The Good Liar scored a win and loss in my books. I know that doesn’t make sense, but bear with me for a moment.
You would really be hard-pressed to find someone who hated a film starring Helen Mirren and Sir Ian McKellen. Well, if it wasn’t for the shocking twist at the end, I may have been that one guy.
The first hour and half of the movie were boring and dreadful. It was fun to watch McKellen’s character swindle people and set up Mirren for the significant fall, but it held no substance. It was so cookie-cutter that it would never stand out from other movies of the genre. Even when his past is blown up before his eyes, he somehow recovers without missing a beat.
The story only got interesting in the final 30 minutes, when Mirren turns the tables. Don’t be surprised, you could sense it was coming throughout the film. The reason she pulls the pin on the whole thing was shocking and totally unforeseen. It was one of the most amusing twists I’ve seen in a long time and think it is the only highlight of the movie. 5/10
Ten Stars or Less 