Directed by Lasse Hallstrom. Starring Richard Gere, Alfred Molina, Hope Davis, Stanley Tucci, Marcia Gay Harden, Julia Delpy, Eli Wallach.Drama/Historical. Synopsis: The story of how and why Clifford Irving and friend Dick Susskind wrote a phony autobiography of reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes and had many people thinking it was legitimate in one of the greatest hoaxes of the 20th Century.
Only people of a certain generation or older can fully appreciate what a mysterious and yet well known figure Howard Hughes was during the last part of his life, when he was a total recluse and, literally, a mythical figure in his own lifetime.
I was just a young whipper snapper in the 70's, but I do remember a little bit about the national mystique surrounding this strange and eccentric figure, widely said (perhaps incorrectly) to be the world's richest man, Hughes was a world class aviator, alleged womanizer, and infamous movie producer though he had not been seen in public for close to 20 years. (For you young pups, back in the day one had to actually accomplish something to be a celebrity, you couldn't do it just by having 8 kids, eating a plate of insects, or coming in a close second in a competition for people who can't sing but really think they can. Also, since there was no YouTube or 24/7 news cycle, celebrity lasted more than a week and a half...seriously.)
It was at this time that a novelist named Clifford Irving (Richard Gere Internal Affairs) step into the spotlight out of the blue and announced that he was commissioned by Hughes to write an autobiography, a book that many thought at that time might challenge the Bible as the best selling book in the world. It turned out to be one of the bigger hoaxes of the twentieth century and hence the title of our flick.
Irving was helped by his friend and co-writer, Dick Susskind (Alfred Molina The Da Vinci Code) as they present Irving's publishing agent (Hope Davis The Lodger) forged documents purporting to be handwritten letters from Hughes in a successful attempt to get the publishing company, McGraw-Hill, to advance Irving-and Hughes-a significant sum for the book. Well, this is all fine and dandy except for one little thing....Irving had never met Howard Hughes.
So, just how did he pull this off, fooling one of the most respected publishing houses in the world as well as Life magazine, 60 Minutes, and others? Well, that's the story of the movie and, its well told. I guarantee that, whether or not you're familiar with the story of the hoax-and I was not-as you are watching Hoax you will keep saying two things to yourself: 1) How in the hell did he get away with this for so long? and 2) what brass these guys had to even try this.
The flick is hilarious at times, but its no comedy. It captures the feel of the early '70s well and I predict that a part of you will be rooting for Clifford and Dick to pull this thing off, though you know they didn't....though they came pretty darn close. Gere is outstanding as Clifford Irving, a charming and likeable cad, which you know the real Irving had to be to get as far as he did. Molina elicits giggles and laugh in every scene he is in, though I do understand the real Clifford Irving was extremely critical of this portrayal of Dick Susskind (who passed away a few years prior to the film being produced)
The supporting cast is exceptionally strong, with Davis as the composite character of Irving's agent doing her usual great work (I'm a big fan of Hope Davis); but there is a much more, with Marica Gay Harden (Maiden Heist) as irving's wife who plays a major role in the hoax, Stanley Tucci (The Devil Wears Prada) , Julia Delpy (The Legend Of Lucy Keyes) as Irving's on again off again mistress who plays a major role in exposing the hoax, and the legendary Eli Wallach.
I also liked the way the film presents an alternate reality from the point of view of Irving, which is not historically accurate, of course, but does make it easy for us to get the main point: somewhere along the line Irving began to believe his own B.S. Very effective, in my view.
The special features on DVD were also interesting and informative, including excerpts of interview with Clifford Irving and Mike Wallace in 1972, prior to the hoax being exposed, as well as one with those same two twenty plus years later in the aftermath of everything. Believe it or not, even though he knows everyone knows the book is a fraud-a crime he went to jail for-Irving has still tried for years to get it published.
Fascinating. Unbelievale.
Good flick, too.
Only people of a certain generation or older can fully appreciate what a mysterious and yet well known figure Howard Hughes was during the last part of his life, when he was a total recluse and, literally, a mythical figure in his own lifetime.
I was just a young whipper snapper in the 70's, but I do remember a little bit about the national mystique surrounding this strange and eccentric figure, widely said (perhaps incorrectly) to be the world's richest man, Hughes was a world class aviator, alleged womanizer, and infamous movie producer though he had not been seen in public for close to 20 years. (For you young pups, back in the day one had to actually accomplish something to be a celebrity, you couldn't do it just by having 8 kids, eating a plate of insects, or coming in a close second in a competition for people who can't sing but really think they can. Also, since there was no YouTube or 24/7 news cycle, celebrity lasted more than a week and a half...seriously.)
It was at this time that a novelist named Clifford Irving (Richard Gere Internal Affairs) step into the spotlight out of the blue and announced that he was commissioned by Hughes to write an autobiography, a book that many thought at that time might challenge the Bible as the best selling book in the world. It turned out to be one of the bigger hoaxes of the twentieth century and hence the title of our flick.
Irving was helped by his friend and co-writer, Dick Susskind (Alfred Molina The Da Vinci Code) as they present Irving's publishing agent (Hope Davis The Lodger) forged documents purporting to be handwritten letters from Hughes in a successful attempt to get the publishing company, McGraw-Hill, to advance Irving-and Hughes-a significant sum for the book. Well, this is all fine and dandy except for one little thing....Irving had never met Howard Hughes.
So, just how did he pull this off, fooling one of the most respected publishing houses in the world as well as Life magazine, 60 Minutes, and others? Well, that's the story of the movie and, its well told. I guarantee that, whether or not you're familiar with the story of the hoax-and I was not-as you are watching Hoax you will keep saying two things to yourself: 1) How in the hell did he get away with this for so long? and 2) what brass these guys had to even try this.
The flick is hilarious at times, but its no comedy. It captures the feel of the early '70s well and I predict that a part of you will be rooting for Clifford and Dick to pull this thing off, though you know they didn't....though they came pretty darn close. Gere is outstanding as Clifford Irving, a charming and likeable cad, which you know the real Irving had to be to get as far as he did. Molina elicits giggles and laugh in every scene he is in, though I do understand the real Clifford Irving was extremely critical of this portrayal of Dick Susskind (who passed away a few years prior to the film being produced)
The supporting cast is exceptionally strong, with Davis as the composite character of Irving's agent doing her usual great work (I'm a big fan of Hope Davis); but there is a much more, with Marica Gay Harden (Maiden Heist) as irving's wife who plays a major role in the hoax, Stanley Tucci (The Devil Wears Prada) , Julia Delpy (The Legend Of Lucy Keyes) as Irving's on again off again mistress who plays a major role in exposing the hoax, and the legendary Eli Wallach.
I also liked the way the film presents an alternate reality from the point of view of Irving, which is not historically accurate, of course, but does make it easy for us to get the main point: somewhere along the line Irving began to believe his own B.S. Very effective, in my view.
The special features on DVD were also interesting and informative, including excerpts of interview with Clifford Irving and Mike Wallace in 1972, prior to the hoax being exposed, as well as one with those same two twenty plus years later in the aftermath of everything. Believe it or not, even though he knows everyone knows the book is a fraud-a crime he went to jail for-Irving has still tried for years to get it published.
Fascinating. Unbelievale.
Good flick, too.
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