The Invention of Lying

bnt

This movie, starring Ricky Gervais (and co-written by him) is out in the USA on Friday. The trailer looks funny enough: Gervais' character Mark lives in a world where lying is impossible or unhead-of, and everyone's words are taken as true at all times.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_V9b8upG9E

What I've learned today, from reading Roger Ebert's review, is that the film goes a lot further, philosophically, than the trailer suggests. The review has some slight spoilers, but basically:

Mark's world has no religion, because that requires the ability to, well, claim to have knowledge when you don't. In trying to comfort his ill mother, Mark basically invents religion, and becomes the leader of this new idea, telling people about a Man In The Sky who knows everything and will take care of you when you pop your clogs.

I don't know if Ricky Gervais set out to make people think about e.g. the origins of religion or problem of evil, but it sounds like he's done it in a very entertaining way. Now to see how well it does at the weekend box office. :cool:

ChocolateSauce

Sounds interesting, I might go see it.

Daftendirekt

Can't be any worse than Ghost Town anyway.

It's an interesting premise.

De he write this one himself?

adamd164

Fairly obvious religious references in there, even in the trailer!

Should be great - Gervais is a legend.

Dades

Daftendirekt wrote: »

De he write this one himself?

Wrote and directed it. Was surprised to hear that myself.

The trailer is pure Hollywood and put me right off it.
I suspect there's more to the movie than that leads us to think there is.

Red Hand

Gervais fails bigtime on the big screen.

Zombrex

Dades wrote: »

Wrote and directed it. Was surprised to hear that myself.

The trailer is pure Hollywood and put me right off it.
I suspect there's more to the movie than that leads us to think there is.

He co-wrote it. His company snapped up the script when it was doing the rounds, and wrote another draft on top of it with the original author, adding that Gervais style to it.

lostexpectation

confusing

bnt

Well, American Catholics really don't like it: :eek:

Gervais, who co-wrote and co-directed with Matthew Robinson, launches an all-out, sneering assault on the foundations of religious faith such as has seldom if ever been seen in a mainstream film, despicably belittling core Judeo-Christian beliefs. Not only Catholics but believers of every stripe and, indeed, people of good will generally will be well-advised to shun this calculated cinematic insult.

The film contains pervasive blasphemy, some sexual humor and references, and a few rough and crude terms. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

It's showing in Dublin today. Does that mean we'll see the distributors brought up on Blasphemy charges? That would be something to see ...

(USCCB is short for US Conference of Catholic Bishops.)

robindch

"Morally offensive"? That's a new one to me!

PDN

Gervais, who co-wrote and co-directed with Matthew Robinson, launches an all-out, sneering assault on the foundations of religious faith such as has seldom if ever been seen in a mainstream film, despicably belittling core Judeo-Christian beliefs. Not only Catholics but believers of every stripe and, indeed, people of good will generally will be well-advised to shun this calculated cinematic insult.

Now that worked much better than the trailer in making me want to go and see it. They should use that as a blurb on the posters.

rockmongrel

He stated in an interview that he writes what he knows about. He wrote the office because he worked in an office for a few years. Wrote Extras because, well, he's an actor. And he has a degree in philosophy, so wrote this one. What a man...

Rev Hellfire

I look forward to reading its review on the ChildCare Action Project; the southpark review remains the point to aim for.

Galvasean

I remember reading an interview in the paper recently where Gervais made the point that sometimes lying is a good thing. He mentioned that when his mother was dying he had planned to tell her that he believed in heavan if she asked (even though he didn't) to comfort her. She never actually asked him and he regrets not getting the chance to tell her.

population

bnt wrote: »

Well, American Catholics really don't like it: :eek:

It's showing in Dublin today. Does that mean we'll see the distributors brought up on Blasphemy charges? That would be something to see ...

(USCCB is short for US Conference of Catholic Bishops.)

They issue statements on just about everything bar sexual predators within their cloth

bnt

population wrote: »

They issue statements on just about everything bar sexual predators within their cloth

And yet, we're talking about people who think Clueless is morally offensive, because of "ridicule of virginity, implied affairs", and more. "Do as we say, not as we do"; the epitome of hypocrisy. :rolleyes:

Coriolanus

He's just stepped up in my estimation. I think I'll go see it now.

Funglegunk

Saw it yesterday. The whole God thing lasts for about 15 mins, then it goes back to 'romance' territory. To be honest its nowhere near as funny as it should be.

V.disappointed with it actually, as I am a huge fan of Ricky Gervais.

PDN

population wrote: »

They issue statements on just about everything bar sexual predators within their cloth

I find it rather ironic that someone would post a flat-out lie and invention in a thread entitled 'The Invention of Lying'.

The USCCB has issued a number of statements on sexual predators within their cloth: http://www.catholicnh.org/child-safety/how-the-diocese-works-to-protect-children/usccb-office-for-children-and-youth-protection/

Corkfeen

PDN wrote: »

I find it rather ironic that someone would post a flat-out lie and invention in a thread entitled 'The Invention of Lying'.

The USCCB has issued a number of statements on sexual predators within their cloth: http://www.catholicnh.org/child-safety/how-the-diocese-works-to-protect-children/usccb-office-for-children-and-youth-protection/

I really want them to review "Antichrist" that would be one pissed off review.

antiskeptic

Gervais, who co-wrote and co-directed with Matthew Robinson, launches an all-out, sneering assault on the foundations of religious faith such as has seldom if ever been seen in a mainstream film, despicably belittling core Judeo-Christian beliefs. Not only Catholics but believers of every stripe and, indeed, people of good will generally will be well-advised to shun this calculated cinematic insult.

The film contains pervasive blasphemy, some sexual humor and references, and a few rough and crude terms. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive.

They sound surprised..

builttospill

I'm laughing out loud reading this thread. I was dragged by the OH to see that horrible rom com at the weekend and on one hand I'm seriously angry that I had to sit there and watch that pathetic cnut Ricky "one trick pony" Gervais dander further down the road to banality but on the other hand I felt vindicated cos I predicted a few years ago that his shtick would become null and void and he would die on his arse.

However this isn't why I'm laughing. I am laughing cos people are actually talking about this childish nonsense in the Atheism & Agnosticism Forum. What next? A debate about Gywneth Paltrow's portrayal of a truth seeker in that great agnostic epic Sliding Doors?

Dades

builttospill wrote: »

What next? A debate about Gywneth Paltrow's portrayal of a truth seeker in that great agnostic epic Sliding Doors?

Stay on topic, thanks.

If you want you can start a new Sliding Doors thread.

builttospill

Dades wrote: »

Stay on topic, thanks.

If you want you can start a new Sliding Doors thread.

I don't even know if you are joking or not. That's quite frightening.

Anyways...

The Invention of Lying is whimsical at best. It follows the same sort of ideas and reasoning about "the man in the sky" we would have entertained when we were about 10 years of age.

Dades

builttospill wrote: »

I don't even know if you are joking or not. That's quite frightening.

And here's me thinking you thought this place was hilarious.

builttospill

Dades wrote: »

And here's me thinking you thought this place was hilarious.

This is getting silly now. Listen-first off I'll say that I am quite the lurker in this forum and I enjoy and respect much of the debate. However, my comment about Sliding Doors was fairly obviously a rhetorical question and completely on topic as I was comparing the triviality of The Invention of Lying with another crap film by using some satirical correlation. I was laughing simply because I think it's funny that an infantile idea from a shyte comedian relating to the meaning of life would garner so much response in this forum. This takes me on to my next point-Bearing in mind that I have seen The Invention of Lying it surely gives me greater impetus to be objective as a lot of people posting here haven't seen it. I am giving my opinion without being abusive etc etc. I implore you to go see this disgusting film if you think I'm conceited. Sounds to me like I've rufffled some feathers for being objective about all this frivolousness. Or maybe it's because I don't like Ricky Gervais? Only the demi-gods know. I wouldn't have bet on this happening in an Atheism & Agnosticism Forum...or would I?

robindch

builttospill wrote: »

Sounds to me like I've rufffled some feathers for being objective about all this frivolousness.

So far the only feathers you've ruffled are those belonging to your gracious forum moderators and that, for sticking to the point like blancmange on the ceiling.

Now, Buil, stay on topic, or feel the wrath.

Dades

builttospill wrote: »

I think it's funny that an infantile idea from a shyte comedian relating to the meaning of life would garner so much response in this forum.

builttospill wrote: »

a lot of people posting here haven't seen it.

So you're laughing at people who haven't seen the film for not knowing that it's shyte because they haven't seen it?

Gotcha!

builttospill

Dades wrote: »

So you're laughing at people who haven't seen the film for not knowing that it's shyte because they haven't seen it?

Gotcha!

???

Are you for real man? And you are actually a moderater in this forum? Hmmmm, I'm a stranger in a strange land. Yes after seeing the film I think it's hilarious that it is warranting attention in the Atheism & Agnosticism forum. This is exactly my point. You took exception to this for no particular reason (you didn't give any to start with) and now after I back up my reasoning with a healthy argument you resort to childish (Gotcha!?) knit-picking. I think I'll back away slowly towards the door of this forum and leave you to jump around on your bouncy castle in the sky. If I was to continue I believe that, being a mere mortal, I would only risk being banned...or maybe it's too late.

ps. on topic-this film is so bad it really has to be seen to be believed.

Zillah

antiskeptic wrote: »

sneering assault - despicably belittling - calculated cinematic insult - pervasive blasphemy - morally offensive

They sound surprised..

Is it weird that I just adore this kind of language?


I can taste the tears.

Dades

Ah, builttospill, relax.
My feathers aren't ruffled I just think you're first post here was a bit spikey towards the existing posters.
Don't mind me. If I'm wearing my mod hat I'll let ya know.

Zillah

I honestly don't know how I get away with the things I say when such an innocuous comment results in a reaction like this :pac:

Coriolanus

Well, Zillah, you go about being offensive and condescending in an entertaining way. :pac:

Handsome Bob

Ricky Gervais has mocked the Biblical account of the creation of Earth in response to attacks on his new movie The Invention Of Lying.


The comedian gave a link on his blog to what he described as his "favourite 'Christian annoyed at a film they haven't seen yet'" piece to date.
The beliefnet story read: "If they had been honest about the intent of the film, I might have been tempted to see it.


"Knowing that I'll be mocked is one thing but being duped into paying to see a movie that insults me as a gullible sap is another. It's a good thing I'm not gullible enough to go see a movie without reading a review first."


Gervais responded: "I'm sure [the writer] is not gullible enough to read a review and totally believe it wholeheartedly and then pass her own judgement based solely on hearsay without seeing the film first. That would be ridiculous.


"That would be like me believing that the Earth was made in six days just because it was written in one book with no evidence to back it up. That would be f**king mental, wouldn't it?"

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/news/a181639/ricky-gervais-mocks-bible-creation-story.html

Even I had a chuckle at this.

Galvasean

Watched it last night and I gotta say it was disappointing. There were some genuinely good bits, like where he introduces the 'man in the sky' and 'mansions for everyone in th afterlife' bit. Unfortunately the film has one huge flaw. While the people of the film are not supposed to be able to lie, what they seem to do instead is just spout out whatever is on their mind without provocation, saying things out loud when there was absolutely no reason to.
Bit of a missed opportunity. Might be worth renting on DVD, but not worth a cinema trip.