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The Imposter

Frederic Bourdin (Actor), Carey Gibson (Actor), Bart Layton (Director) Format: DVD
4.1 out of 5 stars 301 ratings
IMDb7.4/10.0
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November 18, 2013 		—
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The Imposter — —
Format NTSC
Contributor Carey Gibson, Frederic Bourdin, Bart Layton
Manufacturer Indomina Group

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Product details

  • Director ‏ : ‎ Bart Layton
  • Media Format ‏ : ‎ NTSC
  • Actors ‏ : ‎ Frederic Bourdin, Carey Gibson
  • Studio ‏ : ‎ Indomina Group
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B008JFULP2
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 301 ratings

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
301 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers praise this documentary for being based on a true story and appreciate its unique approach. They find it intelligent, with one customer describing it as masterful.

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30 customers mention "Documentary quality"24 positive6 negative

Customers appreciate the documentary quality of the film, describing it as one of a kind with great storytelling and based on a true story.

"...know that I can congratulate ‘The Imposter’ in regards to its narrative sequencing and the accuracy of its enclosed contents...." Read more

"Insane story told in a great way." Read more

"...END SPOILER ALERT*** I think the way the documentary was done was good. It's not done like other ones where it is nothing but interviews...." Read more

"...Still, great movie, I love true story documentaries and this was fantastic." Read more

3 customers mention "Creativity"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the movie's creativity, finding it more unique than initially thought.

"This story was more unique that I originally thought. And certainly heartbreaking." Read more

"...places (newspapers and magazines) that this film was riveting and utterly unique . It's true ...." Read more

"...captivating, and the way in which it was filmed is interpretive and creative." Read more

3 customers mention "Intelligence"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the documentary intelligent, with one describing it as masterful.

"...Masterful ." Read more

"...I hated/loved the bad guy, sooooo smart! Great story teller!" Read more

"...A bargain free streaming. Nothing else could be better to watch. Insightful and conversation inspiring." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • ZM
    5.0 out of 5 stars Truth Is Stranger than Fiction
    Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This doc had my attention from beginning to end. I find it sad how the real Nicholas' disappearance received very little attention from law enforcement. Whether or not his family was directly involved in his disappearance is unknown, however, it appears the dysfunction in the family could have made him an easy target for an outsider. Either way, the family's guilt may have led to their carelessness in welcoming a stranger into their home. BTW-who goes through a lie detector test 3 separate times?! If this were a true story, it would have been a comedy.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Christina Reynolds
    4.0 out of 5 stars Could have used some contextual elaboration
    Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    The Imposter is a 2012 British-American documentary film about the 1997 case of the French confidence trickster Frédéric Bourdin, who impersonated Nicholas Barclay, a Texas boy who disappeared at the age of 13 in 1994. The film was directed by Bart Layton. It includes interviews with Bourdin and members of Barclay's family, as well as archive television news footage and reenacted dramatic sequences.

    As a whole, It is a relief to know that I can congratulate ‘The Imposter’ in regards to its narrative sequencing and the accuracy of its enclosed contents. Despite some amount of questionable reenactments being used to accompany specific details ‘The Imposter’ doesn't depend on dramatic gestures to get most of its points across and is careful to insert interactions that are most pertinent to the case (such as the inclusion of voice records or security footage that has acted as evidence) as it is appropriate. There are creative choices made that could be considered disrespectful or obtuse - like making Bourden and the interviews he provided for this documentary - but even these serve to ultimately share a story that otherwise would seem vastly suspended from reality.

    The praise this documentary is deserving of is stunted by an apparent lack of self-awareness regarding questions and suspicions an audience member might have if we assume the majority of them are not familiar with investigation related processes and formalities. For one, It is easy to forget while watching this that the event at the center of this film takes place in the late 1990s, and because of this there are obvious criticisms of the professionals involved in this case when an overarching amount of context is omitted. Many complaints are made about the nature in which the investigation unfolds - Like those questioning why a DNA test was not performed sooner - and failure to discuss the /accessibility/ or the nuances involved with having a DNA test makes this practically inevitable. I understand that this is probably the consequence of not wanting to potentially bore viewers with legal jargon and/or technicalities, but this results in a lot of p(l)ot-holes some may fall into with ease.

    This is one of those rare times I would have liked to have heard the questions that were being asked to the individuals interviewed, and the reason being is connected to the behavior we see in all those involved in the making of this documentary. Bourdin - an individual that many might agree deserves to be ridiculed or ashamed of his actions - doesn't break as much of a sweat and I fear much was done to preserve his comfort as a means of appeasement. In contrast to this there are moments where Barclay’s family members present in a way that infers some amount of distress potentially driving some of the conversations and narrations taking place. The presence of primary sources leads me to believe that ‘The Imposter’ has a genuine interest in being a non-biased source of information, but perhaps more could have done to make this all the obvious or overt for individuals that may be naturally skeptical as opposed to effortlessly convinced when consuming this type of media.

    In closing, the question one should have when watching documentaries about events and individuals like this one should not be “Why”, but should be primarily concerned with “How:; At the same time, however, it is arguably just as important to treat all involved parties with the respect and dignity they deserve when having been the victim of a serious crime or gross misconduct. Layton’s attempt in capturing the totality of elements that contribute to one of the most bizarre identity-theft related cases is commendable, but it inches into territory that seems obsessed with bolstering and entertaining Bourdin’s vapidly inflated ego.

    All things considered ‘The Imposter’ covers subject matter that is undoubtedly fascinating despite having goals that could be fairly described as fragmented and disorganized.

    I would recommend!
    5 people found this helpful
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  • David Harris
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great storytelling
    Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Insane story told in a great way.
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  • SHUSHurSHUSHER
    3.0 out of 5 stars UNBELIVABLE!!!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This documentary was really good. I cannot believe the family would actually think this guy was their Son, Brother, Nephew etc! I mean COME ON! It only made them look guilty!!!!! On top of that the "Imposter" deserves a lifetime in jail!

    ***SPOILER ALERT***

    I don't see how this person (Imposter) could actually find a Happy Ever After unless his wife is fooled. Which I don't know how with the media this had.

    ***END SPOILER ALERT***

    I think the way the documentary was done was good. It's not done like other ones where it is nothing but interviews. This is spaced out with interviews, real footage and reenactments. I recommend this story to anyone interested in True Story Documentaries.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • r.i(h
    5.0 out of 5 stars <------ Buy Me
    Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Chilling to find out this is true, I mean, seriously chilling. Being the dad to two INTL adopted children, I can tell you that exiting/entering the sending/receiving (USA) country is hard. Yet, this kid managed to do this with NO problem.
    I watched it first when I was on my fourth adoption journey (India), I loved the movie, but did get aggrivated when I needed a permit to bring my daughter home, after she had passed away.... but this kid, was given entrance as if he just misplaced his passport.?
    Still, great movie, I love true story documentaries and this was fantastic.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Richard Duryea
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great film
    Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Highly recommend watching this documentary that doesn’t feel like a documentary.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • H. Achim
    5.0 out of 5 stars Super Dokumentation!!
    Reviewed in Germany on March 23, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Alle die eine schlechte Bewertung abgegeben haben, sollten sich im Klaren sein, dass es sich hier um keinen Film handelt!! Den Blender gab es nämlich wirklich... :)
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  • IGC
    5.0 out of 5 stars Maravillosa
    Reviewed in Spain on January 27, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Es un documental del mismo productor de Man on Wire y Searching for Sugar Man. Si tuviera que elegir una de las tres, no sabría con cuál quedarme, son tres obras maestras de ritmo y narración. En el impostor no sabes de qué diablos están hablando durante los primeros veinte minutos, a partir de allí, te sorprende, te intriga, te divierte... Una película formidable!!.
    No dejen de verla.
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  • C.D.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on July 20, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Riveting.
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  • Elleppi
    5.0 out of 5 stars A masterwork
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 20, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I read opposite reviews about this documentary but I took a risk and bought it: I'm glad I took it. This is a great doc, ell crafted, unconventional, audacious. It mixes interviews, re-enactement, both cinematographic and documentaristic narration, fact ad fiction not just for a self indulging approach but in order to increase the sense of mystery and confusion between what really happened and what the real characters of the story and the viewers at home think it happened. Of course it ends up giving you answers, but you still want to know more, because there's no real resolution to the intrigue. The narrative discourse reveals the content and is justified by it: you only realize at the end why and how the 2 sides are bound to each other and mutually interwolven.
    No wonder it's produced by the same guys who made Man on Wire, where real footage, witnesses and re-enactement all contributed to create the story and so wonderfully led us through it.
    The imposter, if possible, pushes the boundaries even further
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  • Marcos Lendoiro
    5.0 out of 5 stars De lujo
    Reviewed in Spain on July 12, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    La había visto hace tiempo y tenía el resquemor de tenerla en la colección. Un documental de los que te deja pegado al asiento
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