The Hoax

Richard Gere, Alfred Molina, Hope Davis, and Marcia Gay Harden star in the apparently true story of Clifford Irving's royal scam of McGraw-Hill in the 70's. Irving made claims that he personally knew and interviewed reclusive Billionaire, Howard Hughes. He managed to get a million dollar advance out of McGraw Hill for the publishing rights. The story has been documented many times over but "The Hoax" still manages to entertain and amuse.

Gere and Molina are a terrific team...a modern day Laurel & Hardy playing well against each other with Gere as Irving and Molina as Dick Suskind, his best friend and co-conspirator. Ms. Harden plays Edith Irving in what I can only assume is a spot on depiction of the real Edith. Hope Davis plays Andrea Tate, the lead editor at McGraw Hill who is first to be suckered by Irving.

Director Lasse Hallstrom captures the period of the 70's perfectly with costumes, makeup and an accurate and appealing soundtrack. "The Hoax" is interesting, both in subject and performance but ultimately will play just as well on DVD.