Nothing But the Truth (2008)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Rod Lurie

Writer (WGA):

Rod Lurie (written by)

Release Date:

29 July 2009 (Philippines)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Don't Reveal the Source

Plot:

In Washington, D.C., a female reporter faces a possible jail sentence for outing a CIA agent and refusing to reveal her source.

Plot Keywords:

CIA | Source | Pulitzer Prize | Jail | Reporter

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Kate Beckinsale	...	Rachel Armstrong
Matt Dillon	...	Patton Dubois
Angela Bassett	...	Bonnie Benjamin
Alan Alda	...	Alan Burnside
Vera Farmiga	...	Erica Van Doren
David Schwimmer	...	Ray Armstrong
Courtney B. Vance	...	Agent O'Hara
Noah Wyle	...	Avril Aaronson
Floyd Abrams	...	Judge Hall
Preston Bailey	...	Timmy Armstrong
Kristen Bough	...	Allison Van Doren
Julie Ann Emery	...	Agent Boyd
Robert Harvey	...	Warden
Michael O'Neill	...	CIA Director
Kristen Shaw	...	Angel Rabinowitz

MPAA:

Rated R for language, some sexual material and a scene of violence.

Runtime:

108 min | Canada:108 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:R | Singapore:NC-16 | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Portugal:M/12

Filming Locations:

Memphis, Tennessee, USA

Company:

Battleplan Productions

Trivia:

Due to The Yari Film Group (the film's distributor) filing a Chapter 11 protection (Bankruptcy Code), the film was never given a theatrical release.

Quotes:

Erica Van Doren: Just tell me this: was it someone close to me? Someone I know?

Movie Connections:

References "The Sopranos" (1999)

The kind of intelligent movie Hollywood rarely makes anymore

This was shown last night at the Toronto International Film Festival and was very well received. It is a beautifully acted, deftly written examination of the tension between freedom of the press and the power of the state, based very loosely on the Valerie Plame case. The fact that writer and director Rod Lurie spent 13 years in the newspaper business is evident throughout, making for one of the most compelling and believable portrayals of what it is like to be a political reporter for a major newspaper since All the President's Men. Kate Beckinsale (the reporter) and Vera Farmiga (as the CIA operative) are outstanding and each delivers an Oscar-worthy performance. Matt Dillon gives one of his best performances as the smarmy, ambitious and self-righteous prosecuting attorney. David Schwimmer, an odd casting choice, does a fine job within a fairly narrow range. Surprisingly, I even enjoyed Alan Alda's performance as a high-powered, rather cynical and self-obsessed Washington lawyer, hired to defend the beleaguered reporter. But the two women really steal the show.

There was much discussion in our group about the ending and whether it enhanced or undercut the basic message of the film. No point in spoiling it here, but I can assure you it will provoke debate.