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The Good Liar
2019 109 min Canada, United States of America R 18+
★6.5
Crime
Director: Bill Condon
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
Career con man Roy sets his sights on his latest mark: recently widowed Betty, worth millions. And he means to take it all. But as the two draw closer, what should have been another simple swindle takes on the ultimate stakes.
Budget:
$10M
US Gross:
$17.16M
Worldwide:
$33.86M
Starring
Helen Mirren
Actor
Ian McKellen
Actor
Russell Tovey
Actor
Awards
Saturn Awards 2021
— Best Thriller
Key opinion
The Good Liar is widely defined by the exceptional chemistry and performances of Ian McKellen and Helen Mirren, who elevate the material beyond its script's limitations. While the film is visually polished and atmospheric, it ultimately struggles with a polarizing, twist-heavy screenplay that many viewers find either engagingly complex or frustratingly illogical.
| Acting | Ian McKellen and Helen Mirren deliver captivating, nuanced performances that provide the film with its greatest source of credibility and emotional weight. | |
| Production | The film features strong cinematography and meticulous production design that effectively establish a sophisticated, moody, and authentically British detective atmosphere. | |
| Screenplay | Opinions on the screenplay are divided; some praise its clever, traditional detective tropes, while others argue it relies on clichéd melodrama and implausible character motivations. | |
| Ending | The final act is a point of major contention, with some viewers appreciating the shocking shift in narrative while others find the resolution unearned, confusing, or poorly foreshadowed. | |
| Pacing | The pacing is viewed as a hurdle, as the slow-burn buildup of the first two acts conflicts with a rushed, information-heavy conclusion. |