The Lie

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The Lie

R

2011

1h 22m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

74%

Tomatometer

19 Reviews

48%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Deciding he needs some time away from his soul-killing job, a man (Joshua Leonard) tells a shocking lie to explain his absence.

Lou Lumenick

New York Post

11/18/2011

2.5/4

The acting in The Lie -- including a nice bit by Mark Webber as a stoner pal who lectures Leonard on responsibility -- is good enough to almost overlook a so-so ending.

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Jeannette Catsoulis

New York Times

11/17/2011

4/5

Comprising small, near-perfect scenes played out largely at dinner tables and on couches, "The Lie" wonders if it's possible to rewrite lives and remake choices.

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Joe Neumaier

New York Daily News

11/17/2011

3/5

It doesn't try too hard, but what "The Lie" is working at, in its unassuming, amusing way, is a mini-portrait of growing pains in a time of extended adolescence.

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Shawn Levy

Oregonian

12/01/2011

B

Leonard plays Lonnie with unflattering commitment: you've gotta credit a fellow who plays feckless, selfish and dim so fully.

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Brent Simon

Shockya.com

11/29/2011

B

A well acted and uncommonly assured and engaging portrait of post-millennial and particularly male uncertainty.

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Michelle Orange

Movieline

11/17/2011

6.5/10

Embedded in The Lie is a sharp look at the moral limbo of a complacent life, the self-defeat of committing by halves, the self-interest of false equivalencies - but only the shallowest attempts are made to chip its themes out.

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09/14/2018

A good - not great - mumblecore drama with an impressive directorial debut by Joshua Leonard, who also stars.

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11/28/2017

A movie about nothing. The lie could have led to some interesting, funny shenanigans, despite how terrible a lie it would be to tell somebody (a man lies to his boss and says his 6-month old daughter passed away just so he could stay home from work). His wife appears pissed, but then they drive off into the sunset together, happy-go-lucky hippies. Huh?

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02/05/2016

long and boring. The moral of this story is beware what lies you tell people because they will come back and get you. Don't bother watching this movie.

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11/24/2013

A surprisingly great movie. Holds a tranquil yet uneasy atmosphere as the characters consistently make choices that send them careening toward disaster before realizing their own resilience as a family. A poignant statement on life and what it means to be truly satisfied.

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12/19/2012

Good acting, funny, not a bad story.

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Frances H

11/26/2012

A good indie movie that delivers the message of being true to yourself.

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Synopsis

Deciding he needs some time away from his soul-killing job, a man (Joshua Leonard) tells a shocking lie to explain his absence.

Director: Joshua Leonard
Producer: Mary Pat Bentel
Screenwriter: Jeff Feuerzeig, Joshua Leonard, Mark Webber, Jess Weixler
Distributor: Screen Media Films
Production Co: Das Films, Perception Media
Rating: R (Language|Some Drug Use)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 18, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 23, 2012
Runtime: 1h 22m

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