STANLEY TUCCI plays her more skeptical boss who always seems to be on the verge of discovering Clifford's hoax.HOPE DAVIS plays Clifford's publisher who's fooled by his ruse.She uses strong profanity, and smokes a few times. MARCIA GAY HARDEN plays Clifford's wife who's concerned about her husband's philandering ways, yet participates in his ruse.He uses strong profanity, drinks, and has a drunken affair that's partially caused by Clifford. ALFRED MOLINA plays his friend, agent, and occasional assistant who's nervous about the ruse but occasionally gets wrapped up in it.He uses strong profanity, has an affair with Nina, drinks, and must stay on top of his hoax lest he be proven to be a con man. RICHARD GERE plays a desperate author who decides to come up with a ruse about writing a biography about Howard Hughes, all to make a buck or two as well as a name for himself.WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? Unless they're interested in the real-life story behind the film or are fans of someone in the cast, it doesn't seem too likely. As Clifford deals with that temptation, he must stay on top of his increasingly complicated ruse, especially as Shelton and others continue to have their doubts about the author and his supposed book. That is, as long as he makes it all sound legit, meaning he not only needs Dick's help, but also that of his own wife, Edith (MARCIA GAY HARDEN), whose only concern is that he might end up back in bed with party-girl Nina Van Pallandt (JULIE DELPY). Clifford's friend, agent, and unofficial assistant Dick Susskind (ALFRED MOLINA) thinks it's a bad idea, but the desperate writer realizes that since no one ever directly sees or hears from Hughes, no one will be able to dispute his claim. Needing an idea, he recalls a time when his hotel was cleared for the arrival of Howard Hughes, and thus decides his pitch will be for a biography of the reclusive millionaire. Broke and wanting to make a name for himself, Clifford informs his editor, Andrea Tate (HOPE DAVIS), and her publisher boss, Shelton Fisher (STANLEY TUCCI), that he has the book of the century.
PLOT: It's the 1970s and Clifford Irving (RICHARD GERE) is an author whose latest work has been given the pass by the folks at McGraw-Hill. QUICK TAKE: Drama: A desperate author digs himself into an ever-deeper hole as he concocts a ruse about writing a tell-all book with reclusive millionaire Howard Hughes.