If anything can be said for True Story, it's that the film is incredibly engrossing. Every minute of it has you locked into your seat and just staring at the scene in a rush of tension and great acting. It's not perfect (no film is), but it's the kind that makes you just not care about its shortcomings. See, that's surprising because this is a slow-burn movie about a reporter striving to get the truth — but finding something more sinister. I won't reveal too much, but Jonah Hill plays Michael Finkel, a disgraced reporter who goes to meet a man named Christian Longo, played by James Franco. Longo has just murdered his entire family and is in prison. The movie is actually mostly just Finkel and Longo talking, and that's actually why this movie works. Why? Because Hill and Franco are amazing. Hill is the weaker of the two, but he's using the dramatic chops he's gained well. However, the real star of the show is James Franco. He's never been better, and the fact that he so engrossing to watch almost puts you into the mindset of Hill's character. There's just something about him. He has the demeanor of a man that can be trusted, but has you always wondering whether or not he's lying. This sort of character just keeps you pinned to your seat. It's a slow movie, but man do the performances make it. And really I can't say it's the script that is making Franco so good. At best it's all a little undercooked and shallow with only some witty or exceptionally interesting dialogue. Also, some of the actors are a little underutilized (especially Felicity Jones, who plays Finkel's wife), but all of this doesn't end up mattering much. Rather than analyzing the specific elements of the film, the best way to look at it is through its emotional spectrum: the tension that pulls you in, the sadness brought on from the disturbing acts of murder. It's a wild emotional rush, and all this combined with Franco's performance makes True Story an awesomely cathartic movie that makes you think and feel. I think the intensity of all of it can also be attributed to tight direction and cinematography,and it all holds together greatly. Overall, I liked True Story a lot more then I expected I would. It's an intense, crazy, and interesting thriller with great performances, even if it's a little shallow. I have a feeling that most people will not like the ending, but I loved that it revealed a much more disturbing thing than expected. This is one of the first pretty great films of 2015. I give True Story a 9 out of 10. Written by Stephen Tronicek, Edited by Mia Rintoul.
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December 2017
CategoriesAuthorHello welcome to FilmAnalyst. My name is Stephen Tronicek, and I really like movies. This is a way to get my opinions out to people. Thank you for visiting. |