The Good Liar – 2019 – R
Ian McKellen plays Londoner Roy Courtnay and Helen Mirren widowed suburbanite Betty McLeish in this serpentine, convoluted thriller/drama that packages all requisite elements for a solid entertainment experience: outstanding lead acting, talented ensemble cast and audience-gasping screen surprises! The plot starts out pretty simple. Using an on-line dating service, two senior Brits, suave Roy and sophisticated Betty, meet for a blind date. Over dinner both swear superlative allegiance to honesty but by dessert each confesses to adopting a profile alias. Estelle and Brian please meet Betty and Roy. Let the lies fly! We watch Roy and Betty fill out their dating profiles. Roy checks the “non-smoker” box while puffing on a cigarette. Betty checks the “non-drinker” box while sipping a martini. It goes fictitiously on and on from there. Dear Roy we learn is a scam artist who specializes in elaborate, high stakes real estate boondoggles. Here a scam, there a sting. Nor does he mind dabbling in mere fraud or embezzlement if there is a victim to be conned. Wealth is not Roy’s primary motivation, it’s the thrill of the hunt and Roy is exceptional at putting away his prey. Sweet, unassuming Betty, Roy sniffs out, is worth a fortune. Captivated by the sheer beauty of bilking, he sets in motion a seductive scheme to steal her every…single…pound. Hold on though. Unpretentious Betty may appear an easy mark but in fact is a retired Oxford scholar, perceptive, brilliant and accomplished. Has Roy finally met his match?
Soon after leaving the theater, a friend asked for my opinion and I said, “It was twisted.” Correction! It was full of twists. Well, there were a couple of twisted characters in the mix. This is true. One is Roy’s longtime conspiracy partner, Vincent, who is none other than the world’s most identifiable butler, Mr. Carson (Jim Carter) of Downton Abbey fame! I admit it hurt me to see Mr. Carson, aka Vincent, go to the dark side. If you are less into character development and more into mayhem, never fear, there is a fair share of blood splatter, pulverized hands and faces, murders and muggings. Something for everyone. History too. Just don’t get lulled into accepting the silvered haired couple’s spontaneous trip to Berlin is really about visiting the Brandenburg Gate. And think twice before swallowing that Betty’s supremely suspicious and overly protective grandson Steven (Russell Tovey) is researching WW2 for his Ph.D. dissertation. Maybe yes but probably no. Take nothing on face value. The plot will undoubtedly catch you smugly predicting a twist or two but the “big reveal” I dare say, you will not see it coming.
The best part of this film is seeing ageless, epic stars Sir Ian McKellen and Dame Helen Mirren performing together, a marvelous, wonderful acting first. With 40 years of these two British icons appearing on stage and screen, movie and television, how did we get so lucky to watch their dazzling duet debut? Go see The Good Liar and add your name to the lucky list, but here’s a tip: use a fake name. Wink. Wink. 😉
Loved the actors and loved the romp through minefields of deceit.