The Truth About Charlie (2002)

A young woman in Paris is about to divorce her husband when she discovers... he's dead; and all their money is gone. She meets a mysterious man, who tells her that the money was really his,... See full summary »

Director:

Jonathan Demme

Writers:

Peter Stone (based on the motion picture "Charade" screenplay by), Jonathan Demme (screenplay),

Stars:

Olga Sékulic, Thandie Newton, Mark Wahlberg

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Olga Sékulic	...	Junior Military Officer
Stephen Dillane	...	Charlie
Françoise Bertin	...	Woman on Train
Thandie Newton	...	Regina Lambert
Cassius Kumar Wilkinson	...	Hercules
Sakina Jaffrey	...	Sylvia
Mark Wahlberg	...	Lewis Bartholamew
Christine Boisson	...	Commandant Dominique
Simon Abkarian	...	Lieutenant Dessalines
Christophe Salengro	...	Morgue Attendant
Philippe Fretun	...	Evidence Handler
Loeïza Jacq	...	Evidence Handler
Joong-Hoon Park	...	Il-Sang Lee
LisaGay Hamilton	...	Lola Jansco
Ted Levine	...	Emil Zadapec

Storyline

A young woman in Paris is about to divorce her husband when she discovers... he's dead; and all their money is gone. She meets a mysterious man, who tells her that the money was really his, and he wants it back, seemingly convinced that she's hiding the cash. Meanwhile, more people end up dead...

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Plot Keywords:

divorce | deception | beret | slow motion scene | subway station | 

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Genres:

Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some violence and sexual content/nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Universal

Country:

USA Germany

Language:

English French Arabic

Release Date:

25 October 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

La verdad sobre Charlie

Filming Locations:

Cimetière de Montmarte, Paris 18, Paris, France

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$34,676 (South Africa) (29 August 2003)

Gross:

$34,676 (South Africa) (29 August 2003)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Magnet Entertainment, Clinica Estetico

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie contains numerous connections to French New Wave films. Reference is made to Shoot the Pianist and its star, Charles Aznavour, has a singing role at the end of this movie. Anna Karina, featured in several Jean-Luc Godard films, has a bit part.

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Goofs

At the airport in Paris, Joshua says to Regina that they are now in another country. However, their only previous meeting was in Martinique. Whilst located in the Caribbean, Martinique is an overseas department of France. Thus, they are still in the same country as where they met before.

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Quotes

Joshua Peters: Reggie, I hate that you're caught up in this. But at the same time I'm glad, because it means we've met.

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Crazy Credits

Just as the reference for Francois Truffaut's "Tirez sur le Pianiste" is shown, a shot of Truffaut's grave is inserted.

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Connections

Spoofs The Bride Wore Black (1968)

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Soundtracks

"La Voix du Vaurien"
Written by Jean-Marc Miroglio
Performed by Jean-Marc Miro
Courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment (France) S.A.
By Arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

User Reviews

A travesty of a remake puts all to shame

REVIEW: The Truth About Charlie, for IMDB, July 13, 2004

As "rosscinema" says in a previous post, "Why did they bother?" Well, they bothered for the same reason virtually all Hollywood films are made: to make **MONEY**, lots of MONEY! No one in their right mind would attempt to duplicate two so magic stars as Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn from the original "Charade", but some studio type thought they could cost in on the deserved reputation of the original for excellence, and make a bundle before the critics and the public got to see what a stinker this would-be remake is. Mark Wahlberg may have a certain presence, but a Cary Grant his is NOT and never will be; and that woman taking Hepburn's part was simply pathetic, what with her little moues of pseudo-British mouthings. Audrey, who was the quintessence of delicate dignity and charm, would spin in her grave, if she could. And with the change of dating to reflect, not the Second World War, but post-Vietnam, the entire tenor of the original was changed from a charming 'escapade-avec-larceny', to a mad chase with the modern dictum of 'diversity' with a cast more suited to a tract on multiculturalism, than anything having to do with telling a coherent story! The 'stamps' were well explained in the original, but here they are a throwaway plot device that more confuses than illuminates. And 'la belle Paris', mon Dieu, how it is ignored and abused in this tawdry effort; what was charming even in the face of murder and crime in the original, is merely seedy here. There is no magic between the stars as in "Charade", just some groping. And where was the duplicate of the crafty Walter Matthau character? Tim Robbins is a good actor, but here he is no replacement for the Mr. Dyle. And that dismal woman who is the police inspector is merely awful in this tiresome flick. If you have never seen "Charade" you must not let this failure make you think the original is as bad, for you would be denying yourself one of the finest delights of the modern screen, and the sight of two of its greatest luminaries, Grant and Hepburn, in very good form!