The Hoax (2007)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Bob S

  
  enjoyable perfomance by Gere

• Richard C

  
  B

• Arash X

  
  "Never let the truth get in the way of a good story"

• paul s

  
  an intertaining film with some masterful directing touches by Lasse, but in the end I couldn't get over the David Suskind charactor - just too hyped up, and those bizarre non-sequitors - really drove this from an 8-9 down to a 7. The story itself and the way in which it was… More
  an intertaining film with some masterful directing touches by Lasse, but in the end I couldn't get over the David Suskind charactor - just too hyped up, and those bizarre non-sequitors - really drove this from an 8-9 down to a 7. The story itself and the way in which it was told is fascinating. Gere does a nice job in conveying the false bravado and inspired obsession of the Irving charactor, though I found his scenes with Gay Harden somewhat flat and emotionally false (which in part may have been intentional, as he was disolving into a maismus of his own deceptions - did he even believe his own feelings were genuine, or was he living through others, as his channelling of Hughes suggests). The way in which this, sometimes simple "people will believe what they want to believe" theme compeats with the bizantine manipulations of the almost absent (until absolutely neccessary) Hughes, is no easy task; yet Lasse juggles it all pretty well in final analysis. I enjoyed the visual in the magazine office, amidst all the "important" photos - Suskind does a melt-down while standing in front of the famous Hindenburg Disaster photo - my vieving partners missed it and were wondering at my horse laugh.

• Fernando Rafael Q

  
  Directed by Lasse Hallström, THE HOAX is a movie that stands out because of its clever, rich script and its classic look. The cast is fine (but could've been better) with Alfred Molina and Stanley Tucci being the best, closely followed by Marcia Gay Harden and Richard Gere..

• Michael S

  
  One of the best films of the year., and surprisingly very entertaining. Great career best performances by both Richard Gere and Alfred Molina. Highly Recommended.

• Stella D

  
  well done. good story and nice work by gere and molina

• James A

  
  A pretty good straight forward telling of Clifford Irving's book. To bad the end has a cheesy scene that tarnished my liking slightly of said movie.

• William D

  
  [size=3]The Hoax is an enjoyable tale about true events from the 1970s. While the film starts out pretty thin, it thickens as it goes.[/size] [size=3]At the outset, The Hoax narrowly focuses on the chain of events, but gradually it grows into a meditation on and to some degree a… More
  [size=3]The Hoax is an enjoyable tale about true events from the 1970s. While the film starts out pretty thin, it thickens as it goes.[/size] [size=3]At the outset, The Hoax narrowly focuses on the chain of events, but gradually it grows into a meditation on and to some degree a send-up of the 1970s. Only in that zany, madcap decade could something like this have happened, the film seems to imply. And I support that notion.[/size] [size=3][img]http://www.videodetective.com/photos/954/040069_41135.jpg[/img][/size] [size=3]Richard Gere, who plays the lead, does a pretty remarkable job. It's certainly his best work ever. But that's not saying much, because he's never been much of an actor, at least not in my book. But here he gives a real acting performance. The character of Clifford Irving really does come alive.[/size] [size=3]Irving wrote a memoir upon which the film is based. The story centers on his stunning near-success at pulling off possibly the biggest charade of the decade. He one day announces to a major publisher that Howard Hughes had contacted him for help in writing an autobiography. Irving completely made this up.[/size] [size=3]Hughes at the time was a figure of major popular fascination, and word of the book spread like wild fire. It's hard to describe that level of fascination to someone who didn't live through it. Interestingly, Hughes is no longer a figure in the popular imagination. But at the time he was as big a name as Jackie Kennedy. I'm not sure we have people like that anymore. I just can't see any announced autobiographies creating a stir like that today. There was something essentially 1970s about it.[/size] [size=3][/size] [size=3]Irving's announement led to the biggest advances in publishing history up to that time. And it truly is fascincating to see how this man goes about providing phony evidence of a relationship with Hughes. Irving does end up writing a book, although much of it was based on an unpublished manuscript by one of Hughes's former colleagues.[/size] [size=3]The most fascinating scenes are when Irving starts imitating Hughes, recording fake interviews. He does it so well that it's almost eerie. Watching Gere channel Irving channelling Hughes was quite amazing.[/size] [size=3]Watching the employees at the book publisher try to suss out the truth and then get caught up in the frenzy was a joy. There's a scene when Hughes is supposed to be flying in via helicopter to attend a meeting at the publishing company. Irving arranges for a helicopter to approach the midtown Manhattan skyscraper but then turn around, as if Hughes had changed his mind. The anticipation for the landing was hilarious, with employees out on the roof scanning the sky for signs of Hughes. They scream as they see an aircraft approaching. The look on their faces when the helicopter turns around was precious. This is the best sequence in the film.[/size] [size=3]Alfred Molina brings a lot of comic relief all throughout the film as Irving's partner in crime. He also brings gravity as the weight of the lies bares down on him more painfully than it does on Irving.[/size] [size=3]But ultimately the film is not a major work of art. It's enjoyable, and it does have some inspired, meaningful commentary on the 1970s and on the American fascination with celebrity and "reclusive geniuses." But I wouldn't say it's a first-rate film or a must-see. I'm sure everyone would enjoy The Hoax, but I don't think anyone would be deeply impacted by it.[/size]

• Aaron N

  
  A true story about a fake. There is so much outrageous material to be seen in this movie, that it could only be based on a true story for it to seem plausible. Richard Gere stars as Clifford Irving, a writer who decides to fake an qutobiography of Howard Hughes by claiming to know… More
  A true story about a fake. There is so much outrageous material to be seen in this movie, that it could only be based on a true story for it to seem plausible. Richard Gere stars as Clifford Irving, a writer who decides to fake an qutobiography of Howard Hughes by claiming to know him, have talked to him, and done interviews with him. Alfred Molina plays his friend and researcher, and the two have great chemistry together. The actual process is given a lot more technical details to make it seem less outrageous than a plot synopsis would seem, but it is still wild how this actually happened. Gere, who I never really particularly liked, probably gives one of his best performances in this film as Irving. He is a man who lies all the time, and it hurts him inside, but he does it anyway. Molina is also very good as the conscience figure. There are other good cast members as well, including Stanley Tucci who is hilarious as the book publishing owner or executive, who wastes no time to swear as much as possible in colorful ways. The movie has a good comedic tone throughout, balanced with few dark moments as it goes on, but the end does drag on a bit. Still a good movie about a real life con.

• Mike N

  
  Alive, in Victoria Falls (Zambia side today). Returning Stateside on Tuesday. Bummed about the Rockies getting their rumps handed to them in the World Series. Happy I'm alive to experience the bummer, after the Zambezi. That river kicked my arse. See ya folks soon, and with pics!… More
  Alive, in Victoria Falls (Zambia side today). Returning Stateside on Tuesday. Bummed about the Rockies getting their rumps handed to them in the World Series. Happy I'm alive to experience the bummer, after the Zambezi. That river kicked my arse. See ya folks soon, and with pics! By the way, any good movies out lately? Saw the majority of both Away From Her and The Hoax on the flights out here, but not in their entirety (bleeping Air Canada's crappy in-flight electronics can be blamed for that). Both were excellent until being snapped away like a ghost line from my transfixed eyes. Bah.

• Walter M

  
  [font=Century Gothic]In "The Hoax", it is 1971 and Clifford Irving(Richard Gere) has just had his novel rejected by McGraw-Hill for being a "Philip Roth knock-off." Desperately needing fame and money, he announces to the editorial staff that he has written the… More
  [font=Century Gothic]In "The Hoax", it is 1971 and Clifford Irving(Richard Gere) has just had his novel rejected by McGraw-Hill for being a "Philip Roth knock-off." Desperately needing fame and money, he announces to the editorial staff that he has written the book of the 20th century. With the help of his wife, Edith(Marcia Gay Harden), and friend and unpaid researcher, Dick Suskind(Alfred Molina), he hatches a plot to sell the autobiography of billionaire Howard Hughes. After all, what objections could an insane recluse have?[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]Based on a true story, "The Hoax" is solid enough with a very good cast, namely Richard Gere who is firmly in his element. But the movie takes itself too seriously. Irving's hoax is a caper and a particularly victimless crime, so why not have fun with it, espcially the more outrageous elements?(Orson Welles in "F for Fake" treated the whole thing as a huge lark.) [/font]

• Joseph E

  
  Even with Gere, this film a super succseful hit! Amazing little gem.

• Joey N

  
  eh, wasn't really feelin' this one.

• Philip P

  
  Nothing great, but interesting to say the least. I watched this movie in two parts so I didnt get the full experience in a single viewing, but I did enjoy watching it, the history and the cover-ups and the lying and the 70's clothing and hairstyles were all part of the appeal,… More
  Nothing great, but interesting to say the least. I watched this movie in two parts so I didnt get the full experience in a single viewing, but I did enjoy watching it, the history and the cover-ups and the lying and the 70's clothing and hairstyles were all part of the appeal, but the main draw seemed to be the mystery that surrounded Howard Hughes himself-If the movie did anything it made me want to learn more about the man-and I only thought The Aviator was an ok film. who knew?

• Nicolas K

  
  Admittedly I did not think Gere could act.

• William G

  
  Gere shines in sprightly true-life crime caper.

• Jonny C

  
  An enjoyable movie, made better by being true. The good chemistry between Gere and Molina made all the more believable and humerious.

• Anthony V

  
  The line between genius and madness was never so thin in this story of a pathological liar who makes it big. The director captures a great 1970s feel by the use of actual footage, music and recreation. The cast is, of course, outstanding and the script keeps you riveted in this neat… More
  The line between genius and madness was never so thin in this story of a pathological liar who makes it big. The director captures a great 1970s feel by the use of actual footage, music and recreation. The cast is, of course, outstanding and the script keeps you riveted in this neat little film about a messy historical event.

• Richard F

  
  Not as well-put together as "The Informant", which I found to be funnier and more entertaining, but just as crazy.

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