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Deceiver (film)

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Deceiver
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJonas Pate
Josh Pate
Written byJonas Pate
Josh Pate
Produced byMark Damon
Peter Glatzer
John Saviano
Don Winston
Starring
CinematographyBill Butler
Edited byDan Lebental
Music byHarry Gregson-Williams
Distributed byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
MDP Worldwide[1]
Release date
  • August 31, 1997 (1997-08-31) (Venice Film Festival)
Running time
101 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$572,433

Deceiver (UK title: Liar) is a 1997 American mystery film directed by Jonas Pate and Josh Pate, and starring Tim Roth, Chris Penn, Michael Rooker, Rosanna Arquette, Ellen Burstyn and Renée Zellweger. It won Best Cinematography and Best Screenplay at the 1997 Stockholm Film Festival, and the Special Jury Prize at the 1998 Cognac Police Film Festival.

Plot

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Textile company heir James Wayland is accused of murdering a prostitute, Elizabeth Loftus whose body was found cut in half in two suitcases. The murder is investigated by tough detective Kennesaw and his less experienced partner Braxton .

Wayland is a heavy drinker, despite suffering from epilepsy, and a compulsive liar, prone to apparent memory lapses and committing select acts of violence. He is rich enough to access necessary information, however, and he soon learns his two police interrogators' own dark secrets - Kennesaw had an affair with Elizabeth to get back at his own wife for cheating on him, while Braxton has gambling debts with a bookie known as "Mook", who is demanding $20,000 that Braxton owes her.

Cast

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Reception

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The film received a mixed reaction from critics. Rotten Tomatoes gives Deceiver a rating of 42% from 31 reviews.[2] The film was described as follows: "twisty bit of trickery, Deceiver is gripping without ever being really good".[3]

References

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  1. ^ "MGM looks at indie 'Liar'". June 12, 1997.
  2. ^ "Liar - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. May 13, 2008.
  3. ^ Bleiler, David (April 8, 2014). TLA Film, Video, and DVD Guide 2002-2003: The Discerning Film Lover's Guide. St. Martin's Publishing Group. ISBN 978-1-4668-6757-4.
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