Telling Lies in America

Play trailer

Telling Lies in America

PG-13

1997

1h 41m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

67%

Tomatometer

18 Reviews

45%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

A job with a hip disc jockey (Kevin Bacon) shapes a teen's (Brad Renfro) life and that of his poor immigrant father (Maximilian Schell) in 1960s Cleveland.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Joe Holleman

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Bacon and Renfro are a perfect team.

Rated: 3.5/4

Aug 7, 2024

Full Review

David Ansen

Newsweek

While the elements in this coming-of-age saga may seem familiar...Eszterhas brings a fresh, immigrant's-eye perspective to his tale.

Mar 5, 2018

Full Review

Jay Boyar

Orlando Sentinel

The Hungarian angle gives the film a little distinctiveness.

Rated: 3/5

Jun 12, 2013

Full Review

Caffeinated Clint

Moviehole

Kevin Bacon gives one of the best performances of his career

Rated: 3/5

Apr 19, 2008

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Aug 20, 2005

Full Review

Christopher Null

Filmcritic.com

Rated: 3.5/5

Jul 5, 2005

Full Review

Read all reviews

Stephen C

Success in 1 hour and 41 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $275,200.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/23/25

Full Review

Jeff M

I hate reviewing movies like this one! I call them "rainy day movies". They occupy your time for a couple hours, there's nothing inherently wrong with them, but there's not a single thing you'll remember about them weeks or days or even hours later. Bacon is reliably charismatic and watching the late Renfro, who died of a heroin overdose at 25, one can't help but wonder what kind of career he might have had ahead of him. Other than that, it's all a bit blah. Calista Flockhart and Luke Wilson appear in woefully underwritten roles. There's a nice red Cadillac that will appeal to the car lovers in the audience. 60s music lovers will appreciate the soundtrack. Other than that, I'm at a loss for words. So I guess I'll just keep this review short, and save my big words and witty barbs for the movies that I really love or really despise. Apathy is the pits!

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/11/24

Full Review

steve d

Bacon is entertaining enough to drive the film.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A smooth Kevin Bacon here , a bit shaking but not like in classis " Footlose " , fine 60's music in it ...good one ! SOMDVD

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A truly great movie. Best script Joe Eszterhas ever wrote. Best performance Kevin Bacon ever gave. And Brad Renfro was absolutely brilliant..

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Difficult to get into, character development is not great. Fairly cute storyline.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Guy Ferland

Director

Kevin Bacon

Billy Magic

Brad Renfro

Karchy "Chucky" Jonas

Maximilian Schell

Dr. Istvan Jonas

Calista Flockhart

Diney Majeski

Paul Dooley

Father Norton

John Grisham's The Rainmaker

82%

78%

John Grisham's The Rainmaker

Watchlist

TRAILER

for John Grisham's The Rainmaker

I'm Not Rappaport

40%

60%

I'm Not Rappaport

Watchlist

The War

27%

73%

The War

Watchlist

The Journey of August King

57%

70%

The Journey of August King

Watchlist

Barcelona

83%

80%

Barcelona

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

A job with a hip disc jockey (Kevin Bacon) shapes a teen's (Brad Renfro) life and that of his poor immigrant father (Maximilian Schell) in 1960s Cleveland.

Director: Guy Ferland
Producer: Fran Rubel Kuzui, Ben Myron
Screenwriter: Joe Eszterhas
Production Co: Relevart Inc., Banner Entertainment, Kuzui Enterprises, Ben Myron Productions
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 12, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $275.2K
Runtime: 1h 41m
Sound Mix: Surround

Most Popular at Home Now