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Telling Lies in America (1997) 6.2
Ratings:
6.2/10 from 1,568 users
Metascore: 65/100
Reviews: 24 user | 24 critic | 20 from Metacritic.com Karchy (Brad Renfro) is a boy in school who has moved from Hungary to America in the 1960's. He is struggling in school and trying to adjust to America's culture. He then hears about a ... See full summary » Director:Guy FerlandWriter:Joe Eszterhas |
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Kevin Bacon | ... |
Billy Magic
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| Brad Renfro | ... |
Karchy 'Chucky' Jonas
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| Maximilian Schell | ... |
Dr. Istvan Jonas
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| Calista Flockhart | ... | ||
| Paul Dooley | ... |
Father Norton
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| Jonathan Rhys Meyers | ... |
Kevin Boyle
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| Luke Wilson | ... |
Henry
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Damen Fletcher | ... |
Amos 'Blood Smith'
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Jerry Swindall | ... |
Andy 'Croak' Stas
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K.K. Dodds | ... |
Justine
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James Kisicki | ... |
Cecil Simms
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J.J. Horna | ... |
The Blind Kid
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Ben Saypol | ... |
Timmy Morelli
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| Tony Devon | ... |
Danny Hogan
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Rohn Thomas | ... |
Sgt. Disapri
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
Karchy (Brad Renfro) is a boy in school who has moved from Hungary to America in the 1960's. He is struggling in school and trying to adjust to America's culture. He then hears about a radio DJ Billy Magic (Kevin Bacon) who holds a contest for a Student Hall of Fame every week. When Karchy finally wins after several weeks, he spends more time with Billy Magic...a man with money, girls, and glam. Karchy thinks that by spending time with Magic, he can become "cool". He then starts telling lies, to make himself seem greater than he really is. But when his lies begin hurting the people he cares about, he realizes that it isn't worth telling lies if it affects your friends. Afterwards, he learns to accept himself for the person he is, and gives up lying. And as for Billy Magic, it turns out that he pays his price for all the lies that he has told as well.... Written by <Aya704@hotmail.com>
Taglines:
Dress sharp. Drive fast. Look cool. Laugh last. See more »Parents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
15 October 1997 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
The Magic Man See more »Filming Locations:
Cleveland, Ohio, USABox Office
Budget:
$4,000,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend:
$11,470 (USA) (17 October 1997)Gross:
$252,318 (USA) (14 November 1997)Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
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Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
DolbyColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
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Performed by Santo & Johnny
Written by Johnny Farina, Santo Farina, Ann Farina, Donald Wolf
Courtesy of Dominion Entertainment, Inc.
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Did You Know?
Trivia
John Candy lobbied to play the role of Billy Magic. But Candy's agent convinced him not to pursue the part. See more »Goofs
About two-thirds through the movie, when Karchy picks his girlfriend up at the store after (her) work, they walk down a handicap wheelchair ramp which didn't exist in the 1960's. See more »Soundtracks
"Sleepwalk"Performed by Santo & Johnny
Written by Johnny Farina, Santo Farina, Ann Farina, Donald Wolf
Courtesy of Dominion Entertainment, Inc.
See more »
Yes, the movie deals tangentially with the payola scandals of the 50's (truly a big problem in the entertainment industry), but only as one of the many lies hinted at in the title.
The two main characters (Renfro and Bacon) do *nothing* but lie. They are balanced by the purity of the other characters (Flockhart and Schell).
Schell's character was a little underwhelming and the work by Renfro was, at times, uneven, but both were generally excellent. My only other quibble was with the settings of the film. As a Clevelander (where the story takes place and the film was shot), it's easy to understand the where the scenes took place and how the story was built around them, but I'm not sure that an "outsider" would understand the implications to the story of those different locations (the neighborhoods, the market, etc.).
The real find is Calista Flockhart. She gives a wonderfully nuanced performance, sweeter and deeper than anything you'll see on Ally McBeal. Interestingly, Flockhart spent time working on stage at the Cleveland Playhouse, so was well-suited for the role in a way.
Joe Eszterhas is not exactly known for his subtlety, but this movie is a small triumph for him and portends better things from his pen in the future.