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Richard Gere, Alfred Molina, Marcia Gay Harden, Hope Davis. Written by William Wheeler. Directed by Lasse Hallstrom.

FILM SYNOPSIS: The Hoax, directed by Lasse Hallström, is inspired by true events in the life of Clifford Irving, the writer who nearly pulled off one of the most audacious media scams in history when his “autobiography” of Howard Hughes was published. Richard Gere stars as Irving, who claimed the book was based on in-person interviews he conducted with the reclusive billionaire, which were in fact completely bogus.

PREVIEW REVIEW: I’m looking for the right adjective to describe this movie. There isn’t just one (or at least one this marginal wordsmith can muster), for it is both appealing and appalling. The artists and technicians have combined their veteran skills, presenting a stimulating, even captivating movie experience. Richard Gere is outstanding as Clifford Irving, as is Alfred Molina as Richard Suskind. And Bill Wheeler’s script is absorbing and enlightening, for he shows us that there are brilliant people among us who could achieve riches and glory by legitimate means, but who prefer to gain glory on their own fraudulent terms.

A good director is part magician, part deceiver. Lasse Hallstrom (The Cider House Rules, My Life As A Dog) personifies these qualities. By this film’s end, we are never quite sure where truth ended and allusion began. Therefore, whenever the astute moviegoer sees “based on actual events” or variations of that phrase at the opening of a movie, he would be well advised to take it with a grain of salt.

That said, The Hoax is an absorbing morality play, as it reveals the destruction of the soul by the building of a life on deception. The lies take control and with a vampiric resolve suck a soul dry. For every lie Irving manufactured, two more were needed to cover the first. In the beginning, we are as mesmerized by his craftiness as the publishers and cocktail party guests are deceived by his subterfuge. Irving is portrayed as a gifted storytelling on a par with Garrison Keillor. But suddenly the con-artist becomes caught in the down-pull of his duplicitous ways, much like a helpless animal in quicksand. We become alarmed to see a fellow human being consumed by paranoia to the point of madness. He is no longer an amusing wheeler-dealer. It is apparent that Irving has little regard for truth or for others. And we realize the past two hours have been spent glued to the misdeeds of a soulless man.Hoax is a solid movie, entertaining and persuasive, with cast and crew at the top of their form, but it is also a disturbing experience as we witness the fulfillment of the truism, “Be sure your sins will find you out.”

Distributor: Miramax