An Honest Liar (2015)
90%RT Audience Score: 81%
Awards & Nominations: 6 wins & 4 nominations
A thoughtful and surprisingly layered documentary enlivened by its subject, An Honest Liar serves as a well-deserved tribute to a fascinating life.
An Honest Liar is a documentary that will make you question everything you thought you knew about magic and deception. It follows the life of James Randi, a magician and skeptic who dedicated his life to exposing frauds and charlatans. The film is both fascinating and entertaining, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat. Randi is a likable and charismatic figure, and the filmmakers do an excellent job of capturing his spirit and energy. Whether you’re a fan of magic or just love a good story, An Honest Liar is a must-see.
Production Company(ies)
Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2014
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Stereo
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Aspect ratio:16:9 HD
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Runtime:NA
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Sep 17, 2016
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
starring James Randi, Alice Cooper, Neil deGrasse Tyson, directed by Tyler Measom, Justin Weinstein, written by Tyler Measom, Greg O’Toole, Justin Weinstein, documentary, box office performance, budget, reviewed by David Edelstein, Marc Savlov, Bill Goodykoontz, Richard Roeper, Ben Sachs, Moira MacDonald, Michael J Casey, C.J Prince, Stephen Saito, John Fink, Jonathan Kiefer, Tom Meek, producer Tyler Measom, Justin Weinstein, MPAA rating, magic, escape artist, exposing fake psychics, faith-based swindlers, truth, American life, Herman Melville, hucksterism, show business, religion, self-deception
Worldwide gross: $180,590
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $225,692
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,913
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 24,612
US/Canada gross: $180,590
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $225,692
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,525
US/Canada opening weekend: $13,821
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $17,273
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,564
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Alice Cooper – self
Neil deGrasse Tyson – self
Tyler Measom – director, writer, producer
Justin Weinstein – director, writer, producer
Director(s)
Tyler Measom, Justin Weinstein
Writer(s)
Tyler Measom, Greg O’Toole, Justin Weinstein
Producer(s)
Tyler Measom, Justin Weinstein
Film Festivals
Tribeca
Awards & Nominations
6 wins & 4 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (41) | Top Critics (20) | Fresh (40) | Rotten (1)
Whatever his foibles, An Honest Liar depicts a great American original…
November 3, 2020
David Edelstein
New York Magazine/Vulture
TOP CRITIC
Mankind may be awash in more con men and faith-based swindlers than ever, but precious few are bold enough to step forward into the light of reason, even for a million bucks. Bravo, Mr. Randi.
April 16, 2015 | Rating: 3.5/5
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
“An Honest Liar” is a fascinating look at what the truth means, and how it means different things to different people. It’s also a reminder that no one has a monopoly on it. Not even the Amazing Randi.
April 9, 2015 | Rating: 4/5
Bill Goodykoontz
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
Anyone who can challenges faith healers, psychics and mediums who claim a special bond with the dead – and often wins those challenges – deserves a standing ovation.
March 27, 2015 | Rating: 3.0
Richard Roeper
Chicago Sun-Times
TOP CRITIC
Randi’s story suggests a modern-day footnote to Herman Melville’s novel The Confidence-Man, reflecting the strange interplay between show business, religion, and hucksterism in American life.
March 20, 2015
Ben Sachs
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Randi’s a sly charmer, and an engaging guide through the film …
March 20, 2015 | Rating: 3/4
Moira MacDonald
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
The trick of magic is to turn the act into a show, and ‘An Honest Liar’ is an enjoyable show.
October 10, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/5
Michael J. Casey
Michael J. Cinema
Weinstein and Measom’s documentary is fascinating and enjoyable for the most part, but it’s not without its flaws.
June 21, 2019
C.J. Prince
Way Too Indie
However, nothing compares to the momentum of a great story, and though “An Honest Liar” may occasionally get a little too crafty for its own good, when it works, it’s pure magic.
November 15, 2018
Stephen Saito
Moveable Fest
Comprehensive and fascinating, the filmmakers have crafted an engaging and entertaining portrait of a man who is paradoxically a likable and honest liar out to set the record straight.
June 6, 2016 | Rating: A-
John Fink
The Film Stage
An Honest Liar does entertainingly allow that for our peculiar species, true self-awareness sometimes requires a little self-deception.
January 1, 2016
Jonathan Kiefer
SF Weekly
In the end, when all the shells have been shuffled and it’s time to pull back the curtain, An Honest Liar is less about amazing you than it is about touching you.
December 21, 2015 | Rating: 3/4
Tom Meek
Cambridge Day…
Plot
An Honest Liar is a documentary about James “the Amazing” Randi, a world-renowned magician and escape artist who dedicates his life to exposing fake psychics and others who claim paranormal powers.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The documentary features appearances from Alice Cooper and Neil deGrasse Tyson.
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