The Lie

R

Released Nov 18, 2011

1h 22m

Comedy

Drama

List

74%

Tomatometer

19 Reviews

48%

Audience Score

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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Lou Lumenick

New York Post

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.

Rated: 2.5/4

Nov 18, 2011

Full Review

Jeannette Catsoulis

New York Times

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.

Rated: 4/5

Nov 17, 2011

Full Review

Joe Neumaier

New York Daily News

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.

Rated: 3/5

Nov 17, 2011

Full Review

Shawn Levy

Oregonian

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

Rated: B

Dec 1, 2011

Full Review

Brent Simon

Shockya.com

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

Rated: B

Nov 29, 2011

Full Review

Michelle Orange

Movieline

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.

Rated: 6.5/10

Nov 17, 2011

Full Review

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Audience Member

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

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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?

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Good acting, funny, not a bad story.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

Frances H

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

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/26/12

Full Review

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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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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: Perception Media, Das Films
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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