paired screen couple of Ian McKellen and Helen Mirren consume this cheese like so much scenery. There’s nothing like actors with gravitas slumming, all bemused smiles and droll delivery, even as the material descends clunkily into unintentional comedy. Read full review

Richard Roeper

Nov 14, 2019

While Mirren and McKellen are as wonderful as you’d expect, especially in the early going when their respective characters are just getting to know one another, even these two legendary talents can’t overcome a convoluted, unfocused and increasingly implausible storyline. Read full review

Joe Morgenstern

Nov 14, 2019

The calculation couldn’t be clearer. Put two superb performers together — they don’t get superber than Helen Mirren and Ian McKellen — and you’re on your way to making an exceptional movie. Not so fast, though. The Good Liar is calculation from arch start to hollow finish. Read full review

SEE ALL 31 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

DawdlingPoet

Dec 29, 2021

I liked this film for the final plot twist at the end and also as both of the main cast members are big names and its nice to see them working with one another. The idea of McKellen as a retired conman is somewhat appealing and the way the plot turns out is quite satisfying - I won't sayI liked this film for the final plot twist at the end and also as both of the main cast members are big names and its nice to see them working with one another. The idea of McKellen as a retired conman is somewhat appealing and the way the plot turns out is quite satisfying - I won't say anymore, so as not to provide big spoilers. Yes I'd recommend this film.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

foxgrove

Nov 21, 2019

Predictably well acted and a generally good yarn, but it lacks the compelling urgency that made the book so riveting a read. The twists are good, but somewhat signposted even if you haven't read the novel. Also the flashbacks tend to slow the plot and the action down reducing one's tenuousPredictably well acted and a generally good yarn, but it lacks the compelling urgency that made the book so riveting a read. The twists are good, but somewhat signposted even if you haven't read the novel. Also the flashbacks tend to slow the plot and the action down reducing one's tenuous involvement even further.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

GreatMartin

Nov 15, 2019

Go into the theatre, buy your popcorn (or not) sit down for 109 minutes and be entertained by two charismatic, professional stars as they do their job. When you leave the theatre don't start questioning the screenplay by Jeffrey Hatcher, based on the novel by Nicholas Searle, because some ofGo into the theatre, buy your popcorn (or not) sit down for 109 minutes and be entertained by two charismatic, professional stars as they do their job. When you leave the theatre don't start questioning the screenplay by Jeffrey Hatcher, based on the novel by Nicholas Searle, because some of it didn't make any sense.

Bill Condon directs the two stars in sparkling locations and backdrops whether it be in London or Berlin. Time frames are today and back in the 1940s and, thankfully, the younger actors playing the older ones are real and not movie 'magic'.

Talking about that it seems most movies today have flashbacks when in most cases the movie can be told in linear fashion whereas in this movie we do have to go back to explain the present.

Is it a love story? A story about scams? Con artists? A comedy? Drama? A mystery thriller? Are the people who they say are? It is all of these and yet when you leave the theatre all you will remember is Helen Mirren's smile and Ian McKellen's hangdog face plus their playing off and to each other.

"The Good Liar" is just an entertaining movie, except for two quick violent scenes (unless violence entertains you), that was a perfect way to spend this very rainy afternoon.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

charles19

Nov 17, 2019

There is something very unsatisfying about this movie. I expected that such accomplished leads would be able to carry off just about anything but I was wrong! It starts off very slow, and to its credit picks up by the half way mark, but the ending leaves one feeling empty. Also, IThere is something very unsatisfying about this movie. I expected that such accomplished leads would be able to carry off just about anything but I was wrong! It starts off very slow, and to its credit picks up by the half way mark, but the ending leaves one feeling empty. Also, I anticipated the final major plot twist before its exposition so it was all anticlimactic. I personally think this was a waste of time, a couple of hours that could have been spent on just about anything else.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

KenR

Sep 9, 2021

When a movie features a scene where the two aging stars go to a cinema to watch a Quinton Tarantino film you sort of know what to expect from the ensuing screenplay and, it’s exactly as you might expect. Just as Tarantino copies everyone else’s movies this overreaching con job copies theWhen a movie features a scene where the two aging stars go to a cinema to watch a Quinton Tarantino film you sort of know what to expect from the ensuing screenplay and, it’s exactly as you might expect. Just as Tarantino copies everyone else’s movies this overreaching con job copies the copier. Chock full of un-surprising surprises this stylized mess ticks all the director’s boxes, gay collaborators, bloody moments of needless gore, a con within a con that’s too clever for its own good – which just might leave analytical members of the audience wishing it would stop outstaying its welcome. The two stars are worthy of a far better script than this prawn head dressed up in a Lobster’s shell - even with its stylish cinematography and moody Carter Burwell score, it’s a disappointment. Another for those who gloss over the surface of their entertainment, without thinking all that much about it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MaxPayneIsGod

Feb 8, 2022

Intriguing premise, and great actors let down with an awful payoff which left the 4 of us, 2 which were over 70, turning to each other wondering why the hell they went "there" A 100% missable snore-fest

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Alexb48

Jul 2, 2020

This movie was boring and predictable from the start and progressed into being a grossly over emphasized portrayal of a minor's sexual assault. Both the directors were men, so I don't know why they thought they should tackle the issue of women being sexually assaulted, but they did, and itThis movie was boring and predictable from the start and progressed into being a grossly over emphasized portrayal of a minor's sexual assault. Both the directors were men, so I don't know why they thought they should tackle the issue of women being sexually assaulted, but they did, and it unsurprisingly fails to be tasteful or to give the victim any sort of depth or complexity in her character AT ALL. Also who tf still makes nazi movies? Clearly negative thought was put into this movie and for the gratuitous assault scene alone it deserves 0 stars.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

SEE ALL 24 REVIEWS