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List Price: $14.98 | | Label: Seville (Video & DVD)
Salesrank: 24963
Released: April 16, 2002 |
| Our Price: $12.95 |
| Used Price: $3.10 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
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.
Description of Deceiver:
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
Deceiver Reviews:
Um... 
2009-08-20 - I liked this movie--although the story was somewhat slow, it was very interesting. The only thing that bothers me is... what was up with the ending? I know it's open for interpretation, but ????? Maybe I missed something... overall, a good watch.
Silly 
2008-04-19 - The cop played by Rooker seriously bugged. He's this total hick cop. And what's even more unbeleivable is that Rosanne Arquette is his wife! Come on, when I think of her I think cosmopolitan, brassy, even sophisticated and a little tough. Putting her with Rooker's redneck cop character was the first thing that made this film lose points for me.
The old epilepsy-fueled-by-absinth demon, "sinisterly" explained to our bumbling cops by the good psychologist was another ridiculous scene.
Renee Zellweger's very Hollywood "heart-of-gold hooker" was perfect melodrama. A good example, her "hope-that-makes-you-sad" speech as she and Tim Roth are sitting out in the dark streets somewhere. Actually, this whole movie is melodrama. Talk about over the top. As for Tim Roth, he plays the same character he always plays, with the addition of a few epileptic fits. Three stars for this movie is almost generous. It's biggest crime though is that underneath all the cliche and contorted acting, it's more or less a boring movie.. and beware - it just keeps going on and on. It's hard to beleive some reviewers here call this "a thinking man's" drama. I've seen better made for TV movies.
THIS IS ONE OF MY GREATEST MOVIES EVER SEEN!!! 
2007-09-20 - I am in love with this movie in every respect! I wonder why it was so underrated in USA by the American audience, but being European born I have my doubts! This is amazing movie and hats down to all the crew! Tim is brilliant, Michael Rucker and all the other actors too! The Pate Brothers have made a great movie and I am searching for their next movie if they have one! A must have for the serious film thriller lover as well as all that are into intellectual movie-making!
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!
2004-07-16 - 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!
