IMDb > True Lies (1994)
True Lies
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True Lies (1994) More at IMDbPro »

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True Lies (1994) -- When a secret agent learns of his wife's extra-marital affair, he pursues her and uses his intelligence resources in a job he kept secret from her.
True Lies (1994) -- MattTrailer.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.2/10   73,311 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 4% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Claude Zidi (screenplay) and
Simon Michaël (screenplay) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for True Lies on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
15 July 1994 (USA) more
Tagline:
When he said I do, he never said what he did.
Plot:
When a secret agent learns of his wife's extra-marital affair, he pursues her and uses his intelligence resources in a job he kept secret from her. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 6 wins & 14 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(98 articles)
Another New Avatar Clip! Sam On The Run!
 (From LatinoReview. 23 November 2009, 8:19 PM, PST)

Opinion In A Haystack: Eric Lichtenfeld Part 2
 (From Quick Stop. 18 November 2009, 1:59 AM, PST)

User Comments:
An extremely entertaining action movie that, for some reason, I like but don't love. more (286 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Mentiras verdaderas (Argentina) (Peru) (Uruguay) (Venezuela) [es]
Правдивая ложь (Russia) [ru]
A Verdade da Mentira (Portugal) [pt]
Ausad valed (Estonia) [et]
Két tüz között (Hungary) [hu]
Livsfarlig løgn (Denmark) [da]
Mentiras arriesgadas (Spain) [es]
Pravdivé lzi (Slovakia) [sk]
Pravdivé lzi (Czech Republic) [cs]
Prawdziwe klamstwa (Poland) [pl]
Resnicne lazi (Slovenia) [sl]
Sanne løgner (Norway) [no]
Tosi valheita (Finland) [fi]
True Lies (France) [fr]
True Lies (Brazil) [pt]
True Lies (Austria) [de]
True Lies - Wahre Lügen (Germany) [de]
True lies, le caméléon (France) [fr]
Vrai mensonge (Canada: French title) (TV title) [fr]
more
Runtime:
141 min
Country:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby Digital (35 mm prints)
Certification:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
A full scale model of a Harrier was built for all close shots of Arnold Schwarzenegger flying the plane; it was puppeteered from a crane on a nearby building which was painted out with CGI. (As the Harrier lands in the street, dust and debris stirred up by its jetblast is all done in CGI; the CGI blast swirls up a CGI piece of paper which is sucked into the Harrier's CGI air compressor fan) more
Goofs:
Continuity: Bullets in the bathroom were fired at an angle, but the holes were straight. more
Quotes:
Faisil: It's a scale really, with a perfect mission at one end and a total pooch screw at the other, and we're right about in the middle. more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
Edelweiss more

FAQ

What is the name of the music played during the tango scenes in the movie?
Will There be a True Lies II?
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25 out of 38 people found the following comment useful.
An extremely entertaining action movie that, for some reason, I like but don't love., 18 July 2003
Author: Li-1

*** out of ****

I've seen True Lies at least four times now, and every time I find myself having a great time watching this first-rate action/comedy/thriller. But it's a movie that I can't muster more than passable (but occasionally fairly ecstatic) enthusiasm for. It's a very good action movie, and I can certainly see how it's attained a reputation as one of the best adrenaline-pumping rides of the 90's, but it's not great.

What True Lies has is one of the more ingenious action movie premises I've seen. Arnold Schwarzenegger is Harry Tasker, a husband (to Jamie Lee Curtis) and father (to Eliza Dushku) by day, and world-saving CIA agent by night (or day, it depeneds). His latest assignment puts him on the case of a mad Islamic terrorist called Aziz, who's retrieved several nuclear warheads and plans to set them off on U.S. soil if his group's demands are not met. Complicating matters for Harry is the inclusion of his wife, Helen, whom he believes is having an affair with a used car salesman (Bill Paxton, in what's got to be his funniest performance).

In terms of pure escapist enjoyment, this is actually James Cameron's most successful film. True Lies is probably the only Cameron film that never suffers from the slightest hiccup in pacing (yes, Aliens had a slow beginning and viewing The Abyss was like watching molasses sliding down a brick wall). From beginning to end, there's not a single slow spot, as you can expect either a sharply staged action sequence or comical setpiece around every corner. To keep such momentum up for 141 minutes is pretty damn amazing, and Cameron must be given credit for making such a long movie almost so effortlessly enjoyable.

But for all that is so enjoyable about it, True Lies lacks a strong plot (in terms of action, as the romantic subplot is actually quite excellent). The villains are stereotypical terrorists, pure cartoons who don't even make an impression as cool villains. In his heyday, Arnold has battled tons of memorable villains (T-1000 and the Predator stand out), the terrorists here are clearly among the weakest of Arnold's foes to date.

The action is suitably over-the-top, especially the harrier jet climax, which makes almost all the action that came before it believable in comparison. But the action is mostly excellent, the shootouts and fistfights are exciting, there's plenty of cliffhanger thrills, and the chase/catfight set on the lengthy bridge is classic.

The movie has to keep a balance between strong violence and screwball humor, which it pulls off very well. The half-hour segment devoted entirely to Harry's marital problems is hilarious, its only flaw being the abrupt segue to "typical" Arnold action. Even when Arnold's taking down massive armies of terrorists, Cameron still maintains the same light tone evident during the comical scenes, while still keeping the action thrilling. That's quite an accomplishment.

The cast is all excellent, given the material and intent. Schwarzenegger is still the extremely likeable big lug. These roles aren't a stretch for him, but he excels at such parts because he radiates charisma like no other actor (even if they may all be better than him when it comes to talent). As the comic relief, Tom Arnold is surprisingly very funny (since then, it hasn't been so surprising as he's actually provided decent humor in those Andrzej Bartkowiak films, or however you spell the guy's name). Jamie Lee Curtis is wonderful, too, and I've never been a big fan of hers. Without a doubt, this is easily her most winning performance.

One of the big box-office hits of 1994, I was surprised to see True Lies didn't inspire any genuine imitators. Just as well, I suppose, there's only so much Bond "parody" you can see without the material getting tiresome (Austin Powers, anyone?). But True Lies' charms lies in that it works as parody while still excelling as a straight action thriller. When it comes to pure direction, that's proof James Cameron can be a genius.

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the middle part of the film navajo_joe
100 things we've learned from True Lies bernhard-38
Packed with great lines... CinAtlanta
Ass like a ten year old boy? chris91604
True Lies is more horrible to women than Lars von Trier's Antichrist agentwhim
Funniest Scene Mia-Rajesh
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