A Little White Lie

Why should a handyman with the same last name as a reclusive author accept an invitation to speak at an obscure writing conference?

The recluse wrote a worldwide hit, the quintessential coming-of-age novel, then disappeared. The handyman isn't a writer...or is he?

A fascinating and intriguing plot with stellar acting, especially by the primary protagonist Michael Shannon. He is ably assisted by Kate Hudson, the professor who finds the author, and Don Johnson, her ex-husband who turns out to be the savior of the situation.

The ending is Shakespearean and quite unguessable. No idea why this hasn't been a huge .

A Little White Lie might be the worst marketed movie and yet the best ratings sleeper since My Cousin Vinnie. IMBD currently has a score of 5.9 Why? The trailer and promotional materials list it as a zany romantic comedy. Director Michael Maren didn't make that movie; rather he turned Chris Belden's hilarious book Shriver - a campy case of mistaken identity and turned it into a brilliant portrayal of imposter syndrome and writers block. The production values are more in keeping with a low budget comedy - such as Caddyshack or Dodgeball - and the cast including Kate Hudson and Don Johnson (and their scripts) would be perfectly appropriate for a rom com. The giveaway is the sublime Michael Shannon. He was the top choice by Maren after the untimely death of Philip Seymour Hoffman. It's his movie. Conjuring an exquisite metamorphosis worthy of Kafka. From a janitor who doesn't read to a a suspect invitee at a literary conference to perhaps the real McCoy? Shriver published Goat Time - a singularity of brilliance a la JD. Salinger. 15 years later, he isn't sure about anything. Could he have possibly written it? Is he actually a writer? Yet the festival draws him out of his cocoon. Whether he is the real Shriver or not - I leave to you to find out. Watch this movie. But temper the obvious expectation for a light comedy. It may be the next Being There. And an aside - the marketing team has some serious explaining to do!

My first recollection of actor Michael Shannon was in the 1993 "Groundhog Day" when he was still a teenager playing Fred, a newlywed who was given tickets to WrestleMania by Bill Murray's Phil. Since then I have seen him in almost 40 movies in a great variety of roles, often unsung, he has become a quite accomplished actor.

Here he is Shriver, working as a janitor and in general leading a very dull life. By chance he has the same name as a famous but reclusive author who has dropped off the radar since his first and only book was a resounding success.

Kate Hudson is Simone Cleary, a former writer but now a literature and writing professor at a private college in the Los Angeles area. She is in change of an annual event on campus to inspire future writers and she is trying to get the author, Shriver, to be the guest this year.

Janitor Shriver is reluctant and scared, there may be some benefit to his agreeing to go and impersonate the real Shriver, and eventually decides to get on the plane and take them up on the invitation.

Most of the story is a fish out of water, this Shriver has no clue how to interact with the others or what an appropriate response might be to various questions and inquiries. I felt uncomfortable myself for him, wondering how he would be able to navigate the event and the appearances he needed to make.

The script is good and Shannon does a really great job playing the character. Another very entertaining character is played by Don Johnson as professor T. Wasserman. As the story unfolds we start to wonder, "Is this janitor really the author, Shriver, and somehow lost touch with who he really is?"

I really enjoyed this movie, watched at home with my wife, streaming. A quite different movie, done very well.

I give it a 7 1/2. You might not recognize the lead actor's name "Michael Shannon" but you will recognize him in the movie. He did a marvelous job in a complex role. Just the right amounts of understatement, humor, and insight in his role. His acting made you feel for his situation and made you want him to succeed.

Kate Hudson did a very good job in her role. She was believable, funny, and showed she could act, not just play Kate Hudson.

All of the other actors were excellent in their supporting roles.

The girl who plays the hotel clerk hit it out of the park with her understated performance. Only on screen for a couple of scenes but you can recognize her from every hotel you've stayed at.

The story line is funny, the directing is good, and the movie has good pace. You never look at the clock and wonder how much longer is the movie.

I don't get the low reviews because it is well acted, funny, and very entertaining.

"I only wonder if your little deception plays out as a comedy or a tragedy......... Is there any difference?"

It starts out a little slow but I couldn't look away wondering where it was all going. As it moves along it keeps you wondering who is the real writer Shriver. It is a comedy and a funny look at the world of writing. I liked it. I really liked Michael Shannon in this as well as the familiar faces of Don Johnson, Kate Hudson and M. Emmet Walsh.

Is it a Hollywood Blockbuster? No. Is it for everyone? No. But if you have any interest in writing, reading Novels or Michael Shannon it is worth a watch.