The Wizard of Lies

Based on true events, The Wizard of Lies details the buildup to and fallout from Bernie Madoff’s (Robert De Niro) arrest for bilking investors out of billions of dollars – with the narrative revolving mostly around the impact Madoff’s actions ultimately have on his unsuspecting wife (Michelle Pfeiffer’s Ruth) and two sons (Alessandro Nivola’s Mark and Nathan Darrow’s Andrew). Filmmaker Barry Levinson delivers a matter-of-fact narrative that benefits substantially from a more human perspective on the story (rather than on the legal aspects of the case), which ultimately does ensure that the various characters, including Madoff himself to a minor extent, become more and more sympathetic as the picture unfolds – with this vibe certainly perpetuated and heightened by a series of top-notch performances. (Even De Niro, so willing to phone in his work as of late, turns in a lively, occasionally electrifying effort.) It’s clear, though, that at a running time of over two hours, The Wizard of Lies suffers from an erratic, hit-and-miss atmosphere that’s compounded by a pace that’s often just a little too deliberate for its own good – with the somewhat padded-out midsection certainly proving a test to one’s ongoing patience. The unexpectedly emotional third act does ensure that the whole thing ends on a positive (yet thoroughly grim) note, at least, thus cementing The Wizard of Lies‘ place as an uneven yet sporadically engrossing drama from a first-class filmmaker.

*** out of ****