True Story (2015)

When disgraced New York Times reporter Michael Finkel meets accused killer Christian Longo - who has taken on Finkel's identity - his investigation morphs into a game of cat-and-mouse.

Director:

Rupert Goold

Writers:

Rupert Goold (screenplay by), David Kajganich (screenplay by)

Stars:

James Franco, Jonah Hill, Felicity Jones

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jonah Hill	...	Michael Finkel
James Franco	...	Christian Longo
Felicity Jones	...	Jill Barker
Maria Dizzia	...	MaryJane Longo
Ethan Suplee	...	Pat Frato
Conor Kikot	...	Zach Longo
Charlotte Driscoll	...	Sadie Longo
Stella Rae Payne	...	Madison Longo
Robert John Burke	...	Greg Ganley
Byron Jennings	...	Judge Odenkirk
Gretchen Mol	...	Karen Hannen
Betty Gilpin	...	Cheryl Frank
Seth Barrish	...	Blaise
Robert Stanton	...	Jeffrey Gregg
Michael Countryman	...	Coroner

Storyline

Jonah Hill plays Michael Finkel, a recently terminated New York Times journalist who's struggling for work after a story gone wrong. One day, he receives a phone call from a man regarding an FBI Most Wanted individual named Christian Longo, who's been captured and claimed to be living as Finkel. Longo and Finkel meet and form a potentially marriage shattering bond while Longo is in prison awaiting his trial. Finkel exchanges journalism tips for the real events behind Longo's alleged heinous acts of murdering his family. Through the twists and turns in the movie, only at the end will Finkel uncover the True Story.

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Plot Keywords:

journalist | murder trial | prison visit | discredited reporter | investigative journalism | 

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Taglines:

Some stories are beyond belief

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Genres:

Biography | Crime | Drama | History | Mystery

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some disturbing material

Did You Know?

Trivia

The scene where Jonah Hill punches the bathroom stall was improvised. He ended up hurting his hand, and had to go the the hospital afterward, but it ended up just being a slight bruised bone.

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Goofs

When Pat Frato calls Michael Finkle to get his side of the story, he tell's him that Christian Longo was captured in Cancun, Mexico. This is in part true, he was captured in Tulum, about 40 miles south of Cancun, however, when we first see Longo in the movie, talking to the German girl, they are in a church in downtown Mexico City. All Mexico scenes happen around Santo Domingo plaza, a few blocks from Mexico City's main square. Mexico City and Cancun are about 800 miles apart.

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Quotes

Jill Barker: I thought you'd be taller.
Christian Longo: What?
Jill Barker: I don't know, maybe because he looks up to you.
Christian Longo: No, I look up to him.

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Connections

Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Jonah Hill Performances (2016)

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Soundtracks

Sonata in F Moll Op.57 (Appassionata), Andante Con Moto, Allegro Ma Non Troppo Presto
Written by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Eliska Novotná-Gazdová
Courtesy of The Savoy Label Group, LLC / Selectracks, Inc.

User Reviews

True Story comes up short

True Story is based on the novel by Mike Finkel recounting his relationship with Christian Longo(James Franco), a man accused of murdering his wife and three children. Finkel(Jonah Hill)is a young up and coming journalist writing for the New York Times when his career is derailed after he plays a little fast and loose with some facts of a recently published article. While trying to plan the next chapter in his professional life he receives a call from a reporter looking to get an angle on the story about Longo. It seems that he was using Finkel's identity when he was captured in Mexico. Finkel is naturally curious but also smells a story that could put his career back on track.

Finkel and Longo arrange to meet and what follows are a series of meetings where both men engage in a dialogue meant to extract as much information as possible from the other. But how much of what Longo shares is the truth? How does Finkel use the information he gets?

The main problem with this movie is the pay-off, or the lack thereof. The story is simply not as interesting as it sounds. Honestly, it's no ones fault. The direction by first timer Rupert Goold is solid, well paced, and true to the story. The acting is good even if it is a little weird to see Hill and Franco together in serious roles. The best way to describe it might be we all know someone(friend or family member) who is excited to tell a story of something that happened to them or something they witnessed and when they are done, looking to you for a reaction, all you can say is "Is that it?"

The most compelling aspect of the film is Finkel coming to grips with the fact that he has to determining what is the truth and what is a lie. Not unlike his readers had to do after reading his last story for the Times. One liar interrogating another.

In the end, the build up leads to very little. The ride was interesting but the destination was a big disappointment.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English Ibo

Release Date:

17 April 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

True Story

Filming Locations:

Warwick, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,950,214, 19 April 2015

Gross USA:

$4,719,695

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$5,261,595

Company Credits

Production Co:

New Regency Productions, New Regency Productions, Plan B Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Dolby Surround 7.1 Datasat Dolby Atmos

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1