A well-acted, John Grisham-style tale that will have its audience expressing gratitude for the First Amendment--never mind how battered it has gotten.
Nothing But the Truth (2008)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:49
Fresh:39
Rotten:10
Average Rating:6.8/10
Consensus: A well-crafted political thriller, Nothing But the Truth features a strong cast that helps the real-life drama make an effortless transition to the big screen.
Runtime: 1 hr 48 mins
Genre: Dramas
Synopsis: Inspired by real-life political events, director Rod Lurie (THE CONTENDER) once again delves into issues of power and gender with NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH, an engaging thriller about the right to a... Inspired by real-life political events, director Rod Lurie (THE CONTENDER) once again delves into issues of power and gender with NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH, an engaging thriller about the right to a free press and the price of principles. As the film opens, the president of the United States has survived an assassination attempt. Believing that the leader of Venezuela was behind the plot, the U.S. launches a military attack against the country. In Washington, D.C., reporter Rachel Armstrong (Kate Beckinsale) has revealed that Erica Van Doren (Vera Farmiga), the wife of the U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela, is a C.I.A. operative who found no proof of a plot. Armstrong quickly finds herself contending with both Van Doren and special prosecutor Patton DuBois (Matt Dillon), hellbent on discovering Armstrong's source. When she refuses to reveal her source, Armstrong is jailed for contempt of court. In the troubled year that follows both women will confront the harsh realities of life during wartime, including the questioning of their patriotism and even threats to their lives. As a Supreme Court hearing draws near, and with her family cracking under the strain, Armstrong must decide whether her individual needs trump the importance of civil liberties. Lurie ably balances the personal struggles with the political machinations, while Beckinsale and Farmiga compellingly convey each woman's strength of conviction. The result is a challenging, chillingly relevant cautionary tale about truth and consequences. [More]
Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Matt Dillon, Angela Bassett, Alan Alda
Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Matt Dillon, Angela Bassett, Alan Alda, Vera Farmiga, David Schwimmer, Courtney B. Vance, Noah Wyle, Floyd Abrams, Preston Bailey
Director: Rod Lurie
Director: Rod Lurie
Screenwriter: Rod Lurie
Producer: Bob Yari, Marc Frydman, Rod Lurie
Composer: Larry Groupe
Studio: Yari Film Group
Reviews for Nothing But the Truth
Nothing But the Truth is flat and unexceptional, the bureaucratic, talky parts of a political thriller without the action sequences as payoff.
...a sporadically riveting yet undeniably uneven drama that fits comfortably within Rod Lurie's politically-themed filmography.
Nothing But the Truth is jaw-droppingly over-the-top in ways that are all good for a laugh, but don't amount to much in the way of serious critique.
A movie which offers us the chance to hear people talking -- people who have something to say, about things that matter -- feels like a welcome opportunity before we're buried under a mountain of popcorn.
I expect the cast, particularly Beckinsale, and Lurie's script to get a lot of attention in the next few months.
The Rod Lurie film is a typically intelligent if occasionally overwritten political thriller, boasting a powerhouse cast headed by Kate Beckinsale, Vera Farmiga and Alan Alda.
You can overlook an occasional soapbox moment or clunky speech when it's contained in a thoughtful, mature drama like this one.
The story of a journalist willing to go to prison to defend her right to protect her source on an explosive story, Nothing but the Truth itself resembles a workmanlike piece of journalism motivated by an outraged sense of injustice.
Latest News for Nothing But the Truth
May 01, 2009:
Rod Lurie Tells Nothing But the Truth ![]()
With two movies headed to theaters last fall, it looked like 2008 was going to be a banner year for Rod Lurie -- but everything can change in the blink of a studio bankruptcy,... More...
January 08, 2009:
Broadcast Film Critics Name Critics' Choice Winners
The 14th Annual Critics' Choice Awards were given on January 8, 2009, to honor the finest achievements in 2008 filmmaking. A list of nominees follows below, with winners in bold: More...
December 19, 2008:
Five Favorite Films with Director Rod Lurie
Nothing But the Truth director Rod Lurie (The Contender) took a circuitous route to Hollywood -- he was an army officer and an entertainment reporter before perching himself in... More...
December 09, 2008:
Trailer & Poster review ![]()
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