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Lanny to
Vince: Get the fuck off me! We don't fuck, Vince! We're buddies,
we're pals, we're partners, we're a duo. We love each other, but we
don't fuck! We're fucking stars. We can-- we can travel together. We can
hang out together. We can live together, but we can't be queers! THAT.
IS NOT. FUNNY!
I hate the MPAA, I mean that. I despise this
big brother group who feels they have to interrupt and decide how a film
should be made. A bunch of studio executives garnering exceptions to
bloated studio projects while making it hard on the small filmmaker.
“Where the Truth Lies” is one of the many films to suffer the wrath of
the MPAA, and it’s heartbreaking to see that. “Where the Truth Lies” has
fleeting moments of greatness. It has a story that comprises some of the
most unlikely characters I’ve ever seen in a crime drama. And Allison
Lohman once again shows that she is indeed one of the best actresses in
Hollywood. And also vastly under-appreciated.
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You’ll see shades of Agatha
Christie and Lois Lane in this character who begins as a
vulnerable young girl exploited in a telethon, and then
attempts to chronicle the career of her favorite
entertainers. Through this she learns the golden rule. Our
heroes are indeed human. With flaws, horrible personalities,
and boundaries that become their downfall. She then realizes
she’s not so much paying homage to her heroes, but
investigating a crime that occurred in their hotel room one
morning that has yet to be unsolved. |
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I almost loved “Where the Truth Lies.”
Why almost? Hear me out. At first I was ready to give it a basically
mediocre grade, but after thinking and reflecting on Egoyan’s little
mystery, it really is a film that sticks with you. He creates a
likable heroine in K. O’Connor, vulnerable, intelligent, intuitive,
deceptive, and easily manipulate, a woman thrust into the conspiracy
inadvertently and learns about her favorite comedy team
Vince Collins and Lanny Morris, one of the most popular comedy duos
who, behind close doors, deal with the mafia, and engage in
scandalous affairs with random women seeking a glimpse in their true
personalities. Both of which are heavily guarded behind the veil of
bribery, and black mail. Kevin Bacon and Colin Firth are utterly
memorable as the two faced team who are national sweethearts and
bond very closely.
Firth, normally subjected to romances, displays a shocking darkness
not usually the norm in his roles, as this man who seeks to break
down those who stand in his way and keep them at his mercy, and even
violently beats a man who insults his partner during a show. Firth
and Bacon’s chemistry is excellent constantly switching their roles
in their relationship and sticking their necks out for one another
even in the face of scandal, and they dive into these slimy
characters with all their might. Agoyan presents a tight mystery
with assorted twists and turns, and an ultimately pleasing and grim
message about show business and the consequences of fame. And it
just didn’t deserve to be treated like hardcore porn by the ever
dictatorial MPAA. It’s a sound and fascinating crime drama that’s
not about the nudity and graphic sex scenes, it’s just so much more
and shouldn’t be undermined in such a crude manner by a country
afraid of sex and all its devices.
You’ll be left wondering what the entire
hook for “Where the Truth Lies” is. There is a catch to the mystery, but
then why didn’t I care? Is there a surprise ending on the way? Is there
a huge plot twist? A startling revelation? None that I could really
find, and audiences, as I, will find it touch to sit through the entire
film and discover there’s really nothing groundbreaking. The plot and
its utterly elaborate somewhat disjointed mystery wears thin and
eventually begins testing your patience, especially when about half of
the flashbacks involving the comedy duo really serve as nothing more
than set-ups to the mystery and nothing more. And I won’t even touch on
the obvious allusions to Martin and Lewis that fall utterly flat and are
never as sharp as they think they are.
Overall, “Where the Truth Lies” is a very
pleasing, and consistently satisfying crime drama with the most unlikely
sleuths being the downfall of two entertainers who found themselves out
of control. It’s not perfect, and the hype is overplayed, but it’s
entertaining nonetheless.
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