Saw the movie "Invention of Lying" this weekend. I rate it a 2 out of 10. I give it such high marks because of the creative and interesting premise the movie is based on.
For those of you who've not yet wasted your money to see this movie (don't by the way), let me give you a plot synopsis.
In a world where everyone tells the truth, all the time about everything, there is no fiction (since it is basically not true), all movies are a retelling of history. The Hero is a not-so-attractive writer for the movies who gets fired (his last two screen plays were based around the black death of the 1300s), then evicted from his apartment because he only has $300 in the bank, and rent is $800.
He has a love interest who doesn't think that he is a good genetic match to her ("our kids will be fat kids with pug noses)
He goes to the bank to close out his account, and their system is down. they ask him how much he has in the bank (nobody can lie, remember) and he says $800. The computers come on, they say "The system says you only have $300, so sorry for our mistake"
The main crux, though, starts when he tells his dying mom, who is afraid of the nothingness of death, that there is life after death. He is overheard by some nurses, and it just goes downhill from there.
Problems
Before the political analysis, I just want to point out some plot holes big enough to drive a bus through.
- In the movie, everyone is both truthful (a good thing), and lacking in any compassion or tact (not quite so good). They will say things that are hurtful, if true, without any concern about what how they are saying affects the other person. I can tell someone the truth without hurting them. Why would people lack the ability to care for each other just because they tell the truth? If my wife asks me "honey do I look like a supermodel? I would answer, "To me, you're just as beautiful, but your body type isn't one that would classify as a supermodel", not "No, you're too fat." Both are true, the latter is hurtful.
- It is possible to speak what you think is the truth, but be mistaken. Sometimes, I forget about a transaction or two, so my account balance is not what I thought it was. Why would the bank assume that that there was no mistake in fact.
- In the movie, nobody believes in God. They have a comparable level of technology. That means that speculation is possible, for without it, there can be no possibility of technical advancement. Even, for the sake of argument, we ignore the fact that God did tell man He existed, why could not someone speculate on the biggest questions man have ever asked (e.g. "why am I here?" "How did I get here?" "What is the purpose to existence?" "Do I have a meaning?" "What happens when I die?")
The movie, though, shows some thought (at least what passes for thought for pop-culture atheists.) One point, a magazine shows the title "Finally, a reason to be good", referring to the 'man in the sky' God reference. It also shows the meaninglessness of life and death in the absence of God, thought it doesn't really dwell on it.
Overall, this movie stunk. Don't waste your time.
