True Story

As I've mentioned in past reviews, Hollywood has jumped on that 'film based on a true story' bandwagon, and they have with a vengeance. Within the last 10-12 years, I'd be willing to estimate that half the films, or close to it, have been based on a true story or person or, at least, based on true events. And with this, here is another film based on a true story which is called..."True Story".

Jonah Hill portrays Michael Finkel, a recently terminated journalist for the New York Times, who is struggling to find work after a story he worked on went terribly wrong. Even though he's well known, his editors couldn't take a blind eye of what transpired. One day, he receives a phone call from a man regarding an FBI Most Wanted individual named Christian Longo  (James Franco), who's been captured and claimed to be living as Finkel. Longo and Finkel meet and form an odd and kind of a cat-and-mouse bond while Longo is in prison awaiting his trial. Through their continued meetings, Finkel exchanges journalism tips for the real events behind Longo's alleged heinous acts of murdering his wife and children. Finkel's girlfriend Jill Barker (Felicity Jones) is as perplexed with Longo's motivations of these meetings with Finkel as is Finkel, who slowly builds a suspicion of what Longo really wants, hence the cat and mouse game. Through the twists and turns the film provides, only at the end will Finkel uncover the True Story.

Others to round out the cast are Ethan Suplee as Pat Frato, Robert John Burke as Greg Ganley, Gretchen Mol as Karen Hannen, Maria Dizzia as MaryJane Longo, Christian's wife, Conor Kikot as Zach Longo, Christian's son, Charlotte Driscoll as Sadie Longo, Christian's daughter, Stella Rae Payne as Madison Longo, Christian's other daughter, Byron Jennings as Judge Odenkirk, Robert Stanton as Jeffrey Gregg, and Betty Gilpin as Cheryl Frank.

As with any cat-and-mouse type of film, this was orchestrated with precision by director, Rupert Goold (TV series/mini-series). This guy has obviously gotten enough TV under his belt to achieve the chemistry of these two entirely different individuals where their bond is strong, but at the same time awkward and extremely cautious. It was equally well written by Goold (TV) and David Kajganich ("The Invasion" '07, "Blood Creek" '09) in that the way it was written was in the vein of Finkel believing Longo, and after thinking, he would then question him, then back again. So the cat-and-mouse situation was delineated in such subtle ways that us, as the audience wonder where the cat-and-mouse situation begins and where it ends, if it even does. Really, except for a couple of extremely small areas of slowness and odd timing, this script was spot on and well thought out. Of course, it coming from a seasoned writer, Michael Finkel's book, where the film is based, doesn't hurt this screenplay. Lastly, both Franco and Hill are stunning in their respective roles and obvious did their homework. These two guys actually excel better when involved in dramas much more than in their comedies, i.e. Hill in "Moneyball" and Franco in "127 Hours". I would love to see them in more dramas, because watching fine acting, in my opinion, is a natural high.

After the film gets going, it sort of reminds you of '05's "Capote" with an author obsessed with a cold, calculating killer while the killer sits in prison, but this film certainly is its own film and holds its own weight with painstaking clarity.

Out of 4 Stars: 3.5                                  Rated: R                                   100mins.