Richard Gere, Alfred Molina, Eli Wallach

The writer Clifford Irving nearly pulled off one of the most audacious media scams in history when his "autobiography" of Howard Hughes was published. Irving claimed the book was based on in-person in...( read more  read more... )terviews with the reclusive billionaire, but they were, in fact, completely bogus.

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55% liked it

26,036 ratings

Critics

85% liked it

148 critics

R, 1 hr. 55 min.

Directed by: Lasse Hallström

Release Date: April 6, 2007

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DVD Release Date: October 16, 2007

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Stats: 1,913 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,913)


  • July 14, 2009
    good acting, entertaining movie
  • October 15, 2008
    "Bumped by this adolescent coffee boy. My lit professor at Cornell compared me to Hemingway! The middle of my life is at hand, and I don't have a couch."

    ...( read more)>Photobucket

    Upon first seeing the trailer for The Hoax I couldn't help but feel torn as to whether or not I truly wanted to see this film. I'm a fairly big fan of the work of Lasse Hallström, who directed a couple of films - such as What's Eating Gilbert Grape and Chocolat - that left a strong impression on me as a kid. Moreover, I have nothing but respect and admiration for the work of Alfred Molina. However, the two other main actors, Richard Gere and Marcia Gay Harden, have usually left a bad taste in my mouth. With that being said, I read Clifford Irving's novel of the same name and thoroughly enjoyed it, so I went to see The Hoax... essentially void of any form of expectations.

    The film tells the story of author Clifford Irving (Gere) and his attempts to create an entirely fabricated, yet purportedly authentic biography of the reclusive Howard Hughes. Counting on the fact that Hughes had not made a public appearance in slightly over a decade, Irving enlists the aid of friend and author Dick Suskind (Molina) in creating a believable stratagem that would be accepted by the public as truth. Utilizing handwriting samples, newspaper articles, and any other sources at hand, the pair builds a story that will garner them untold wealth. Upon selling the story to a major publishing firm, however, the reclusive Hughes comes out of hiding to reveal the truth, or lack thereof, of Irving's tale. From there, Irving must find a means to both protect himself whilst struggling to remove himself from the illusionary world of lies and deception that had been created by his pseudo-tale.

    It's difficult for me to admit this, based on my five or six years of distaste in his acting abilities, but Richard Gere completely redeemed himself with his turn as the clever and deceptive Clifford Irving. He captured the role and character perfectly, creating a man who was flawed and cocky, yet entirely likeable and empathetic. As Gere was on-screen for the bulk of the duration of the film this was very important, and I have no real complaints here. In addition to Gere, Molina was also brilliant, providing excellent support and some welcome comic relief throughout the film. His character was perhaps the most likeable of the film, though this is more in praise of his turn than a knock on Gere.

    The supporting cast was a mixed bag. Marcia Gay Harden was, for the most part, annoying. Her character was strong, but her faux European accent was laughably bothersome and her redeeming qualities were few and far between. Eli Wallach, Hope Davis, Stanley Tucci, and Julie Delpy all provided good turns in limited roles, though, and offset Harden's character for the most part. I was particularly impressed in Wallach's turn, as he was not particularly important to the crux of the film, yet his statements and actions made the film significantly stronger and well-rounded.

    The soundtrack and costume design, which I do not believe are ever mentioned in the same sentence (I'm fairly certain I, at least, have never done this) work quite well together in creating a 1970s atmosphere. The score and supporting movements worked well in establishing tone and mood throughout the film, which is actually quite the chore given the alternating moments of drama and comedy. The clothing, hairstyles, and environment as a whole merely accentuated this strength, fully immersing the viewer in the United States of the 1970s.

    The Hoax is also very well shot and edited, with the sequences of Irving's deceptions working quite well and maintaining a fair amount of drama, if not suspense. Everything flowed very well, and the intermittent clips of Hughes and Richard Nixon fit in seamlessly, adding a great deal to what was already a terrific film. It's action-adventure, mystery, intrigue, road trip and history; it's a wild ride. Based on a true story by a certified liar. How can anyone not enjoy this?
  • October 10, 2008
    This was quite alright actually, despite the fact that I can't stand Richard Gere.
  • September 27, 2008
    enjoyable perfomance by Gere
  • April 19, 2008
    Despite the incredibly deceitful nature of the Clifford Irving character you, eventually, find yourself empathizing with him and admiring his cunning.
  • October 31, 2009
    Not as well-put together as "The Informant", which I found to be funnier and more entertaining, but just as crazy.
  • October 18, 2009
    Way better then I was expecting.A good movie
  • April 23, 2009
    Great! I love this film. Richard Gere did a great job in this film. The only character that I didn't like was Alfred Molina. I find him annoying in the film but the rest is good. The film was about Clifford Irving and the Hoax he made about Howard Hughes. The movie "The Aviator" ...( read more)is also about Howard Hughes. Both film did well.
  • April 7, 2009
    I can't fathom anyone being so cheeky & audacious as Clifford Irving! Dick Suskind he used like a puppet and his wife, Edith... I don't know what she was but he didn't treat her like a decent man treats his wife that he claims to love. And I STILL don't understand WTF was up wi...( read more)th his little whore, Nina??? Maybe the back story on that got left on the cutting room floor, eh?

    Not only did Irving manifest (with jumbo coconut balls, no doubt) the hoax about Howard Hughs but even after that was exposed, he used The Hoax as his subject matter to write a legitimate book! He's a f*cking CATFISH(scum-sucking bottom feeder)!!!

    This is one of those stories that proves truth can be stranger and harder to believe than fiction!

    It (the movie, NOT Clifford Irving) was likable and informative but not life-altering. 2.5 Stars
  • March 25, 2009
    pretty confusing movie

Critic Reviews


September 1, 2007
Claudia Puig, USA Today

Highly entertaining. full review

August 3, 2007
Nigel Andrews, The Financial Times

A two-dimensional landscape. full review

April 20, 2007
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

Hallström stops well short of cheesy, however, and he never veers from the movie's central fascination: the author's obsessive melding with his subject. full review

April 7, 2007
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and Hallström and Wheeler have a great time setting up and embroidering Irving's increasingly elaborate scheme. full review

April 6, 2007
Pete Hammond, Maxim

Sharp, smart, sophisticated and witty. Trust us. This is no fake praise!" full review

April 6, 2007
A.O. Scott, The New York Times

The literary and journalistic frauds of the present era are small potatoes compared to the work of Clifford Irving, the subject of The Hoax.

April 5, 2007
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

An entertaining blend of drama and comedy, and a powerhouse performance by Richard Gere as a man running a mile a minute on charm and hokum. full review

April 4, 2007
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Richard Gere, nearly unrecognizable with blackened hair and a fake nose, gives one of his very best performances as Clifford Irving. full review

April 2, 2007
Anthony Lane, The New Yorker

So sure is Hallström's pacing that you barely notice the withering moral of the tale: when the money is big enough, everyone is a mug. full review

April 2, 2007
David Edelstein, New York Magazine

It's bracing to see a grand con-man comedy like The Hoax, in which our moral universe is affirmed, and yet the fabled trickster Clifford Irving -- who wrote a fraudulent autobiography of Howard Hughes... full review

View more The Hoax reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • InfamousHu
    May 5, 2007
    Well if they didnt make a movie cause it had a similar plot to another film I dont think we'd see any movies anymore. Come on.
  • ElDuderinoLebowski
    April 27, 2007
    Both films deal with fakery, but in a different sense. I personally prefer The Hoax, as it's a bit more entertaining than Catch Me, If You Can, and it wasn't as overlong.
  • reza99
    April 6, 2007
    The Hoax and Catch Me If You Can don't have the same story...watch the trailer, it's pretty evident with that.
  • buzzingfly22
    April 4, 2007
    Why did they make another movie about this? "catch me if you can" was about this too

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The Hoax Trivia


  • In the movie Bewitched, when Jack is under the love hoax he tells Isabel she looks...  Answer »
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  • What does Clifford Irving do in the film The Hoax ?  Answer »
  • Who is the biography suppose to be of in The Hoax ?  Answer »

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