The Good Liar Film Review

Mountain village with traditional wooden houses, path, and lush. Mountain village with traditional wooden houses, path, and lush ...

The Good Liar, directed by Bill Condon and released in 2019, brings Nicholas Searle's novel to the screen with two of Britain's most respected actors at its centre. Ian McKellen plays Roy Courtnay, a seasoned conman who sets his sights on Betty McLeish, a wealthy widow portrayed by Helen Mirren. What begins as a seemingly straightforward swindle slowly reveals itself to be something far more intricate, and the film's pleasure lies in watching two performers of this calibre circle one another with quiet suspicion.

The story opens online, with Roy and Betty meeting through a dating website. Roy is crude, calculating and entirely without conscience, whilst Betty appears gentle, trusting and eager for companionship. McKellen relishes the role, switching effortlessly between the charming suitor and the ruthless operator beneath. Mirren, meanwhile, gives Betty a warmth that makes the audience want to believe in her, even as the film plants seeds of doubt. Their scenes together are the heartbeat of the picture, layered with subtext that rewards careful viewing.

Condon paces the film deliberately, allowing tension to build through small gestures rather than flashy set pieces. Carter Burwell's score underscores the unease without overwhelming it, and the screenplay by Jeffrey Hatcher cleverly restructures the novel's timeline to keep the audience guessing. Some viewers may find the middle section slow, and the final act asks for a considerable leap of faith, but the twist is delivered with enough conviction to land.

The English Countryside as a Character in The Good Liar

Mountain village with traditional wooden houses, path, and lush ...