An Honest Liar (2014)

The life and career of the renowned stage magician turned scientific skeptic of the paranormal, James Randi.

Directors:

Tyler Measom, Justin Weinstein

Writers:

Tyler Measom, Greg O'Toole

Stars:

James Randi, Deyvi Peña, Penn Jillette

6 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Randi	...	Himself - Magician
Deyvi Peña	...	Himself - Artist (as Jose Alvarez)
Penn Jillette	...	Himself - Magician (as Penn)
Teller	...	Himself - Magician
Jamy Ian Swiss	...	Himself - Magician & Author
Richard Wiseman	...	Himself - Magician & Psychologist (as Prof. Richard Wiseman)
Ray Hyman	...	Himself - Experimental Psychologist
Adam Savage	...	Himself - Mythbusters
Alice Cooper	...	Himself - Rock Star
Banachek	...	Himself - Mentalist (as Steve Shaw)
Alexander Jason	...	Himself - Surveillance Expert (as Alec Jason)
Bill Nye	...	Himself - The Science Guy
Michael Shermer	...	Himself - Publisher, Skeptic Magazine
Michael Edwards	...	Himself - Project Alpha Psychic
Uri Geller	...	Himself - Purported Psychic

Storyline

AN HONEST LIAR is a feature documentary about 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, the artist Jose Alvarez, into a sham guru named Carlos. But when a shocking revelation in Randi's personal life is discovered, it isn't clear whether Randi is still the deceiver - or the deceived.

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Plot Keywords:

magician | straitjacket escape | ends with biographical notes | false identity | debunking | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography | Comedy | History

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

BBC Storyville page Official Facebook

Country:

USA Spain Italy Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 November 2014 (UK)

Also Known As:

An Honest Liar: The Amazing Randi Story

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,821, 8 March 2015, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$124,031, 5 April 2015

Company Credits

Production Co:

Left Turn Films,Pure Mutt Productions,BBC Storyville

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min 58 min (TV) (2016)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Uri Geller no longer identifies himself as a psychic, rather a "mystifier".

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Quotes

James Randi: Some people cannot believe that a magician can fool them in such a way that they can't figure it out. But magicians can and magicians do. Don't be too sure of yourself. No matter how smart or well-educated you are, you can be deceived.

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Crazy Credits

Before the final copyright in the end credits it states, "No spoons were harmed in the making of this film."

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Connections

Features The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962)

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Soundtracks

Happy Birthday
(uncredited)
Written by Patty S. Hill & Mildred J. Hill

User Reviews

Inconsistent and poorly paced biopic of a great man

I am a big fan of James Randi, I've been following his work ever since I learned about him, sometime in my teens, so obviously I had been eagerly expecting this movie.

And what a let-down it was in the end! The movie meanders randomly between recounting his work and his private life, without taking a firm line (both could have been valid). A couple of important parts of his work are presented, but insufficiently explained and with little context. Most importantly, the movie's pacing is terrible. It is ostensibly divided in chapters but the titles seem to have been placed after the movie was completed, as a kind of caption rather a structure of the narrative.

So not only do you not get to learn much new about Randi, not only do you not get to have a glimpse on his thinking (unlike what was masterfully done in Jiro Dreams of Sushi), but on top of that the movie is rather boring.