The Lie (2011)

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

Lonnie (Joshua Leonard) is not happy with his life. He rather smoke marijuana. He's unhappy working on TV commercials. His wife Clover (Jess Weixler) surprises him after getting a big job offer. They have a baby together. He's even more unhappy as his easy-going musician days slip further away. He decides to not go in to work and lie about the reason. He smokes with his friend Tank who is pushing his idea for face food.Lonnie is a really ugly character and I'm not just talking about his glasses. He's needy. He's petty. He's childish. He's arrogant. Once this character is laid out, the question becomes what the movie does with him. Clover says he's a great father. That's not where I'm at with him. I'm waiting to go a different direction than this movie. I want it to do something edgier and more compelling.

Meet Lonnie. He's working a dead end job, and has a major dick for a boss. He's hoping to get off the "boulevard of broken dreams" for a music career with his friend Tank, but they are both stoners, so will any of these dreams happen? Now, meet Clover. She, too, is looking for the best things in life, and is hoping for a great job in the future, but this all relies too heavily on what decisions Lonnie makes. Now, meet Xana. She's an adorable, six month old baby girl, and she belongs to the parents of Lonnie and Clover. Lonnie wants to get out of his job, mainly due to complete job satisfaction. Most of the time, he doesn't even show up to work, calling off, and leaving a boss cussing him out over the phone. One day, he decides to call off, and his boss tells him that if he does not come in on that day, that he will be fired. In response, Lonnie tells "The Lie", which cannot be back pedaled. I can't spoil what this lie is, it's the main vein of this film. What I can tell you, is if you are looking for a comedy with loads of laughs, "The Lie" is not the movie you are looking for. I found it to be a very emotional ride, which is probably what Joshua wanted it to be. What you can expect, is a movie that will challenge the viewer to see what the outcome is by telling a so called "white lie". There is no such thing as a white lie. A lie is a lie. If you are not being truthful, you are a liar. The lines, however, between what a "white lie" and a "huge lie" are are blurred here. Telling his boss this lie has triggered a chain of events, and it leaves Lonnie feeling as if he's lost all control of the wheel. In the meantime, a wife is in the dark on what is going on, and an innocent child has suddenly fallen victim to a lie that was told in less then five words. ( I think it was only three words!) "The Lie" may not make you laugh even once, however, what you can expect is a movie that will make you feel, think, and possibly smile. I found it to be an unappreciated treasure, in the wonderful maze of bullshit major titles crank out, sometimes the great movies are the obscure ones, and "The Lie" falls in that category. It's not perfect by any standard, I don't even believe it even tries to be. However, the hidden message is in clear view on this one, and if you don't know what that hidden message is, you need to watch it again. The climax of the film relies on weather or not he will reveal his lie to his wife, and in the end, it appears he will have no choice whatsoever, so the ending will be seeing how she will react, and if she will even want to continue staying with the person that she loves very much. I highly recommend this movie, and please disregard the low rating this movie is drawing in.

I watched this movie on Showtime. As a person who was in my twenties during the 1960's, it struck a chord. I never did buy into the career trip. I tried one, then ended up waiting tables most of my life. But I wanted the freedom that owning land and a home could provide. I now have that without selling my soul. I'm 68 and wondering what to do with the rest of my life. This movie struck a chord, to make me realize how thankful I am for living in a rural area with Nature around me. I think I'll spend more time outside, more days at the ocean, appreciate every moment of clear air, water and sky. I'll try to live on what I have and never go back to work for someone unless I want to. It's a good movie that speaks to the soul.

Who wrote this inane character study of frustration, perplexing and otherwise absolute insanity.Feeling the frustration of the job he doesn't want to be in, a guy with a beautiful wife and the most adorable baby concocts a story that the child is in the hospital and later dies; this will get him out of going to work.You can just imagine the reaction of his wife when she finds this out. You can't just fathom how quickly she changes her ways in accepting him back.Jane Adams briefly appears as a pill pusher-or in this case, one who gets our hero some medical Mary Jane. The writer needed the latter for making this absolute junk.