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:

Justin Weinstein, Greg O'Toole

Stars:

James Randi, José Alvarez, Penn Jillette

6 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

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

---

Plot Keywords:

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

---

Genres:

Documentary | Biography | Comedy | History

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

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

---

Quotes

Uri Geller: In entertainment there is a kind of acceptability to deceive, its like when there two Picasso paintings on the wall, one is a fake and the other one is real, but they look the same. There is no harm in that. At the end of the day, there is nothing to reveal, because of what I do is real.

---

Crazy Credits

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

---

Connections

Features The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962)

---

Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

A great documentary about an Amazing person

Interesting and turbulent life of an Amazing person. Interesting to have source material from so many parts of his life. Well worth a watch! It is fascinating how eager people are to be decieved.

Details

Official Sites:

BBC Storyville page Official Facebook

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 November 2014 (UK)

Also Known As:

An Honest Liar

Filming Locations:

Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,821, 8 March 2015

Gross USA:

$180,590

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$180,590

Company Credits

Production Co:

Left Turn Films, Pure Mutt Productions, BBC Storyville

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min 58 min (TV) (2016)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD