An Honest Liar
Seen it?2014 | 90 min | History, Comedy, Documentary
Sunday Safe BetWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (98% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a box office flop and almost no lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who wants a laugh, the curious and history buffs. If you loved O.J.: Made in America, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Light and funny, eye-opening.
- The pace
- Breezy, at 1 hr 30 min.
- What might put you off
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
An Honest Liar tells the incredible story of the world-famous magician, escape artist, and world-renowned enemy of deception, James 'The Amazing' Randi. The film brings to life Randi's intricate investigations that publicly exposed psychics, faith healers, and con-artists with quasi-religious fervor. A master deceiver who came out of the closet at the age of 81, Randi created fictional characters, fake psychics, and even turned his partner of 25 years, Jose Alvarez, into a sham guru named Carlos.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
98% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
7.1 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerWeak
$247K worldwide; interest faded quickly after launch
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 13K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Justin Weinstein, Tyler Measom
- James RandiSelf
- Adam SavageSelf
- Bill NyeSelf
- Uri GellerSelf
- Penn JilletteSelf
- Alice CooperSelf
- Harry HoudiniSelf (archive footage)
- Richard WisemanSelf