Before the current wave of hugely popular skeptics achieved modern-day rock star status, there was the magician and illusionist The Amazing Randi.
Seen as the heir apparent to Houdini, Randi achieved mainstream success appearing on radio and TV, most famously on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.Being a master trickster in the world of magic and mystery meant that Randi was exceptionally well placed to spot the innate lies and deceits perpetrated by the likes of spoon-bender extraordinaire Uri Geller and the more destructive and dangerous ‘faith healers’, popular in the 1970s and 80s.
Canadian-American Randi, born Randall James Hamilton Zwinge, set out on a campaign to disprove them as master deceivers and who would be better placed to broach the task than a master deceiver himself?
As stated by one of the interviewees in this incredibly moving documentary: ‘I know how to deceive people and I know how to recognise then they’re being deceived.’
Randi launched himself into a campaign bullshit-identification, even going so far as to himself bend spoons and do other tricks to show how the cons were perpetrated.
He even conducted a social and news media experiment in Australia in partnership with 60 Minutes, in order to prove the gullibility of both the public and journalists.
But during his quest to call out chicanery wherever he saw it, Randi himself became the organiser of a deception that made him a target for allegations of hypocrisy. Is it OK to deceive to reveal the truth, but not conceal the truth? Is that a differentiation one can make?
The story is hit by another major plot twist at the centre of Randi’s own story when he finds himself the centre of a major deception. While heartbreaking to watch, it’s also fascinating and compelling viewing.
Randi himself is a lovable character and while he at first comes across as a showman and entertainer, this doco affords you a much more fragile and human insight to him, which only makes you love him more.
He’s not a scientist but The Amazing Randi believes in the truth. In parts of the film he very clearly states he does not want certain footage used, but at some point he has realised the pointlessness of cover-up and acquiesced. This only adds to the respect you have for Randi, as he ultimately knows that if transparency is to be his legacy, it’s something he has to practice too.
Assisted in the storytelling by a host of interviewees, including Penn & Teller (Penn Jillette is apparently working on a biography of Randi), Uri Geller and Jamy Ian Smith, it’s a fascinating tale that will hopefully introduce a new generation to one of the pioneer skeptics of modern times.
It’s a documentary that does all things a doco should do – it teaches, it informs, it enlightens and it asks questions it can’t necessarily answer.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
An Honest Liar
Directors: Tyler Measom, Justin Weinstein
USA, 2014, 90 min
Melbourne International Film Festival
www.miff.com.au
31 July – 17 August
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