(2007, 115 min) Clifford Irving's first few books were met with critical acclaim but they were not best sellers. He thinks he has the big one within his grasp with "Rudnick’s Problem" (a rip-off of "Portnoy’s Complaint"), when McGraw-Hill pulls the plug on the deal at the last minute. He had already spent the money.
It starts as a total bluff: In 1971, he tells McGraw-Hill he is working with the infamously reclusive Howard Hughes on Hughes' autobiography. He then begins the research, starting with a road trip with longtime friend Dick Susskind (Alfred Molina). Irving expects Hughes' eccentricities to work in his own favor. He forges Hughes' handwriting to create letters confirming that Hughes is working with him on this book. He starts to dress like Hughes while manufacturing bogus interview tapes, recreating Hughes' distinctive speaking style. He believes Hughes' exile to be so complete, he would never respond to the book if he even hears about it. Continents are traversed, Swiss bank accounts are opened, wife and mistress are handled, frauds are perpetrated. The confabulation becomes so byzantine and convoluted, the lies become so intricate and wide-spread, that it's hard to tell if Irving himself has lost the ability to distinguish fact from fiction. As he uncovers long-term connections between Hughes and Nixon, Irving's paranoia becomes as consuming as theirs.
This long con seems impossibly easy at first. Experts verify the forged letters and interview tapes as authentic, and McGraw-Hill opens the check book — even in the face of much skepticism from people who have had dealings with Hughes. Irving is outraged and indignant, vociferously proclaiming his work’s authenticity even in the face of denunciation by the "real" Hughes. But the writing (no pun intended) is on the wall.
Richard Gere and Molina are at the top of their game. Gere manages to make Irving simultaneously slimy and charismatic. Molina plays Susskind as endearing, befuddled and out of his depth. Director Lasse Hallström seamlessly weaves images from that era into the film, effectively conveying the temper of the times (look for a priceless snippet of newsreel footage showing Nixon speaking in support of a congressional bid by some guy named George Bush). The Hoax is action-adventure, mystery, intrigue, road trip and history; it's a wild ride. Based on a true story by a certified liar.
© TLA Entertainment Group
No comments:
Post a Comment