The Good Liar
An aging con artist’s seemingly effortless scheme becomes perilous when his target’s guarded life awakens genuine feeling and hidden danger.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- sleek
- suspenseful
- cynical
- adult mystery night
- rainy evening
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film watchable because of Ian McKellen and Helen Mirren, while judging its twist-heavy screenplay thin, predictable, and less convincing than its performers.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Roy Courtnay targets Betty McLeish by cultivating a personal relationship rather than relying only on an impersonal financial scam.
The plot centers on an experienced con artist and a well-to-do widow whose apparent social roles conceal unexpected agency.
The film parcels out flashbacks connected to the 1940s, making buried history central to the unfolding deception.
The swindle unfolds around well-to-do characters and domestic privilege, contrasting refined surfaces with calculated fraud.
Films like The Good Liar, and why
Matchstick Men
Shared con artist premise, deception-driven crime plotting, and elegant adult thriller tone.
The Thomas Crown Affair
Shared sophisticated criminal schemes, shifting loyalties, and emphasis on character performance over action.
The Visit
Shared older protagonists, concealed motives, psychological manipulation, and twist-oriented mystery structure.
Movie Details
- Director
- Bill Condon
- Release Date
- 2019-11-08
- Runtime
- 109 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (1310)
Cast
- Helen Mirren
- Ian McKellen
- Russell Tovey
- Jim Carter
- Mark Lewis Jones
- Laurie Davidson
- Phil Dunster
- Lucian Msamati
- Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson
- Tunji Kasim
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Good Liar about?
- An aging con artist’s seemingly effortless scheme becomes perilous when his target’s guarded life awakens genuine feeling and hidden danger.
- What is The Good Liar like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Good Liar as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Good Liar violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Good Liar as mild.
- What did critics think of The Good Liar?
- Critics broadly found the film watchable because of Ian McKellen and Helen Mirren, while judging its twist-heavy screenplay thin, predictable, and less convincing than its performers.
- Which films are like The Good Liar?
- Films with a similar feel include Matchstick Men, The Thomas Crown Affair, and The Visit.
- How long is The Good Liar?
- The Good Liar runs 109 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Good Liar?
- In United States, The Good Liar is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex.
