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Parents' Guide to

The Hoax

By Renee Schonfeld, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Amoral con artist's true tale will pull adults in.

Movie R 2007 115 minutes
The Hoax Poster Image

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What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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What's the Story?

In this entertaining, fact-based story about perception and deception, Clifford Irving (Richard Gere) and his co-conspirators -- wife Edith (Marcia Gay Harden) and best friend Dick Suskind (Alfred Molina) -- commit the literary crime of the 20th century. Facing a difficult road personally and professionally, Irving tries to convince the publishing world that reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes has asked him to co-write his "autobiography." Brilliant and charismatic Irving uses the public record and prior Hughes appearances to re-create the man's handwriting, vocal mannerisms, and personality quirks. Each new request for proof from Irving's unwitting "marks" in the publishing industry requires the writer and his partners to take increasingly daring measures and extreme license with the truth. And time after time, just when it appears the whole lie is about to be revealed, Irving surprises us with even more ingenuity and bravado.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This is an unusual outing for Gere -- there's no sly smirking here, just fine acting. Molina turns in a striking performance as well, and the two do great work together in all of their scenes. The supporting players, script, and overall production values are excellent, making THE HOAX an enjoyable, intelligent movie.

Working from a script by William Wheeler that relies on Irving's own account from his book The Hoax, director Lasse Hallström, successfully uses humor and complex, nuanced characters to bring Irving's brazen swindle to the screen. The film's second half -- in which Irving begins to come unglued as events catch up with him -- isn't as strong as the first. The moments that show his mind breaking down are brave, but they don't always live harmoniously with the rest of the movie's humor.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Irving used the media to help make his fraud convincing. Do you think he could have pulled it off in today's more sophisticated media environment? With even more information about public figures now available on TV and the Internet, do you think they're more vulnerable to manipulation and deceit? How about regular people? Do you think it's appropriate to use humor to show serious themes? Families can also discuss how easily people can be fooled if they're willing to buy into a deception. Why did other characters believe Irving? Did they have something to gain?

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