Nothing But the Truth (2008)

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:

Source | CIA | Reporter | Female Reporter | Pulitzer Prize

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:

There is a scene in the movie where Erica Van Doren (Vera Farmiga) is given a lie detector test because the CIA suspects that she leaked her own identity. Rod Lurie brought in a real life polygraphist to polygraph her for the scene. He asked her if her name was Erica Van Doren and if she worked for the CIA. After the scene was over the polygraphist called Lurie over to tell him that Farmiga beat the polygraph test because the machine said that she was telling the truth.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Numerous times, Rachael is referred to as "Miss Armstrong", but since she's married, the correct title is "Mrs."

Quotes:

[repeated line]
Dubois: Who was your source?

Movie Connections:

Features "The Jerry Springer Show" (1991)

Land of National Security

Very nice movie, a bit slow. Kate Beckinsale refuses to not look completely edible even when she has jail scenes, while Vera Farmiga looks just as good as to make one think it will be a movie about a cat fight. But it is far from it. I think the best acted role in this movie belongs to Matt Dillon, though.

The film portrays the trials (pun intended) of an American journalist who is jailed and then imprisoned for withholding the source of her article. Why? Because it involved matters of national security. Is national security more important than truth and integrity? The movie tries to explain why it is not by detailing how deep this is inscribed in the U.S. legislation. Basically, you can say whatever you want, just not what they don't want you to say.

Kate Beckinsale does a very good role, a bit airy and a bit brave. "A water walker", someone calls her character in the film. Best description ever :) David Schwimmer manages to be annoying in this one, as well.

Bottom line: a must see movie, however keep in mind that even if it based on the true story of Valerie Plame, it is very loosely so. Yet, without being American, my guess is that the legislation portrayed in the film exists and any reporter could and would go through the main character's ordeal if having enough backbone.