RobReview for The Good Liar (2019) Directed by Bill Condon. Starring: Helen Mirren, Ian McKellen, Russell Tovey. IMDB says “Consummate con man Roy Courtnay has set his sights on his latest mark: the recently widowed Betty McLeish, worth millions. But this time, what should have been a simple swindle escalates into a cat-and-mouse game with the ultimate stakes.”
The Good Liar is a movie about a conman who befriends a widowed woman through an online dating site and enacts a plan to steal her fortunes. Roy Courtnay sets his targets on Betty McLeish, a retired history teacher who has moved to the suburbs of London and is feeling lonely since the death of her husband. Over dinner, Betty shares that she has only her grandson, Stephen, while Roy tells Betty that he has a son, but they rarely speak anymore.
Both Helen Mirren and Ian McKellen are great in their respective roles of Roy and Betty. Mirren plays Betty smart and sweet while McKellen slips between charmer and conman with ease. There are moments of nuance throughout the film from both actors that help bring a feeling of realness to the story, conveying small changes in feeling and thoughts in a subtle way. Stephen, played by Russell Tovey, is a great foil to Roy’s plot.
You learn quickly that Roy is an in-depth con-artist. The film shows us right away what level of crime he is comfortable with, but there are still moments of surprise regarding how far he will go to protect himself. Once we begin to see the character’s history, we learn more about his motives and insight into his psyche. This adds a layer of depth to the plot that was pleasantly surprising. The movie does not squander its potential in this category.
The Good Liar is a rather complex film for one with a plot as simple as a conman attempting to swindle a widow. The movie sets up a few different plot points and some are, of course, intentional red herrings. Some of these points feel a little familiar, but the movie ultimately takes a more unique path. Some potential concerns of pulling off the con are explained away sort of quickly, but nothing more egregious than other conman (or heist) films.
Overall, The Good Liar is an entertaining film with a good cast that feels worth a rewatch. The film is not afraid to add multiple layers to its plot and manages to pull everything together in the end to create an engaging experience.