The Lie 2011

Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times: Comprising small, near-perfect scenes played out largely at dinner tables and on couches, "The Lie" wonders if it's possible to rewrite lives and remake choices. Read more

David Fear, Time Out: The movie meanders like its dissatisfied, part-time pothead protagonist, not wisely but too well. Read more

Scott Tobias, AV Club: The Lie's payoff strikes an unexpected, refreshingly open note that makes this slight little indie more resonant than its scale suggests. Read more

Eric D. Snider, Film.com: This mix of laughs and drama is a good one. Read more

John DeFore, Hollywood Reporter: Adaptation of an esteemed New Yorker story lightens the tone successfully while capturing the ugliness of a panic-inspired misstep. Read more

Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News: It doesn't try too hard, but what "The Lie" is working at, in its unassuming, amusing way, is a mini-portrait of growing pains in a time of extended adolescence. Read more

Lou Lumenick, New York Post: The acting in The Lie -- including a nice bit by Mark Webber as a stoner pal who lectures Leonard on responsibility -- is good enough to almost overlook a so-so ending. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: Here's a film in which the actors create plausible people we would probably like. They're loose inside the skins of their characters. Read more

Dennis Harvey, Variety: [A] thinly amusing tale with not-especially-appealing characters. Read more

Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice: It would take considerable skill on both sides of the camera to make this material go, and Leonard, a low-rent Owen Wilson on screen, can't handle the simplest two-shot behind the lens... Read more