The Invention of Lying

MacGuffin · June 26, 2009, 04:41:59 PM

Trailer here.

Release Date: September 25th, 2009 (wide)

Starring: Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Rob Lowe, Jonah Hill, Louis C.K., Tina Fey

Directed by: Ricky Gervais

Premise: In an alternate reality, lying -- even the concept of a lie -- does not even exist. Everyone -- from politicians to advertisers to the man and woman on the street -- speaks the truth and nothing but the truth with no thought of the consequences. But when a down-on-his-luck loser named Mark suddenly develops the ability to lie, he finds that dishonesty has its rewards.

polkablues · June 26, 2009, 09:30:46 PM

They never did crack the problem of figuring out the title, but this is a really promising trailer. What a great cast, too.

Kal · June 26, 2009, 09:52:58 PM

It looks funny, but I don't get it why they are all so serious. I mean, they don't lie but it reminded me of that horrible movie with Chrstian Bale where people have no feelings or emotions.

polkablues · June 26, 2009, 10:16:21 PM

Well, humor is based on irony and exaggeration. A world in which those things didn't exist would be a pretty serious one. And Equilibrium wasn't that bad (or was it? It's been a while...).

MacGuffin · June 27, 2009, 01:08:04 AM

Quote from: polkablues on June 26, 2009, 10:16:21 PMAnd Equilibrium wasn't that bad (or was it? It's been a while...).

Naw. It suffered because it came out in the shadows of The Matrix and caught flack for that.

modage · June 27, 2009, 12:03:14 PM

it has a great cast but it's SO HIGH CONCEPT i'm pretty worried. i couldn't get through Ghost Town but i hope this can be better.

polkablues · June 27, 2009, 12:19:20 PM

Ghost Town was decent, it was just so mild and saccharine. This looks like it has a little more bite to it.

MacGuffin · August 31, 2009, 01:02:19 PM

Pas · August 31, 2009, 01:49:44 PM

wrong thread, should be in worst cover art.

Ravi · October 25, 2009, 09:39:18 PM

MILD SPOILS

Wow, nobody saw this?

Gervais is careful not to have his character abuse his power. And the shitstorm he causes was born out of genuine concern for his mother.

For a mainstream film it is a surprisingly biting satire on religion. Yet, its somehow sweet at the same time. Its not a polemic anti-religious screed, but its essentially saying that religion (targeted to Christianity) is a big lie.

The actors all have a difficult role of blatantly being truthful without seeming like they're in on the joke. Everyone pulls it off well.

I loved the little details, such as the blatantly truthful advertising and the bland films that Lecture Films makes, because there can't be fiction in this world. They don't even have words for "true," "lie," "truth," etc.

Also, note the Woody Allen font on the opening credits.

cine · October 26, 2009, 12:23:00 AM

Quote from: Ravi on October 25, 2009, 09:39:18 PM
Wow, nobody saw this?

dude i'm so behind i never even got around to seeing WHATEVER WORKS.

Ravi · October 26, 2009, 12:33:07 AM

Quote from: cine on October 26, 2009, 12:23:00 AM
dude i'm so behind i never even got around to seeing WHATEVER WORKS.

You'll get a chance to be disappointed soon enough. It comes out on DVD this Tuesday.

I Love a Magician · October 26, 2009, 01:38:58 AM

i actually liked this quite a bit as well. direction and everything were ho hum but the writing and story really hit me. i think whether you like this or not depends quite a bit on what you think of gervais and his Gervais-ness. i love it so i loved this movie.

SiliasRuby · October 26, 2009, 10:51:28 PM

A really funny story and writing is really top notch. Really happy with it and it made me laugh more the most comedies this year did.