The Hoax review

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The book of the century: that’s what Clifford Irving promises publishers McGraw-Hill in 1971. Billionaire recluse Howard Hughes is ready to set the record straight, choosing Irving to write his life story. Mr Hughes wants a million dollar advance, apparently, and will only communicate through Mr Irving… Amazingly, they go for it. A true story about a fake biography, Lasse Hallström’s film is a spry escapade, swept along by Richard Gere’s infectious self-aggrandisement as Irving: the bigger his lies, the more desperately he (and everyone else) believes in them. Alfred Molina, meanwhile, is priceless as his dozy partner in crime. Perhaps it’s no more than a literary footnote, but still unputdownable.

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The Total Film team are made up of the finest minds in all of film journalism. They are: Editor Jane Crowther, Deputy Editor Matt Maytum, Reviews Ed Matthew Leyland, News Editor Jordan Farley, and Online Editor Emily Murray. Expect exclusive news, reviews, features, and more from the team behind the smarter movie magazine.