The Hoax is a 2006 American drama film directed by Lasse Hallström. The screenplay by William Wheeler is based on the book of the same title by Clifford Irving and focuses on the autobiography Irving supposedly helped Howard Hughes write. Many of the events Irving described in his book were changed or completely eliminated from the film, and the author later said, "I was hired by the producers as technical adviser to the movie, but after reading the final script I asked that my name be removed from the movie credits"

Starring Richard Gere, Alfred Molina, Marcia Gay Harden

CLIFFORD IRVING DIDN'T LIKE THE SCRIPT BUT I DID

What a surprise from an older movie I'd never heard of.

This film is based on a true story about an author Clifford Irving who ended up in jail for a Hoax he concocted in the early seventies regarding the rights to reclusive American billionaire, Howard Hughes, life story.

I loved the film. Gere is unrecognisable as Clifford Irving and Alfred Molina, (Chocolat and An Education) is stunning as his side kick and partner in crime.

The characters are complex and script engrossing, even if according to Irving there is quite a bit of Hollywood license taken in the accuracy of the story.

It is amazing just from the standpoint of the guts it would take to attempt to pull something like this off. If you've not seen it, well worth watching if you like character driven films, extremely well acted (loosely) based on real life events.

I'll be watching again for sure.