Deceiver (film)

Deceiver
Deceiver
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Jonas Pate; Josh Pate
Written by	Jonas Pate; Josh Pate
Produced by	Mark Damon; Peter Glatzer; John Saviano; Don Winston
Starring	Tim Roth; Chris Penn; Michael Rooker; Rosanna Arquette; Ellen Burstyn; Renée Zellweger;
Cinematography	Bill Butler
Edited by	Dan Lebental
Music by	Harry Gregson-Williams
Distributed by	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; MDP Worldwide
Release date	August 31, 1997 (Venice Film Festival);
Running time	101 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$572,433

Deceiver (UK title: Liar) is a 1997 American mystery film directed by Jonas Pate and Josh Pate, and starring Tim Roth, Chris Penn, Michael Rooker, Rosanna Arquette, Ellen Burstyn and Renée Zellweger. It won Best Cinematography and Best Screenplay at the 1997 Stockholm Film Festival, and the Special Jury Prize at the 1998 Cognac Police Film Festival.

Plot

Textile company heir James Wayland is accused of murdering a prostitute, Elizabeth Loftus whose body was found cut in half in two suitcases. The murder is investigated by tough detective Kennesaw and his less experienced partner Braxton .

Wayland is a heavy drinker, despite suffering from epilepsy, and a compulsive liar, prone to apparent memory lapses and committing select acts of violence. He is rich enough to access necessary information, however, and he soon learns his two police interrogators' own dark secrets - Kennesaw had an affair with Elizabeth to get back at his own wife for cheating on him, while Braxton has gambling debts with a bookie known as "Mook", who is demanding $20,000 that Braxton owes her.

Cast

Tim Roth as James Walter Wayland
Chris Penn as Detective Phillip Braxton
Ellen Burstyn as "Mook"
Renée Zellweger as Elizabeth
Michael Rooker as Detective Edward Kennesaw
Rosanna Arquette as Mrs. Kennesaw
Michael Parks as Dr. Banyard
Mark Damon as Wayland's father

Reception

The film received a mixed reaction from critics. Rotten Tomatoes gives Deceiver a rating of 42% from 31 reviews.^[2] The film was described as follows: "twisty bit of trickery, Deceiver is gripping without ever being really good".^[3]

References

^ "MGM looks at indie 'Liar'". June 12, 1997.
^ "Liar - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. May 13, 2008.
^ Bleiler, David (April 8, 2014). TLA Film, Video, and DVD Guide 2002-2003: The Discerning Film Lover's Guide. St. Martin's Publishing Group. ISBN 978-1-4668-6757-4.

External links

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[1] "MGM looks at indie 'Liar'". June 12, 1997.

[2] "Liar - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. May 13, 2008.

[3] Bleiler, David (April 8, 2014). TLA Film, Video, and DVD Guide 2002-2003: The Discerning Film Lover's Guide. St. Martin's Publishing Group. ISBN 978-1-4668-6757-4.

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