1990 Directed by Christopher Morahan
A lowly hospital orderly impersonates a recently deceased doctor and goes to work in the busy ER of a small hospital where he meets and befriends a nurse who slowly figures out his secret and helps him maintain his charade.
Going to rewatch tonight as I actually saw Paul McGann, in a paper mask, in our local supermarket yesterday. Finally a Covid benefit!
In case the central theme of this film wasn’t obvious enough for you, “The Great Pretender” is played at every available opportunity and the Latin motto “to be rather than to seem” is oft repeated. I truly wasn’t expecting the dark and dramatic turns in the latter half of the story: the moment of reckoning-the “liar revealed” beat that most films of this type build up to-never arrives. The main character is never truly punished for his crimes and in fact starts his grift all over again in a new hospital…though one could argue his real punishment is being condemned to live a lie forever and dragging his girlfriend down with him. A little too soapy for my tastes, and the sex scenes arguably weren’t necessary, but Paul McGann is a joy to watch as always (his increasingly nervous energy reminds one of Withnail and I’s Marwood) and Tom Wilkinson also delivers in a sadly minor part.
A true hidden gem that has aged well, and fits in nicely with our contemporary fascination with cheats, liars, fallen heroes, and the everyman who breaks bad. The acting is first-rate from the entire cast, especially Paul McGann in the leading role. Catch him if you can!
Paul McGann, AKA "The Eighth Doctor" plays, well, a doctor... kinda, in Paper Mask. The story centers on Matthew Harris a hard drinking, banjo-playing blue-collar worker who sees an opportunity for something better when a doctor acquaintance of his dies, leaving a pending job-interview for an emergency-room physician. The plot veers off into Chameleon Street territory pretty quickly. The chain of events that sets this unlikely scenario in motion seems far-fetched itself, however McGann's terrific charm as well as a good turn from Amanda Donohoe make this one watchable and at times actually enjoyable.
In 2017, Jodie Whittaker was cast as the thirteenth incarnation of Doctor Who. Before that, she filmed a TV miniseries called Trust Me, playing a nurse who steals the identity of a doctor and starts working at a new hospital. In 1996, Paul McGann was cast as the eighth incarnation of Doctor Who. Before that, he filmed Paper Mask, playing a hospital orderly who steals the identity of a doctor and starts working at a new hospital.
That's probably the most interesting thing to say about this film, although that doesn't mean it's bad. McGann is pretty good at selling the frantic stress his impersonation causes, even when the plot contrives to cross some ethical lines. It is substantially better than Whittaker's TV series, which was so in love with the character that she was never allowed to fail, and is much more convincing because the internet doesn't exist yet to rumble the ruse.
Paper Mask if a film that does creep up on you in the creepy department. It starts off harmless enough as a story about a guy who takes someone’s misfortune and impersonates the person to land a job as a doctor. From there things start to creep darker and darker as he realizes he is way over his head, but decides to just play it off with some unknown help from a nurse and continue the charade. That would be enough to make for an interesting drama or maybe even a bit of a thriller, but as I noted before things just keep getting darker and creepier as things happen with dire consequences and then he goes to even greater…
A story which on the face of it is proposterous (hospital porter impersonates a doctor after his sudden death) is done very well indeed thanks to the leading performance of Paul McGann.
Matthew, or Simon as he becomes as impersonator, turns from dreamer to avenger in this thriller as he seeks to protect and uncover his deception, assisted by friendly nurse Christine, played by Amanda Donohoe (remember how high her star was at this point?).
It's very dark and very persuasive, and if there are gaps in the narrative, this amoral leading character has enough to keep you gripped, and has much of the nervous, quiet energy McCann displayed in Withnail and I.
This film also displays the moral dilemmas faced by those who are embitious and in love; Christine displays classic accessory syndrome as she gets more involved in 'Simon's' deception and actions.
Considering my mums a doctor she had to leave and go to another room because this caused her so much anxiety
