Showtimes & Tickets Enter Zip Code:

THE HOAX
Directed by: Lasse Hallstrom.
Produced by: Mark Gordon, Leslie Holleran, Joshua D. Maurer, Betsy Beers & Bob Yari.
Written by William Wheeler, based on the book by Clifford Irving.
Director of Photography: Oliver Stapleton.
Edited by: Andrew Mondshein.
Music by: Carter Burell.
Released by: Miramax Films.
Country of Origin: USA. 115 min. Rated R.
With: Richard Gere, Alfred Molina, Marcia Gay Harden, Hope Davis, Julie Delpy, Eli Wallach & Stanley Tucci.

The Hoax depicts the "unbelievably true story" of writer Clifford Irving, who created a fake autobiography of Howard Hughes in the early 1970s. Using stringent research, clever maneuvering and bold-faced imagination, Irving and his cohort, Dick Suskind, concocted the tome for a fat advance from publisher McGraw-Hill, after the company’s brass was assured by Irving that he was personally contacted by the eccentric billionaire and appointed to be the scribe of a life story that would be sure to sell millions of copies. After all, Hughes was universally known for his fascinating business/aviation/Hollywood life, untold wealth and power, and kooky behavior. Who wouldn't want to hear about this from the man himself? Even with a few close calls, the more outrageous the explanations Irving weaves for his odd partnership with Hughes, the more his publisher is willing to believe. Who could make such outrageous claims if they weren't true? An inventive and clever writer, perhaps?

His editor, Andrea Tate (Hope Davis), only suspects what the viewer knows, but because she hopes to be a part of this money-making project, she's not perceptive enough to know something is wrong with the picture her writer is presenting. But any initial doubt she or anyone at the company may have are dashed when a letter written by Irving, as though by Hughes, passes muster with a handwriting expert. Visually, director Lasse Hallstrom never fails to make the tale compelling, as Irving dashes off to the Bahamas, Las Vegas, or D.C. In fact, Tate may be the rare editor to take an important and confrontational meeting in the middle of scenic Central Park.

Irving is deftly played by Richard Gere, hypnotically strutting without being overwrought. Gere's charm makes his depiction of a maniacal character look easy. More than that, you get the sense that he's having a ball, particularly when he imitates Hughes' voice and manner for the “interview tapes” with devilish delight. Through these Hughes-inspired improvised rants, he finishes the book. Yet, it is never revealed what fascinating, and apparently convincing, anecdotes Irving had actually written, nor is there any fact checking. No matter how eccentric a subject may be, wouldn’t a publisher at least strive to make sure the facts are correct? If you’ve seen the recent biopic The Aviator, you’ll recognize many of the incidents and names mentioned.

As far as the truth goes, the movie itself has some details that are fictionalized. For instance, Irving's motivation wasn't desperation for a book deal since he already had a four-book contact from McGraw-Hill at the time, and there was never a contrived New York City visit by Hughes via helicopter, as amusing as that episode comes across in the film. Though enjoyable and just under two hours long, The Hoax feels longer as the hucksterism starts to become tiresome, with an extraneous and underdeveloped subplot involving the Nixon presidency and the Watergate burglary, which plays more like an Oliver Stone outtake. Maybe like the book Irving wrote, the film could have used a touch more perceptive editing. David Nudo, Publisher – Publishers Weekly
April 16, 2007