'A Christmas Carol' Nov 6, 2009
Colin Firth is nephew Fred, and Bob Hoskins, Cary Elwes, Robin Wright Penn and Fionnula Flanagan fill key parts, too. Zemeckis takes the technology he used in "Polar Express" and "Beowulf" to the next level here and the result is mixed. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
Anthony Lane: “The Invention of Lying.” Oct 6, 2009
Above all, he can comfort his aged mother (Fionnula Flanagan), as she fades away in a nursing home A Sad Place for Hopeless Old People, it calls itself with an off-the-cuff account of a radiant afterlife, complete with mansions, where she will continue to exist. Go on, one of the nurses urges him. (New Yorker)
This Is Just an OK Movie Oct 3, 2009
In the story's most daring (and commercially risky) gambit, Mark singlehandedly invents the concept of religion: As his mother (Fionnula Flanagan) lies on her deathbed, he assures her she's going to a beautiful place where she'll live forever with "the man in the sky." The scene is played as straight drama, and it's shockingly bleak, with Gervais breaking down in real tears as his mother speaks of her fear of facing "an eternity of nothingness." The patently un-Hollywoodian message is clear: Old... (Slate)
Pants on Fire! The Inspired Invention of Lying Oct 3, 2009
" There's even truth in advertising, as indicated by the slogans for Coke ("It's very famous") and Pepsi ("When they don't have Coke"). Mark, of course, must somehow invent lying--in Act II--which in the land of blind truth tellers makes him king. He takes his friend Greg (Louis C.K.) to a casino, moves the chips on the roulette table after the ball has landed and pockets a bundle. Then, to soothe his dying mother (Fionnula Flanagan), he concocts his biggest whopper yet: Heaven. Word gets around... (Time.com)
'The Invention Of Lying': Truth Hurts, By Kurt Loder Oct 3, 2009
As his own troubles recede, though, Mark still has to deal with the fact that his mother (Fionnula Flanagan) is dying in a local rest home. She's terrified of drifting off into a dark void, so Mark spins another lie. (VHI.com -- Music News)
REVIEW: 'Invention of Lying' has big laughs, and some flaws Oct 2, 2009
When he realizes the power and potential of prevaricating, Mark initially tries to make life better for those around him, including his bedridden mother (Fionnula Flanagan) and a depressed neighbor (). Then he plunges deeper into fantasy land. (USA Today -- Life)
‘Invention of Lying’ hits a nerve, then loses it Oct 2, 2009
It s a lie told to benefit someone else that gets the hero into his hottest water: Mark calms his dying mother (Fionnula Flanagan) with a vision of a place up above among those she loves and, presto, he has invented Heaven. The media camps out on his door, demanding to know what else he knows, and, frazzled, he comes up with a Big Man in the Sky. (Boston Globe)
'The Invention of Lying' Oct 2, 2009
In addition to Gervais and Garner, the cast includes Rob Lowe and Tiny Fey as two of Mark's co-workers, Jonah Hill as a neighbor, Fionnula Flanagan as Mark's mother and the comedian known as Louis C.K. as Anna's cousin and Mark's pal. "Invention of Lying" is funny, smart and thoughtful and deals with questions of truth, hope and religion. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
Sweepstakes: 'The Invention of Lying' Movie Prizes Sep 25, 2009
"The Invention of Lying" also stars Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill, Louis C.K., Jeffrey Tambor and Fionnula Flanagan, with Rob Lowe and Tina Fey. The comedy is written and directed by Ricky Gervais & Matthew Robinson. (KIRO TV, WA)
' Yes Man' with Jim Carrey just genial Jun 6, 2009
That format yields the occasional juicy bits (Carl thwarting a suicide attempt; an interlude with his aged neighbor, played by Fionnula Flanagan), but not enough of them to sustain the level of manic energy Carrey can unleash at his best. Yes Man. (FOX61, CT)
He won't give no for an answer Feb 13, 2009
In "Yes Man," Jim Carrey plays Carl, an antisocial Los Angeles bank-loan officer who agrees to stop saying "no" - to friends, strangers, co-workers, the homeless; to fun, life, Mormons, even the horny old lady (Fionnula Flanagan) in his apartment complex ... Starring: Jim Carrey, Zooey Deschanel, Bradley Cooper, Danny Masterson, and Fionnula Flanagan. (Boston Globe)
Carrey gets nod in 'Yes Man' Feb 8, 2009
Rhys Darby (from "Flight of the Conchords") is funny as Carrey's boss and Fionnula Flanagan gets a couple of good laughs as an amorous woman in his apartment complex. Deschanel, though, is the eye-opener. (Sioux City Journal)
