True Story Review
RYAN: This movie had me at James Franco, but I’m happy to say it’s good movie that dramatizes a fascinating and horrible true story that I didn’t know much about. And it also features one of the more unique relationships you’ve ever seen portrayed – between an inmate and a journalist.
CAROLINE: This is based on the life of Christian Longo who killed his wife and children in 2001 then went on to assume the identity of The New York Times reporter Michael Finkel – in this film, portrayed by Jonah Hill.
RYAN: Right and he’s really good. He’s has chops, as is evidenced by some of his better choices in roles and this is another good one for him. He plays a very multi-dimensional man and we really see this film from his perspective. This movie is based on Finkel’s novel of the same name and while I haven’t read the book, I think we experience the story the way he did.
CAROLINE: And how is James?
RYAN: Brilliant. You don’t feel at all like you’re watching James Franco and they have such a different type of rapport; knowing they’re friends in real life but seeing this awkward friendship develop between them – again, you’ve just never seen anything portrayed like that.
CAROLINE: What about Felicity Jones?
RYAN: She plays Jonah’s girlfriend and she’s so good. She does a killer Ameraccent and I thought she was really underused until one scene that makes it all worth it for her.
CAROLINE: That’s cool. It was also produced by Brad Pitt and his Plan B production company.
RYAN: Yep. It’s cool how complex this movie is. I’ve since done some research about the real people and account of what happened – and while there are some serious dramatic liberties taken here, it’s still very much the same, accurate story.
CAROLINE: That’s fair. Nothing based on reality is every 100% accurate, unless it’s a documentary.
RYAN: Right. I found an old episode of 48 Hours online about this case and learned a in it. I was thinking this movie was a bit slow moving and hoped they would show the courtroom and then they do. It picks up at that point and it’s really only about an hour and a half long. It’s a thriller and it’s shot well with fantastic scoring. It’s a bit of a cross between Silence of the Lambs and Misery, just in terms of Franco’s cray character; not as exciting as those films but has some similar tones.
CAROLINE: That’s enough to sell me! I definitely want to see it.
RYAN: It left me feeling a little sad and empty but it’s really well executed.
Nathan April 17, 2015
You had me at “a cross between Silence of the Lambs and Misery”