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The Lie

Play trailer Poster for The Lie R 2011 1h 22m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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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.

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The Lie

Critics Reviews

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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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review Brent Simon Shockya.com 11/29/2011
B
A well acted and uncommonly assured and engaging portrait of post-millennial and particularly male uncertainty. Go to Full Review 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. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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09/14/2018 A good - not great - mumblecore drama with an impressive directorial debut by Joshua Leonard, who also stars. See more 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? See more 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. See more 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. See more 12/19/2012 Good acting, funny, not a bad story. See more 10/10/2012 This was a very touching movie about the power of love to forgive and adapt.A typical married couple faces impossible careers and personal dilemmas which have never really been explored in a movie before,its one of those "What If"scenarios that 99.9 % of us will never face.So for this being a good mixture of comedy and drama I give this movie a C. See more Read all reviews
The Lie

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Cast & Crew

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Joshua Leonard

Director

Joshua Leonard

Lonnie

Jess Weixler

Clover

Mark Webber

Tank

Alia Shawkat

Seven

Jane Adams

Dr. Bentel

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The Lie

The Lie (2011) The Lie (2011) View more photos

Movie Info

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