The Hoax 2007  R, 115 min.
Genre: Drama
Director: Lasse Hallstrom
Cast: Richard Gere, Alfred Molina, Marcia Gay Harden, Hope Davis, Eli Wallach, Julie Delpy, Stanley Tucci, Zeljko Ivanek, John Carter, Christopher Evan Welch, Peter McRobbie, David Aaron Baker, Michael J. Burg, Raul Julia
This film is based on the true story of writer Clifford Irving (Richard Gere) who almost pulled off a great media scam when he conned the publishing house of McGraw-Hill into believing that his 1971 "autobiography" of Howard Hughes was based on real interviews with Hughes. Irving used the fact that Hughes had made it a point to not be seen in public for the last 10 years, and he used tape-recorded "interviews" in which he played Hughes to back up his claims. 1 User Review
| User Review |
| | the good, the bad and the silly | bill b. 05/15/2007 | Richard Gere as Clifford Irving almost steals the movie with the best acting job he's ever done, despite the disclaimer from Irving that his need for money in spawning the hoax was a hoax in itself apparently. Nevertheless, it is Oscar nom caliber, and the near theft of the film is prevented only by Alfred Molina as his all-too-willing grifting partner. The parts unstolen by Gere become Molina's propterty, and, incidentally, he comes off an off-Broadway role as a washed-up show-biz agent in "Howard Katz" as the titled character. It's quite a switch, but then Molina, show also did a turn as Tevye a few years ago, makes such transititions easy.
The bad, the women, not one of the three in the important roles comes across as a real person. Hope Davis as the McGraw-Hill exec comes closest. Eli Wallach is wasted. The rest of the cast is more than adequate.
The silly, making the claim that the hoax changed the course of history with the Nixon theory that Watergate was triggered by the Irving-Hughes connection is absolutely ludicrous.
Nevertheless, aa fun film. |
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Kissing Jessica Stein 2001  R, 94 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Charles Herman-Wurmfeld
Cast: Jennifer Westfeldt, Heather Juergensen, Scott Cohen, Tovah Feldshuh, Jackie Hoffman, Hillel Friedman, Robert Ari, David Aaron Baker, Esther Wurmfeld, Ben Feldman
NYC copy editor Jessica Stein (Jennifer Westfeldt) begins to question her own sexual orientation when she answers a personals ad, meets, and falls in love with Helen (Heather Juergensen).
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Molly: An American Girl on the Home Front 2006 TV, 85 min.
Genre: Family / Drama
Director: Joyce Chopra
Cast: Maya Ritter, Molly Ringwald, David Aaron Baker, Tory Green, Genevieve Farrell, Andrew Chalmers, Sarah Manninen, Sarah Orenstein, Samantha Somer Wilson, Josette Halpert, Amy Stewart, Hannah Fleming
The year is 1944, and Molly (Maya Ritter) is facing hardships. Her father (David Aaron Baker) has recently left to care for World War II soldiers overseas, she is auditioning for a tap dancing lead, and now she finds herself sharing a room with English schoolgirl Emily (Tory Green). As Molly becomes friends with Emily, she realizes that her problems are small in the picture of the world, and she becomes increasingly proud of her father's work during the war. (Review by LW)
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 The Music Man 2003   TV, 150 min.
Genre: Musical
Director: Jeff Bleckner
Cast: Matthew Broderick, Kristin Chenoweth, Victor Garber, Debra Monk, Molly Shannon, David Aaron Baker, Cameron Monaghan, Patrick McKenna, Clyde Alves, Cameron Adams, Megan Moniz, Richard Fitzpatrick
The great Broadway and film musical is back with likeable Matthew Broderick in the title role of Professor Harold Hill who blows into River City, Iowa, to con the town into starting a boys band and buying instruments and uniforms from him. The great songs are there, and the atmosphere created by the settings and costumes are fine. Made for TV.
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The Tao of Steve 2000 R, 88 min.
Genre: Comedy
Director: Jenniphr Goodman
Cast: Donal Logue, Greer Goodman, James "Kimo" Wills, Ayelet Kaznelson, David Aaron Baker, Nina Jaroslaw, John Hines, Selby Craig, Craig D. Lafayette, John Harrington Bland
An overweight kindergarten teacher, Dex (Donal Logue), overcomes his physical faults by exuding a "cool" demeanor that women cannot resist. Now, at his 10th-year college reunion, Dex runs into beautiful motorcycling Syd (Greer Goodman) who soon has him questioning his ability to attract women.
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| 1. The Hoax (2007)
2. Kissing Jessica Stein (2001)
3. Molly: An American Girl on the Home Front (2006)
4. The Music Man (2003)
5. The Tao of Steve (2000)
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