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:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some disturbing material

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English Ibo

Release Date:

17 April 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

A História Verdadeira

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:

Regency Enterprises, New Regency Pictures, 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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Second collaboration of actors James Franco and Jonah Hill, after This Is the End (2013).

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Goofs

In the film Christian Longo tell Michael Finkel that Theodor Seuss Geisel is from Wisconsin, and that there is a sculpture park there. In reality Dr. Seuss was born in Springfield, Massachusetts.

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Quotes

Michael Finkel: It's not easy to relate to someone accused of four murders, but everybody understands a child needing a toy.

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Connections

Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 James Franco Performances (2015)

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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

The Truth Always Matters

Saw True Story (film) starring Jonah Hill, James Franco, and Felicity Jones at Regal Cinemas last night! The film is based on actual events. It was very unusual, yet interesting and visually stimulating to see both Jonah and James playing roles so out of their ordinary type. Hill portrays Michael Finkel, The New York Times journalist who is subsequently terminated by the paper after being accused of incomplete research and creating a composite character, a boy named Youssouf Male while covering a story in an article about Ivory Coast Cocoa Plantations.

After being let go by the Times, Finkel (Hill) struggles to find journalistic job opportunities until one day he receives a mysterious phone call from a man regarding an FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation Most Wanted individual named Christian Longo, portrayed by Franco, who is wanted for murdering his entire family and is eventually captured in México while claiming to be living as Finkel. Finkel decides this is an opportunity story of a life time, so he meets with Longo trying to figure out why his now tarnished journalistic name was used by this accused murderer.

Finkel agrees to share his journalistic expertise with Longo in exchange for information regarding the murders for his Murder Memoir which tells a "True Story" regarding the events portrayed in the film. While in Newport, Oregon County Jail awaiting trial, Longo corresponds with Finkel via U.S. Mail, sending him written clues which appear to be confusing and misleading about his family life, yet enough information to put the pieces of the puzzle together and compile a Murder Memoir. Finkel attends the trial and at the end he uncovers the "True Story."

The film has several twists and turns which will keep you interested. It was cool to see both Hill and Franco play roles no one would ever think they would take on. Both actors handled this "True Story" film brilliantly! Not a must see, but definitely worth seeing if you want to experience these veteran actor Academy Award Nominees in diverse roles. My cinema score is 7/10! ‪#‎maverickradio‬™