Dec 1, 20192 min read

The Good Liar (English): Movie Review

Based on #NicholasSearle’s novel with the same name, #BillCordon’s #TheGoodLiar starts on a euphoric note – two octogenarians, Roy Courtnay (#IanMcKellen) and Betty McLeish (#HelenMirren) who have been dating each other online, meet over lunch. While revealing their actual names, they also make it apparent that they have fallen irresistibly to each other’s charms. At one point, the stinking rich Betty confesses to the charmer Roy that if there is someone who makes her life meaningful on this planet, it is him, little knowing that he is actually a serial con artist whose entire life is based on deception. It is not long before that Roy has moved into Betty’s serene house as a guest but is taken aback with her grandson, Stephen’s (#RusselTovey) disapproval on their courtship.

To give their companionship an enduring touch, the two even open a joint account by pooling in their individual bank savings. As the film progresses, Cordon peels the layers of mystery intricately that reveals their inner motives. While the first half coasts along at a sluggish pace against the tranquil backdrop of England, the momentum picks up in the second half.

A slow-burning cat and mouse game ensues while more characters get introduced. Roy’s partner in crime, Vincent – a phoney accountant who accompanies him in bilking greedy businessman out of their cash and Betty’s suspicious grandson Stephen also add intrigue to the plot while unfolding the truths behind Roy’s inscrutable façade.

It is hard to resist the veteran pair performing with seasoned gusto – Mirren and McKellen – at the top of their game and trying to outsmart each other in a narrative that meanders lazily through a series of flashbacks, told mainly from Roy’s perspective. The climactic reveal jolts you and stands vindicated. McKellen plays the roguish old charmer with a twinkle-eyed naughtiness to perfection, convincingly enamouring the seemingly credulous Mirren who imbues Betty with naivety and vulnerability. She makes a meal out of the role, standing admirably against Ian for the duel on the celluloid.

The Good Liar works favourably on several accounts and keeps you engaged for the runtime of 1 hour 52 minutes, but a tauter storyline could have worked wonders.

WMR Verdict: A smart and satisfying crime thriller with a startling climactic reveal. #HelenMirren and #IanMcKellen spark off an unusual, charming chemistry in this cat and mouse game that often succumbs to a sluggish screenplay. Worth a one-time watch!!