Every one has something to hide in this battle of wits and wiles.
Review of thriller film The Good Liar (2019).
Imagine you are fishing on Tinder and gets matched with the very person who is ought to get you.
Right from the very first scene of two elderlies trying to reignite some fire of passion in their personal life, you can’t shake the feeling of something being fishy. One of them is not what he appears. Maybe both.
Betty Mcleish, played by Hellen Mirren, is a former history professor and a window. The marks of being an Oxford teacher are written all over her persona. She is a an old classy British lady who has just come into possession of a lot of riches which also makes her an ideal candidate to pull a fast one on.
Roy Courtnay, played by Ian McKellen, is a full-time hard working swindler. Despite of having more than £3 million pounds in his off-shore bank account, he wants to pull of a last case to have “enough” money to retire contently.
By this time, you will be asking two questions:
- How much money is enough to retire in Britain?
- Why is Roy pulling these cons at this age with delicate bones which involve running and hiding from the victims?
The movie does not answer any of them. I was hoping to get the last one because “he is just a rough one” is not an explanation enough.
Long story short, Harry meets Sally. I mean, Roy meets Betty and they both feel the need to stay in touch for reasons of their own. However, there is a tiny problem at Betty’s end — her grandson, Steven, who becomes increasingly suspicious of Roy after meeting him. Apparently, the only giant pain in the neck in Roy’s otherwise flawless plan is Steven. Apparently!
There are also minor hassles like Roy’s previous victim stalking and confronting him and also a very suspicious visit to Berlin proposed by Betty herself.
The story unfolds layer by layer like a neatly packed napkin at a five star restaurant. However, the dish is cold and the serving size is too small to feel satiated.
In this battle of wits and wiles, Betty has a distinct advantage over Roy which is revealed near the end. Watch it for the astounding chemistry and craftsmanship of Helen Mirren and Ian McKellen.
Announcement:
We have got a new home. Now you can find us also on our own blog thegossiproom.com.
