Yesterday Was a Lie is a 2008 neo-noir film written and directed by James Kerwin and starring Kipleigh Brown, Chase Masterson, John Newton, and Mik Scriba. In publicity materials, the film has been described as a combination of science fantasy and film noir. The film had its commercial release in 2009.
Plot
A hard-drinking female investigator named Hoyle (Kipleigh Brown) sets out to locate a reclusive genius (John Newton) who may be able to distort reality. Instead she finds her life becoming more and more fragmented and surreal. Trusting only her partner (Mik Scriba) and a sexy lounge singer (Chase Masterson), she is shadowed by a dangerous man (Peter Mayhew).
Cast
Kipleigh Brown as Hoyle
Chase Masterson as Singer
John Newton as Dudas
Mik Scriba as Trench Coat Man
Nathan Mobley as Lab Assistant
Warren Davis as Psychiatrist
Megan Henning as Student
Jennifer Slimko as Nurse
Robert Siegel as Radio Interviewer
Peter Mayhew as Dead Man
Production
Yesterday Was a Lie was in production from August 13 to September 15, 2006. In March 2007, a trailer of the film premièred at San Francisco Wondercon. In August 2007, the film's official blog announced the completion of a test cut of the motion picture.
Release
Festival run
The early cut of the film began a series of film festival screenings on January 17, 2008 at the Park City Film Music Festival, where it received a Director's Choice Award. The film went on to receive Best Feature awards at numerous festivals, including the ShockerFest International Film Festival, as well as a bronze Telly Award and the Best of Show Accolade Award. It was awarded the Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Cinematography trophies at Visionfest, the Best Actress prize (for Brown) at ShockerFest, and the Best Producer prize (for Masterson) at the LA Femme Film Festival.
In early July 2008, San Diego Comic-Con announced that the test cut of Yesterday Was a Lie would be presented as the closing film of its 2008 convention.
In October 2008, the film's official blog announced that a newer cut of the film would be shown at the St. Louis International Film Festival. In December 2008, the Beverly Hills Hi-Def Film Festival announced the new cut of the film would have its theatrical première at the closing night film of its 2009 festival.
Theatrical release
In August 2009, Yesterday Was a Lie was acquired by Entertainment One. According to the film's official blog, a new cut of the film, featuring an updated soundtrack and other changes, was created for the formal release. Yesterday Was a Lie was released theatrically in the U.S. on December 11, 2009.
Home video
The film was released on DVD on April 6, 2010.
In 2019, Yesterday Was a Lie was acquired by IndiePix Films. The film was remastered and given a "tenth anniversary" re-release in November on DVD, digital, and, for the first time, on Blu-ray. The re-released discs included deleted shots, outtakes presented by Brown and Kerwin, and video of the cast's WonderCon panel, in addition to the commentary track and behind-the-scenes special features which were included on the earlier Entertainment One DVDs.
Reception
In a review published after the film's U.S. theatrical opening, Variety praised the film's "stunning black-and-white HD cinematography" and "impressively atmospheric tone" and its recreation of the "classical Hollywood [visual] aesthetic". The film's "sultry jazz score" was also singled out for mention. However, the review also criticized the casting of the film—calling the acting "stiff" and "hopelessly amateurish"—as well as the plot, which it described as a "clunky David Lynchian cosmic mystery" leading to "grand (yet underwhelming) revelations about the nature of reality."