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We Always Lie to Strangers

2013 1h 48m Documentary List
Tomatometer 3 Reviews 67% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Four families experience love and loss in America's heartland.

Critics Reviews

View All (3) Critics Reviews
Stephen Saito Moveable Fest A movie as entertaining as the tireless performers it presents, healthily skeptical but not condescending and a simply a joy to watch. Dec 4, 2018 Full Review Dan Schindel Nonfics The doc doesn't have much more weight than the average Branson show. Rated: 2/5 Jun 30, 2014 Full Review Elias Savada Film Threat Like the Leap Day tornado that hit the area in 2012, there's a resiliency afoot here. We Always Lie to Strangers won't muster up storm-size crowds (well, it might if they play it in Branson), but it's a nicely observed slice of life... Rated: 3.5/5 Jul 2, 2013 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (7) audience reviews
matthew m Phenomenal true story of theater folk in Missouri. Gorgeous, evocative film. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Not as in depth into the actual production/show side of it as I was hoping but still interesting. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review Audience Member It was a bit disorganized but also interesting. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member I saw this at the opening of the St. Louis International Film Festival, and can say without hesitation that it is the worst film I've ever seen at the Tivoli Theatre, and the worst film I've seen in my years of attending Festival screenings. It is a film without a thesis, a rambling mess, full of people with whom I have no desire to spend any time, set in a place where nobody is from, and where everybody is stuck. The director introduced it as "a love letter to Missouri", but that's like saying that Psycho is a love letter to the hospitality industry. The Missouri presented herein is a bleak place, to be sure. The film is intrusive upon its subjects, sharing moments in these people's lives that have nothing to do with anything, and are frankly none of our business (The mayor's mother is having a painful attack of some sort? Let's keep those cameras rolling and watch her go into the ambulance, privacy be damned. Nevermind that we don't let the audience know whether she was all right or not). It's an uncomfortable film to watch, with sequences that don't go anywhere, too much time dedicated to insufferable people and pointless activities (Will Grandpa butter his biscuit? Will the screaming child get fed before or after singing "Respect"? Whose pie will Al Roker look the least uncomfortable eating?), and not enough time dedicated to the Lennon family, who are by far the most watchable and tolerable people in the film. (Special mention: The Lennon Family performed live before the film and were very pleasant indeed.) What a disappointing start to the Festival, a portrait of economic hardship and insular politics, masquerading as a "love letter to Missouri". Shameful. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member Beautiful. Smart. Honest. This is an elegant observation on the Midwest in the recession. Terrific film. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member Very entertaining movie. The filmmakers embedded themselves well and made a colorful movie without need for contrivance or exaggerated story arcs. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Read all reviews
We Always Lie to Strangers

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Synopsis Four families experience love and loss in America's heartland.
Director
AJ Schnack, David Boone Wilson
Producer
AJ Schnack, Nathan Truesdell, David Boone Wilson
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 10, 2016
Runtime
1h 48m