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True Story

  • 20152015
  • RR
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
68K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,536
777
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
True Story (2015)
A drama centered around the relationship between journalist Michael Finkel and Christian Longo, an FBI Most Wanted List murderer who for years lived outside the U.S. under Finkel's name.
Play trailer2:32
6 Videos
45 Photos
  • Biography
  • Crime
  • Drama

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.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.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.

IMDb RATING
6.3/10
68K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,536
777
  • Director
    • Rupert Goold
  • Writers
    • Rupert Goold(screenplay by)
    • David Kajganich(screenplay by)
    • Michael Finkel(based on the book by)
  • Stars
    • James Franco
    • Jonah Hill
    • Felicity Jones
Top credits
  • Director
    • Rupert Goold
  • Writers
    • Rupert Goold(screenplay by)
    • David Kajganich(screenplay by)
    • Michael Finkel(based on the book by)
  • Stars
    • James Franco
    • Jonah Hill
    • Felicity Jones
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 166User reviews
    • 179Critic reviews
    • 50Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 nominations

    Videos6

    Trailer #1
    Trailer 2:32
    Trailer #1
    Jonah Talks To James In Prison
    Clip 1:15
    Jonah Talks To James In Prison
    True Story
    Clip 0:28
    True Story
    True Story
    Clip 1:35
    True Story
    True Story
    Featurette 4:04
    True Story
    Rupert Goold
    Interview 3:17
    Rupert Goold

    Photos45

    Felicity Jones in True Story (2015)
    Masanobu Takayanagi and Jonah Hill in True Story (2015)
    James Franco in True Story (2015)
    Jonah Hill in True Story (2015)
    Jonah Hill in True Story (2015)
    James Franco in True Story (2015)
    James Franco in True Story (2015)
    Jonah Hill in True Story (2015)
    James Franco in True Story (2015)
    James Franco, Jonah Hill, and Rupert Goold in True Story (2015)
    Jonah Hill in True Story (2015)
    James Franco in True Story (2015)

    Top cast

    Edit
    James Franco
    James Franco
    • Christian Longoas Christian Longo
    Jonah Hill
    Jonah Hill
    • Michael Finkelas Michael Finkel
    Felicity Jones
    Felicity Jones
    • Jill Barkeras Jill Barker
    Maria Dizzia
    Maria Dizzia
    • MaryJane Longoas MaryJane Longo
    Ethan Suplee
    Ethan Suplee
    • Pat Fratoas Pat Frato
    Conor Kikot
    • Zach Longoas Zach Longo
    Charlotte Driscoll
    • Sadie Longoas Sadie Longo
    Stella Rae Payne
    • Madison Longoas Madison Longo
    Robert John Burke
    Robert John Burke
    • Greg Ganleyas Greg Ganley
    Byron Jennings
    Byron Jennings
    • Judge Odenkirkas Judge Odenkirk
    Gretchen Mol
    Gretchen Mol
    • Karen Hannenas Karen Hannen
    Betty Gilpin
    Betty Gilpin
    • Cheryl Frankas Cheryl Frank
    Seth Barrish
    Seth Barrish
    • Blaiseas Blaise
    Robert Stanton
    Robert Stanton
    • Jeffrey Greggas Jeffrey Gregg
    Michael Countryman
    Michael Countryman
    • Coroneras Coroner
    Steve Routman
    Steve Routman
    • Jack Poolas Jack Pool
    Genevieve Angelson
    Genevieve Angelson
    • Tina Alvisas Tina Alvis
    Adam Mucci
    Adam Mucci
    • Courtroom Sheriffas Courtroom Sheriff
    • Director
      • Rupert Goold
    • Writers
      • Rupert Goold(screenplay by)
      • David Kajganich(screenplay by)
      • Michael Finkel(based on the book by)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    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. —Mayor_G
    • journalist
    • murder trial
    • prison visit
    • discredited reporter
    • investigative journalism
    • 76 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Some stories are beyond belief
    • Genres
      • Biography
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • History
      • Mystery
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for language and some disturbing material
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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.
    • Goofs
      When Mike Finkel receives a call from Pat Frato to ask him about the Christian Longo story and makes him aware of Longo using his name when apprehended, Finkel googles his own name and the search results shown include one from gawker.com saying "· NYT journalist Michael Finkel, who was fired last year for fabricating a story, found out while he was contemplating suicide that Christian Longo (who was wanted in Mexico for murdering his family) was using his name as an alias because he liked Finkel's writing". This gawker.com post goes on to say "...HarperCollins is paying $300,000 for Finkel's story, including exclusive interviews with Longo"
    • Quotes

      Christian Longo: Sometimes the truth isn't believable. But that doesn't mean that it's not true.

    • Connections
      Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 James Franco Performances (2015)
    • Soundtracks
      Se La Mia Morte Brami
      Written by Carlo Gesualdo

      Performed by Delitiae Musicae

      Conducted by Marco Longhini

      Courtesy of Naxos

      By arrangement with Source/Q

    User reviews166

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    We don't get the pay-off we think is coming after all the build-up
    "True Story" (2015 release; 100 min.) brings the story of how a reporter becomes entangled in a murder suspect's world. As the movie opens, we see some brutal images of a young child being stuffed into a suitcase, which later turns up in the water. What is going on here? After the opening credits, we get to know Michael Finkel (played by Jonah Hill), a New York Times reporter, as he interviews young men somewhere in Africa. Alas, later on he is caught fabricating some of the facts for the subsequent NYT piece and he is let go in disgrace. Meanwhile, we get to know Christian Longo (played by James Franco), accused of killed his wife and 3 young kids. When he is rounded up, he claims to be Michael Finkel, NYT reporter. It is not long before Longo makes contact, from jail, with the real Mike Finkel. To tell you more would spoil your viewing pleasure, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.

    Couple of comments: "True Story" is based on the Mike Finkel book of the same name, and if of course a true story. The premise of the movie is really intriguing (and cleverly played up in the trailer), reason I went to see this in the first place, namely is Longo somehow playing Finkel, while being in jail, and if so, what disastrous effects could that have for Finkel? Alas, in the movie it doesn't bear out. There is lots of build up in the movie, and ultimately not enough pay-off. I am all for a long build-up, but there has to be a reward for sticking with the build up, and when the reward finally comes, it's simply not enough. A quick word about the acting performances: James Franco does what he can with the limited material that is given to him. Jonah Hill is okay as the disgraced NYT reporter. The real star of the movie Felicity Jones in the role of Jill, the girlfriend of Mike Finkel. I also want to give props to prolific soundtrack composer Marco Beltrami (recently of The November Man; The Drop; The Giver, just to name those), who once again provides a lovely soundtrack.

    The early evening theater screening where I saw this at was attended not very well (less than 10 people), but in fairness, it was a weekday evening. That said, while this is not a 'bad' movie per se, nor do I feel that the movie is all that it could've become. That said, if you have a chance to check out "True Story", be it in the theater or on DVD/Blu-ray, I suggest you do and draw your own conclusion.
    helpful•66
    14
    • paul-allaer
    • Apr 22, 2015

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 17, 2015 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • English
      • Ibo
    • Also known as
      • Câu Chuyện Có Thật
    • Filming locations
      • Garnerville, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • New Regency Productions
      • New Regency Productions
      • Plan B Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $4,719,695
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $1,950,214
      • Apr 19, 2015
    • Gross worldwide
      • $5,261,595
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 39 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • Dolby Surround 7.1
      • Datasat
      • Dolby Atmos
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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