Truth - Movie Review

Who's In It?

Robert Redford, Topher Grace and, Cate Blanchett


What's It About?

When CBS reporters for 60 Minutes covered a story claiming George W. Bush had strings pulled to stop him serving in Vietnam, they must defend the story - and their jobs.

Any Good?

I was genuinely interested in this after Spotlight, but Truth is what Spotlight could have been if done wrong. For starters, the story is (12!!) years past relevance, except maybe that it's the American election coming soon.

There are no real likeable characters in this other than maybe Robert Redford as Dan Rather; the rest are something I like to call 'botox acting'. I say this because no matter the situation or character they always had this stupid forced smile on their face for some reason, and it gave a really smug air - especially from Cate Blanchett.

For some reason they opened the film with Cate Blanchett's character trying to get a job by telling the interviewer that she's building up a drug habit. When the interviewer accepts her anyway she goes on to list her journalistic accomplishments and accuse him of being scared of her radical feminism, when he had already hired her and she had NO reason to do either of those things. ALL WITH A FAKE SMILE ON HER FACE!

It set the tone for her character to say the most arbitrary things after matters are settled (while smiling) which is a waste because it's the only interesting character  worth talking about and Cate Blanchett is a great actress.

Truth is very much a film of two halves, one ending at around the 45 minute mark and another beginning around 50 minutes; the problem is neither of these halves are that good. After a long hour of nothing happening, the film suddenly rushes to the conclusion as if to meet it's nearly exact 2 hour time. I believe with a better script and pacing this film could be great, but as it is I'd pass on this one.

 Rating: 

A Walk in the Woods - Movie Review

Who's In It?

Emma Thompson, Robert Redford, and Nick Nolte


What's It About?

After taking decades from travel writing, Bill Bryson decides that it's time to get out and explore again - with the only person that will join, old friend Steven Katz.

Any Good?

I think the best way to describe this film is one of those movies that your Grandmother/Mother is watching when you go over to their house and you kind of half watch in conversation - and it kind of just sticks with you and you think of it every so often with no idea of what it was.

Characters were odd in this film, Robert Redford was like a radio presenter, about as wooden as Pat Kenny's hair with no real delivery beyond a morning radio hosts introduction. Numerous seemingly important characters just fall off the face of the planet, including one who seems to be a main character then just kind of.. goes. 

Flawless, like fine oak

Nick Nolte was great as Steven Katz, he's a big guy dressed like a bum with a voice battered by whiskey and the smokes, but he plays an actual funny character, not the trousers-around-his-ankles idiot type you get an idea of when you see him. Another good point of the film is some of the scenery, a lot of sets are beautiful - then some are just clearly oil paintings like in an old western.

Thinking back on the film, it really does feel like a much better Lifetime Movies joint that your parents/grandparents have on when you go to visit them, and that's not exactly a bad thing. An okay story, huge plot holes and a fantastic sidekick character of sorts make this film enjoyable, but nothing I'd go and pay to see.

Rating: