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As part of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, An Honest Liar follows renowned magician, escape artist and skeptic of the paranormal: James ‘The Amazing’ Randi. Wryly amusing and equipped with deeply impressive tricks (and eyebrows), Randi is a fascinating enigma. From his record-breaking attempts and being touted as the next Houdini to his various hoaxes and many challenges against psychic Uri Geller, An Honest Liar intently follows Randi’s career trajectory and his apparent openness with deception.
Most strikingly, An Honest Liar expertly plays with the idea of deception: how deception can be used to either expose the truth, which is what Randi aims to do, or conceal the truth, which is what Randi’s opponents or faith healers, mystics and charlatans try to achieve. Randi is firm in his belief that deception should be used for entertainment and is ambitious in debunking any so-called scientific evidence for psychic powers.
Yet, using the theme of deception, directors Tyler Measom and Justin Weinstein skilfully blur the lines between Randi and the psychics. After all, both teams make a living out of trickery, though whether they are upfront about it is a different matter. While Randi presumes Geller is being deliberately dishonest, the film also subtly questions the morality of Randi’s own hoaxes. Be it through montages of both Randi and Geller’s TV appearances, An Honest Liar coyly puts forward the idea that Randi might have more in common with Geller than initially believed. In particular, Randi’s personal relationship with his partner of twenty-five years, Jose, shares an acute sense of irrationality and deception that is eerily similar to a person’s religious faith or fervent belief in the paranormal.
An Honest Liar parallels Randi’s own beliefs and practices, building upon layers of deception to create a spectacle that intrigues, delights, surprises and frustrates the audience. It is brilliantly handled, especially with how Measom and Weinstein tease and engage with the notion of truth and trust associated with the documentary genre. The metacommentary found within the film and by the filmmakers themselves makes for a thoughtful, thrilling cinematic experience.
On a final note, the MQFF screening had the audio muted in the first minute or so, much to the frustration of several audience members. Hopefully, MQFF’s subsequent sessions would be free of any audio problems.
Overall, An Honest Liar’s fascination with deception makes for an enthralling tale. The film’s twist is unexpected, yet is also the perfect final piece to the puzzle of Randi’s deliberately ambiguous persona. An Honest Liar excites and entertains; its very climax evokes a suspension of disbelief, even just for a second — just like magic.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
An Honest Liar
Directors: Tyler Measom and Justin Weinstein
Starring: James Randi, Adam Savage, Bill Nye, Penne Jillette, Alice Cooper
USA, 2014, 90 min
Melbourne Queer Film Festival
19-30 March
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