The Lie

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.

As somebody to whom honesty is extremely important, I found the main part of this film incredibly uncomfortable to watch. But if anything it has given me pity for liars rather than contempt because, as this goes some way to illustrate, the disintegration of the soul is at stake.

As well as the morality and consequences of lying, it also questions how faithful we are to our principles in the face of stark reality.

On a lighter note, it's hardly worth posting as a goof, but why would anybody use a baby monitor when the baby is asleep in a tent just a few yards away? And there is no IMDb credit for Violet Long who portrays Xana - without whom there would be no story and little to feel good about!

Basically, this movie is about a man (and his wife) having a pre-mid-life crisis that starts and ends in the span of a week.

I heard about this movie and checked its rating on here (which, at the time of this writing, was 4.8.) Generally when things are that low I give them a pass, but I watched the trailer and was strangely compelled to try it anyway. I enjoy indie movies as whole. I find they are all quite character driven, usually dialogue heavy, prone to closeups and no-frills in most departments. I feel like this movie is a pretty perfect example of that and wonder if (despite the written reviews) those people that simply gave it a score without a review are judging it harshly in comparison to larger budget dramas? If you're looking for action or twists, this is definitely not the movie for you! But, if you enjoy observing characters and getting into their heads, this is a pretty good movie for that. Not great, but good! Also very well rounded.

The main actor, Joshua Leonard (also the director) was in another recent indie movie I saw called Higher Ground. That movie received a score of 6.8 on here (again, at this time) yet I actually found this movie much more compelling and watchable than that one and enjoyed it more as a whole.

The actors in this movie are fantastic. Whether or not you enjoy the plot, you cannot deny that the actors (specifically the main two) do amazing work with their expressions conveying internal thoughts. Some of the scenery/cinematography is quite lovely as well.

The main theme may be a bit cringe-worthy to some (not me) and heavyish at times, but ultimately this is not a depressing movie as a whole. The trailer gives a very good outline of the movie, but leaves the ending out.

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.

Seriously there is something technically wrong with this movie. It has the appearance of being recorded on a jerky cell phone. I don't mean obligatory shaky cam because that's all edgy and indie and like that. I mean straight up high latency data buffering problems. Plus I'm pretty sure no artificial lighting at all was used. Whatever was natural light (INDOORS) was what they used. Everything is army green and brown. The sound is smooth and syncs OK. Now to the story. A bunch of near middle aged stoners and slackers who wake up every day bemoaning their utter lack of responsibilities or sense. Sample line "His day job has become his....livelihood!" Well herp derp Jackson that's kinda what life is. Dude. I can only conclude that person who made this movie hates each and every one the characters.