Truth (B-) Movie Review
Truth stars Cate Blanchett as Mary Mapes, a producer on 60 minutes who produces a piece that gathers controversy, not for its subject matter but for the ways in which she and her team collected their evidence. What follows is a debate whether the truth or the means of collecting it is more important.
It probably doesn't help this film that Spotlight was also released in 2015. Spotlight is the better journalism film. It blends the chasing of papers, important subject matter, and the message of journalistic importance with a little more success. Still, Truth has its merits.
Truth's ensemble is quite good, though many of them go under utilized. Cate Blanchett's performance is fierce. She has enough emotional material to sink her teeth into but she's at her best when she's in the editing room and collecting papers, delivering impassioned speeches and struggling to keep her job. Blanchett is never less than compelling to watch. Dennis Quaid, Elisabeth Moss, and Topher Grace all give strong and believable performances. I think the weak spot here is actually Robert Redford, who plays the famous Dan Rather. I rarely believed that he was on Mary Mapes' side. Redford plays Dan Rather in a very understated and subtle manner. Unfortunately, it's never to good effect. I didn't get the sense that he was as angry as Ms. Mapes about CBS' handling of the entire debacle. He came across as too neutral.
I think Truth has a really interesting point at its core and director James Vanderbilt makes his point. He doesn't make it with grace or style but he makes it and it's interesting. Vanderbilt finds a way to make the chasing of documents entertaining, even if the story that Ms. Mapes and crew are following isn't particularly something that's relevant right now. What is relevant is the state of the journalism industry and Truth wants to make the point that journalism is necessary and the truth is the most important part of journalism. And as that point is being made in the second half of the film, Truth becomes quite compelling.
Unfortunately, Vanderbilt directs with a real lack of subtlety. His approach to the world of journalism and the point he's trying to make is heavy-handed. Many speeches are made and characters' stances on the issues are clear and cleanly cut. It's Mary Mapes and her team of reporters against everyone else and everyone feels so strongly about their side.
The dramatic elements also feel a little odd and tacked on. I think Truth could've worked really well as a sterile critique of everything wrong with the world of journalism. A lot of Mary Mapes' personal life is dragged into the film and I realize that the film was based off of her autobiography but her personal life never feels as important or pressing as what's happening in her job.
Truth is heavy-handed and only really becomes compelling when everything goes wrong for Ms. Mapes. At that point, we're asked if the truth is acceptable when it's obtained at any kind of expense. But Vanderbilt does take his time getting to this point. Watch Ms. Blanchett in the meantime.
FINAL GRADE: B-
MPAA RATING: R for language and a brief nude photo
It probably doesn't help this film that Spotlight was also released in 2015. Spotlight is the better journalism film. It blends the chasing of papers, important subject matter, and the message of journalistic importance with a little more success. Still, Truth has its merits.
Truth's ensemble is quite good, though many of them go under utilized. Cate Blanchett's performance is fierce. She has enough emotional material to sink her teeth into but she's at her best when she's in the editing room and collecting papers, delivering impassioned speeches and struggling to keep her job. Blanchett is never less than compelling to watch. Dennis Quaid, Elisabeth Moss, and Topher Grace all give strong and believable performances. I think the weak spot here is actually Robert Redford, who plays the famous Dan Rather. I rarely believed that he was on Mary Mapes' side. Redford plays Dan Rather in a very understated and subtle manner. Unfortunately, it's never to good effect. I didn't get the sense that he was as angry as Ms. Mapes about CBS' handling of the entire debacle. He came across as too neutral.
I think Truth has a really interesting point at its core and director James Vanderbilt makes his point. He doesn't make it with grace or style but he makes it and it's interesting. Vanderbilt finds a way to make the chasing of documents entertaining, even if the story that Ms. Mapes and crew are following isn't particularly something that's relevant right now. What is relevant is the state of the journalism industry and Truth wants to make the point that journalism is necessary and the truth is the most important part of journalism. And as that point is being made in the second half of the film, Truth becomes quite compelling.
Unfortunately, Vanderbilt directs with a real lack of subtlety. His approach to the world of journalism and the point he's trying to make is heavy-handed. Many speeches are made and characters' stances on the issues are clear and cleanly cut. It's Mary Mapes and her team of reporters against everyone else and everyone feels so strongly about their side.
The dramatic elements also feel a little odd and tacked on. I think Truth could've worked really well as a sterile critique of everything wrong with the world of journalism. A lot of Mary Mapes' personal life is dragged into the film and I realize that the film was based off of her autobiography but her personal life never feels as important or pressing as what's happening in her job.
Truth is heavy-handed and only really becomes compelling when everything goes wrong for Ms. Mapes. At that point, we're asked if the truth is acceptable when it's obtained at any kind of expense. But Vanderbilt does take his time getting to this point. Watch Ms. Blanchett in the meantime.
FINAL GRADE: B-
MPAA RATING: R for language and a brief nude photo