Despite careers spanning over a century combined, British acting royalty Sir Ian McKellen and Helen Mirren star together for the very first time in Bill Condon's The Good Liar. Based on the novel from Nicholas Searle, is it any good or would telling you such be a lie?
Long-time con artist Roy Courtnay (McKellen) sets his sights on a new target, the seemingly innocent and recently-widowed Betty McLeish (Mirren). In his attempt to deceive her into giving him access to her savings, he begins to develop feelings for her - but how long can he maintain the lie?
For a film whose tagline instructs you to "read between the li(n)es", there's little analysis needed to work out the final destination of The Good Liar - even though the journey to it is as unnecessarily convoluted as they come. Jeffery Hatcher's adapted screenplay ties itself in knots as it fumbles towards an inevitable climax, wading rather suddenly into the unearned thematic ground it doesn't quite have the focus or intelligence to appropriately tackle; in fact, it comes across as a cheap tactic that hinders an otherwise perfectly schlocky picture.
Bill Condon wrings a fair amount of pulpy enjoyment out of the flawed and uneven script. His direction is solid enough to maintain the pervading intensity, with Carter Burwell's terrific score enriching the atmosphere brilliantly. Although it clocks in at 110 minutes, which is a little on the long side, Condon and editor Virginia Katz do a decent job of ensuring it remains tightly-paced, especially considering how sprawling the narrative is; you do remain engaged every step of the way.
It will be no surprise to anyone that McKellen and Mirren steal the show, delivering two impressive performances that require range and nuance to work. McKellen skillfully switches between shady con artist and doting old man with alarming ease, projecting a volatility that cleverly unsteadies the picture. Mirren, too, registers a layered and compelling performance despite the film's transparency. Unsurprisingly terrific together, they conjure wicked chemistry that unfolds like a well-dialled power play, engrossing at every twist and turn. The Good Liar is a damn sight better than it could have been thanks to their efforts.
Although the marvellous pairing of McKellen and Mirren deserve a better project for their first collaboration, The Good Liar is saved by their fantastic chemistry and the intensity director Condon extracts from the uneven screenplay. Where the film struggles most is when it tries to be more than pure schlock and takes itself far too seriously, unnecessarily complicating itself and half-heartedly using subject matter that needs to be treated with more care and attention than the film actually uses, treating it as a mere shock tactic without solid groundwork in place. Still, as a sly crime caper and tale of revenge, it works rather well indeed, and it's a pleasure to see the seasoned brilliance of McKellen and Mirren at work.
Although the marvellous pairing of McKellen and Mirren deserve a better project for their first collaboration, The Good Liar is saved by their fantastic chemistry and the intensity director Condon extracts from the uneven screenplay. Where the film struggles most is when it tries to be more than pure schlock and takes itself far too seriously, unnecessarily complicating itself and half-heartedly using subject matter that needs to be treated with more care and attention than the film actually uses, treating it as a mere shock tactic without solid groundwork in place. Still, as a sly crime caper and tale of revenge, it works rather well indeed, and it's a pleasure to see the seasoned brilliance of McKellen and Mirren at work.
6/10
Summary: It's no lie that The Good Liar is hindered by an uneven and unnecessarily complex screenplay, but the reliably great Sir Ian McKellen and Helen Mirren, in their very first screen collaboration, keep you engaged through the plentiful twists and turns.
Summary: It's no lie that The Good Liar is hindered by an uneven and unnecessarily complex screenplay, but the reliably great Sir Ian McKellen and Helen Mirren, in their very first screen collaboration, keep you engaged through the plentiful twists and turns.