The Good Liar
Bill Condon's A Good Liar, based on the novel of the same name by Nicholas Searle, is a slick and terrifically performed crime thriller that teams the much-esteemed talents of British icons Ian McKellen and Helen Mirren for the first time in their respective careers. Condon's film is a rather refreshing palette cleanser of sorts in a world of excessively-dominated superhero features and while A Good Liar won't set the world on fire, it does craft a sly and prickly sentiment with delightful results.
McKellen and Mirren are delightful as scheming pensioners with ulterior motives but if the film does anything wrong, it is that the promotional material is far more inclusive to the films thematic weight and possible spoilers than the central plot of the film frames itself as — especially concerning characters specific contextual understanding of what might or might not be occurring under their eyes. With that, the film loses all tension and atmosphere and lacks intensity concerning all twists and turns.
That said, the dynamic connection between the two leads are wonderfully charismatic and engaging, especially that of McKellen who plays such a tremendously subtle and nasty villain. Mirren, on the other hand, is both inviting and alluring with the crafting of her character but the film plays said character’s cards far too under the table until the final few minutes of the film. With that, it is somewhat difficult for the viewer to find a strong connection with her plight and arc.
Furthermore, what the screenplay lacks from writer Jeffrey Hatcher, the sufficient and solid direction from Condon prevails. The cinematography by Tobias A. Schliessler, while not having an incredibly rich visual bravado, suffices in an adequate and well-lit feature — even while working with a multitude of murky colours. Delivering an equally as subtle and effective score by the long-time composer of Condon, Carter Burwell provides a soothing and classically crafted piece of music that is influenced by the most memorable of British murder mystery properties.
The Good Liar is released November 8th, 2019.
