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The Hoax

Play trailer Poster for The Hoax R,  2007,  1h 55m,  History/ Drama/ Comedy/ Biography Play Trailer Watchlist
Stream Now Watchlist 85% 150 Reviews Tomatometer 58% 25,000+ Ratings Popcornmeter
85% Tomatometer 150 Reviews 58% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
In the early 1970s, author Clifford Irving (Richard Gere), with accomplice Richard Suskind (Alfred Molina), attempts to pull off one of the greatest media scams of the century. He writes a fake biography of reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes, claiming that Hughes authorized it, and sells the book to publishing giant McGraw-Hill.
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The Hoax

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Critics Consensus

The Hoax is an enormously appealing film, thanks to the uniformly excellent performances and Lasse Hallström's zippy direction.

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Critics Reviews

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Jack Mathews New York Daily News Dec 4, 2007
2.5/4
It's hard to get a fix on what Hallstrom had in mind. Go to Full Review
Claudia Puig USA Today Sep 1, 2007
3.5/4
Highly entertaining. Go to Full Review
Lou Lumenick New York Post Aug 22, 2007
3/4
I've never been a fan of Richard Gere, but he gives the performance of his career as Clifford Irving. Go to Full Review
Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Nov 24, 2020
7/10
Features Richard Gere and Alfred Molina in their best performances in years. Go to Full Review
Micheal Compton Bowling Green Daily News Nov 21, 2019
B
The Hoax gets off to a sluggish start, but director Lasse Hallström does a good job of keeping the film interesting enough that the audience feels rewarded by the time it's over. Go to Full Review
Debbie Lynn Elias Behind The Lens Nov 13, 2019
From characters to costuming to consummate storytelling, set design and to pitch perfect soundtrack by Craig Burwell, The Hoax is the real deal. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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George S Feb 8, 2018 Good story, good acting, funny, unpredictable. Also shows the gullibility of the 60s and 70s.
Leia W Mar 15, 2017 When somethings we see clearly coming feels good. When other things we don't see coming feels bad. When we see a future with some people we wish to remain to see we need to provide. When we can't see some people, but have the next best thing we pull a harmless hoax. When what people font see can't hurt us when what they see is inauthentic when they don't know. When what they see they believe we continue. When we need to make others see without seeing to believe when seeing is believing but we have the next best thing in a partner and copying somethings to make authentic to backup our story. When what we see is public records, material already published and our own interpretation. When what we see are other inside stories when we associate and gather material of those whom can see some people more easily or know more about them then we do. When we need to see some people but get rejected, turned away and hold our moral grounds to give it all up when know one knows or sees to give in. When we see that we need more and more when our hoax is working more and more. When we see our hoax is working less to want more to not back down make sure you see that others dont get the upper hand and we see that we remain honest and authentic when the payout is big and have a lot in jeopardy. When we don't see the ramifications of our actions and plan a quick escape. When what we see is more powerful leverage when we need the upper hand. When we can't get the authentic thing to do the next best thing and see we must be authentic to personify some people. When we see that authencity will see to us when it calls us to confirm authenticity. When we see there is no way out when we are caught. When we see how things go in our head to see that that's a horrible idea and continue with the hoax. When there are dedicated people willing to authenticize without seeing to verify and hear the truth to reveal the reality. When we will see to it that any sort of unlawful hoax will be handled by the law. When we see that we can't take any more risks to see that others can't help themselves. When we see we are in need of a good time and good company to see we gamble everything away for a short high. When we need to see that we look, sound and feel like we are authentic to pull off the hoax. When we see that some people make a grand entrance when they are wealthy. When we see that some people like it their way when they have a disorder complex. When we see that we know everything about some people as much as the next person and professionals. When we see that we are all on thin ice to not have any errors or holes. When we see that we can authenticize some people's works from a far when it's now public. When some powers regard other powerful people a certain way to see some people are inauthentic. When we can't see whom we are dealing with when we are kidnapped and we give a second chance for someone. When we see that we are the man behind the man. When we see we are caught red handed with a hoax. When we see we need to add more when our life depends on it. When we can't stay when we see we are no longer loved. When we see that there is some truth to some material that makes some things authentic and others a hoax when we mix lies and honesty together for anyone to notice. When we see we need an out of everything we started and did to not lose everything when we have exhausted ourselves being dishonest. When we see we are suffering a mental breakdown and disorder like whom we personify. When we see we know the truth when it is revealed to us. When we see we must confront those whom we put our faith on. When we see we are borderline delusional when we are lieing. When we see that we need to get all our facts in order to proceed whether somethings are delusional or real. When we see that all we wanted was some admiration for being a writer, but we chose the wrong side when what we are good at is fiction rather then fact. When we see that we grabbed the the attention of news and those high in power to know what we wrote was good. When we see that we played an intricate part in revealing a scandal when others saw us as factual. When we see all the dominoes collapse when they are all lined up and fall together. When we see not everyone took the fall and lived a different life. When we see that we are guilty, served time and ruined many lives in the process including the life of the person we imitated. When we see lies cost the livlihood of people that sucks us in like a book that leaves us in awe when the ending reveals we have been duped, we were honest the whole time, our life is ruined, and that we lost more then money in the end. See more
Leia L Feb 28, 2017 Fascinating story, well acted, and it's hard to believe it is pretty much based on true events, though probably not the Watergate claim. See more
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The Hoax

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Movie Info

Synopsis In the early 1970s, author Clifford Irving (Richard Gere), with accomplice Richard Suskind (Alfred Molina), attempts to pull off one of the greatest media scams of the century. He writes a fake biography of reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes, claiming that Hughes authorized it, and sells the book to publishing giant McGraw-Hill.
Director
Lasse Hallström
Producer
Mark Gordon, Betsy Beers, Bob Yari, Leslie Holleran, Joshua D. Maurer
Screenwriter
William Wheeler
Distributor
Miramax Films
Production Co
Stratus Films
Rating
R (Language)
Genre
History, Drama, Comedy, Biography
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 13, 2007, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 12, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$7.1M
Runtime
1h 55m
Sound Mix
SDDS, DTS
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