Deceiver

Starring:Chris Penn, Ellen Burstyn, Tim Roth, RenÃ©e Zellweger, Michael Rooker, Rosanna Arquette, Don Winston, Michael Parks, Mark Damon, J.C. Quinn, Jody Wilhelm, Ocie Pouncie, Bob Hungerford, Genevieve Butler, Chelsea Butler, David Alan Pickelsimer, Paul Smith (XVI), George Nannarello, Michael Flippo, James Middleton
Director: Josh Pate, Jonas Pate
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Interrogations, mind games, and murder: Jonas and Josh Pate's post-modern thriller may be the bastard child of Reservoir Dogs and The Usual Suspects, but this devious offspring charts its own unpredictable course. Tim Roth dominates the film as the epileptic, absinthe-drinking, genius murder suspect who plays the lie detector like a violin and turns the tables on the cops (dim bulb Chris Penn and simmering veteran Michael Rooker) by stirring up their secrets, and they've got some doozies. The twisty little mystery is too clever for its own good, and the Pates neglect to stitch together the loose threads (like what exactly Ellen Burstyn's raspy bookie is doing in all this), but they have a great eye and style to spare. The chilly stare and cool disposition of Roth's borderline psychotic makes this battle of wits a game well worth watching. --Sean Axmaker

Description

Tim Roth (Planet of the Apes) and Renee Zellweger (Bridget Jones's Diary) star in this riveting psychological thriller with shocking twists, "sharp dialogue and a cynical intelligence" (Chicago Tribune). Also starring Chris Penn, Michael Rooker, Ellen Burstyn and Rosanna Arquette and charged with unbridled suspense and powerful performances, this "absorbingly crafty murder mystery" (Entertainment Weekly) delves into the murky depths of truth and deception and delivers a stunning final scene that will jolt your spine with chills! James Wayland (Roth) is nota typical murder suspect: he's fabulously wealthy, a Princeton graduate and has a genius-level I.Q.But Detectives Braxton (Chris Penn) and Kennesaw (Michael Rooker) sense that there's more than meets the eye when they interrogate him for the brutal killing of a beautiful call girl (Zellweger). As their search for the truth takes a suddenly dangerous turn, Braxton and Kennesaw realize that Wayland is a master manipulator, cleverly using their darkest secrets against them in a lethal, winner-take-all game that ignites a powder keg of deadly motives and shocking revelations.

Customer Reviews:

THE WRATH OF ROTH.......2004-12-07

Tim Roth gives a mesmerizing and commanding performance in this exceptional thriller. Roth plays the suspect in a brutal murder of a prostitute. He is brought in for lie detector test by detectives Chris Penn and Michael Rooker. Roth proves to be an exceptionally good liar, and a cat and mouse game ensues. Seems like our policemen have their own secrets, too. Penn is in debt to a bookie (played by a malicious Ellen Burstyn) for $20,000. Rooker's wife (Rosanna Arquette) is having an affair with her obstetrician. Somehow the extremely rich Roth knows all of this and uses it.
Renee Zelweger portrays the murder victim, and although she's not used a whole lot, she has some compelling scenes and evidence of her talent is blossoming.
Directors and Jonah and Joshua Pate have some effective camera angles; only the movie's ambiguous ending leaves one a little disappointed. But Roth's performance is great, and you should enjoy the tension. Rooker and Penn are also outstanding; Rooker is one of our most underappreciated actors.

The zig zag transfer of blame!.......2004-07-17

At last we are in front of a clever movie far away from the standars issues who gambles hard and never looses . The movie is a cat - mouse film , that slowly becomes increasing in tension and inner drama .
Tim Roth is a mosnter actor . He carrties at least the fifty per cent of the film under his shoulders . The script pays a glorious tribute to these dark film noir of the fifties .
Roth is framed about a prostitute's murder . In the inquiring process , you'll find the law is out on its mind , due both investigators are full loaded of little nasty private profiles , but since they represent the status quo , the law has to walk in a straight line , and never failing .
The slow process of the facts will carry to a interseting laberynthic game .
This film is a cult movie . An interesting approach with some bits of the Silence of the lambs and The offence . Nobody is innocent is one of the multiple results obtained after the film ends .
Mesmerizing all along the way!

a stylish muddle.......2003-08-29

I really enjoyed this movie for its style and for some of the more compelling scenes. The murder is not solved and many interpretations of the "evidence" can be discussed to support the guilt or innocence of the two main suspects implicated in Elizabeth's death. It's a fun brain twister, and Tim Roth excels at playing the upper class jerk. There are a couple of memorable scenes but overall, this movie walks the line on being an involving exploration of the main characters. Almost great, but not quite.

Watch "The Offense".......2003-08-03

Admittedly, I watched this movie when I thought another one was coming on the TV, and haven't seen the DVD or VHS versions, but I kept watching, since I like some of the "tough guys" in the movie, especially Tim Roth.
It's a pretty good movie, unless you keep watching it, and realize that it's a scrambled version of the old Sean Connery film "The Offense", where a suspect (who may or may not be the murderer) "turns the tables" on the cops and has an altercation with the interrogating policeman (I won't ruin the end of "The Offense", but it's more gripping, in "The Offensive" than "Deceiver", in my opinion).
Apparently Sean Connery cut a deal with his studio to make a few "artsy" movies (including "The Offense" and "The Wall") if he made a bunch of James Bond movies.
"Deceiver" is pretty ok, and I kept watching, but "The Offense" is the source, and better. Presumably there were sources for "The Offense" though, but I don't know them.
Check out "The Offense", and prepare to be "offended"!!!

Manipulated and Lied to.......2003-05-31

In flashbacks Roth's Wayland shows real affection for Zellweger's character - Elizabeth. Elizabeth is the only person who will listen to him. (who cares) She is intuitive about him -- in one of the best scenes of the movie she notes that he had been laughing "but it wasn't a real laugh, was it?" and talks about the saddest thing being hope. The scene is strong, but I'm unclear how everything that happens ties into what we are shown here. This could have been a great film, but there is no logical explanation for the ending that fits the motivations of every character. We are given pieces just to trick us, and in the end we are not so much tricked as left with a puzzle that can't be solved. If Wayland killed Elizabeth - then Why? Why would someone kill the one person who understood them (who could see who they really were?) There could have been some fascinating psychology put into play here - if this Was the case - then wouldn't the film have been more intriguing if that subject was dealt with? - ala The Talented Mr. Ripley - and trying to understand a person who can't bear to have someone see the Truth about them - as they have been living lies all their life. Or maybe Wayland just couldn't bear to be loved ... as his parents seemed devoid of the stuff. So Elizabeth did the one unforgiveable thing, and noticed him and cared about him... this is where the script could have went for some shred of motivation for What Went Wrong -- it has all the potential and underpinnings for it, but nothing is fleshed out. Maybe it could have been saved with the scene that is missing - something between Elizabeth and Wayland. It is understandable for Wayland to lie to the cops - but it isn't right for the filmmakers to lie to us - at least not in the end - when we want the payoff of being able to decipher who did what and why. Great writers know how to finish a story. It's too bad - because this could have been a great film if someone had the foresight to put it together right. I still enjoyed watching the film for the cat and mouse games in the interrogation room... the kind of power plays I found so interesting in the early years of Homicide are in play here (if in a less sophisticated form -- or I should say a form that has less understanding of human psychology.)
There's confusion in this film, and not just the good kind of confused as you try to understand who did what.
I know it sounds like I really didn't think much of Deceiver. On the contrary, while the story has its share of problems there are times when it delivers the goods. The triangle of tension and deceit between the police detectives and Wayland is compelling. Tim Roth steals the show as Wayland. Roth is both vulnerable yet calculating and devilishly devious - a heady and interesting mix.

Average customer rating:

Deceiver (DIVX) DVD

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Product Description

Deceiver starring Tim Roth, Chris Penn, Renee Zellweger. THIS IS A DIVX, NOT DVD.

Average customer rating:

Deceiver [Region 2]
Starring: Chris Penn , Ellen Burstyn , Tim Roth , Renée Zellweger , and Michael Rooker
Director: Josh Pate , and Jonas Pate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B00004VY6V

Average customer rating:

Deceiver [Region 2]
Starring: Chris Penn , Ellen Burstyn , Tim Roth , Renée Zellweger , and Michael Rooker
Director: Josh Pate , and Jonas Pate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Thrillers | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B00004VY8T

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