Deborah and I have been going to this year's Melbourne International Film Festival and some of the films we've seen have been excellent documentaries. An Honest Liar was one of the standouts which is based on the escapologist and magician James Randi. It documents segments of his life, both personal and professional, and perhaps what he's most famous for today - exposing people who claim to have psychic powers. He now sees his mission in life to show that no matter how educated and intelligent you are, you can always be fooled.
The James Randi Educational Foundation has offered $1,000,000 to anyone who can demonstrate they have paranormal abilities under test conditions but to date no-one has been awarded the money.
Randi is very much like his idol, Harry Houdini, who was also a magician, an escapologist and an exposer of fake spiritualists. Although Randi is in his eighties, he has a spirit that's both youthful and determined. His much younger partner, an artist, also features in a documentary that is colourful, informative and reveals a number of surprising facts.
Google his name and learn more about the amazing James Randi.
