True Story(film)
True Story | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Rupert Goold |
Written by |
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Based on | True Story byMichael Finkel |
Produced by | |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Masanobu Takayanagi |
Edited by | Christopher Tellefsen Nicolas De Toth |
Music by | Marco Beltrami |
Production companies | |
Distributed by | Fox Searchlight Pictures |
Release dates |
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Running time | 99 minutes[1] |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Box office | $5.3 million[2] |
True Storyis a 2015 Americanmysterythriller filmthat was directed byRupert Gooldin his directorial debut. It is based on a screenplay by Goold andDavid Kajganich.Based on the memoir of the same name byMichael Finkel,it starsJonah Hill,James FrancoandFelicity Jones,withGretchen Mol,Betty GilpinandJohn Sharianin supporting roles.
Franco playsChristian Longo,a man on theFederal Bureau of Investigation's most-wanted listaccused of murdering his wife and three children in Oregon. He hid in Mexico using the identity ofMichael Finkel,a journalist played by Hill.[3]The film premiered at the 2015Sundance Film Festivaland was released theatrically on April 17, 2015, in the United States. It explores the relationship that develops between the two men after journalist Finkel begins to meet with Longo in prison.
Plot[edit]
In 2001,Christian Longo,anOregonman whose wife and three children have been discovered murdered, is arrested by police in Mexico, where he had been identifying himself as a reporter forThe New York TimesnamedMichael Finkel.Meanwhile, inNew York City,Finkel, an ambitious and successful reporter, is confronted by his editors about a cover story he has written forThe New York Times Magazinein which he has used acomposite characteras the focus of his story, violating basic journalism principles. Finkel briefly attempts to defend his actions but is unsuccessful and is fired. He returns home to his wife Jill and struggles to find work as a journalist due to his public firing from theTimes.
In 2003, Finkel is contacted by a reporter forThe Oregonian,seeking his opinion on Longo's assumption of his identity. Unaware of Longo's case, Finkel is intrigued and arranges to meet Longo in prison. During their first conversation, Longo claims he has followed Finkel's career and admired his writing. Longo agrees to tell Finkel his side of the crimes he is accused of in exchange for writing lessons and Finkel's promise not to share their conversations until after the conclusion of the murder trial.
Finkel becomes increasingly absorbed with Longo, who is likable but evasive about his guilt. Convinced the story will be redemptive, Finkel visits Longo in prison and corresponds with him for several months. Longo sends Finkel numerous letters and an 80-page notebook entitled "Wrong Turns," which contains what Longo describes as a list of every mistake he has made. Finkel begins to recognize similarities between Longo and himself, their handwriting and drawing, and Longo's letters and Finkel's journals. As the trial approaches, Finkel becomes increasingly doubtful that Longo is guilty of the murders, and Longo informs Finkel that he intends to change his plea to not guilty.
In court, Longo pleads not guilty to two of the murders but pleads guilty to the murder of his wife and one of his daughters. Finkel confronts Longo, who claims he cannot share everything he knows because he has to protect certain people he refuses to name. Greg Ganley, the detective who tracked Longo down and arrested him, approaches Finkel and claims Longo is an extremely dangerous and manipulative man. He tries to convince Finkel to turn over as evidence all his correspondence with Longo. Finkel refuses, and Ganley does not press him for an explanation.
At the trial, Longo takes the stand and describes his version of the events in detail. After an argument with his wife about their financial situation, he claims he had come home to discover two of his children missing, one of his daughters unconscious, and his wife sobbing, saying she put the children "in the water." Longo says he strangled his wife to death in a blind rage. He says he thought his other daughter was dead at first but realized she was still breathing and strangled her as well because she was all but dead. Finkel's wife, Jill, watches Longo's testimony. As the jury deliberates, Jill visits Longo in jail and tells him he is a narcissistic murderer who will never escape who he is.
Longo is found guilty and sentenced to death. After he is sentenced, he winks at Finkel, who, to his shock and rage, realizes Longo has been lying throughout their conversations, using him to make his testimony more believable. A short time later, Finkel meets Longo on death row. Longo tries to convince Finkel he discovered his wife strangling their daughter and then blacked out, so he has no memory of the murders. Finkel angrily tells Longo he will not believe any more of his lies and will warn the judge, when Longo appeals against his sentence, of Longo's manipulative nature. Longo retorts by pointing out Finkel's success with his book about their encounters, leaving the reporter shaken.
Finkel reads a section of his book,True Story,at a promotional event in a bookstore. Taking questions from the audience, he imagines Longo standing in the back of the room. Finkel is unable to respond. Longo says if he has lost his freedom, Finkel must have also lost something.
A year later, title cards reveal that Longo admitted to killing his entire family. The final title card says Finkel and Longo still speak on the first Sunday of every month. Finkel never wrote for theTimesagain, but Longo has contributed articles to several publications from death row, including theTimes.
Cast[edit]
- Jonah HillasMichael Finkel
- James FrancoasChristian Longo
- Felicity Jonesas Jill Barker
- Robert John Burkeas Greg Ganley
- Connor Kikot as Zachary Longo
- Gretchen Molas Karen Hannen
- Betty Gilpinas Cheryl Frank
- John Sharianas Lincoln County Lobby Sheriff
- Robert Stantonas Jeffrey Gregg
- Maria Dizziaas Mary Jane Longo
- Genevieve Angelsonas Tina Alvis
- Dana Eskelsonas Joy Longo
- Ethan Supleeas Pat Frato
- Joel Garland as Dan Pegg
- Rebecca Hendersonas Ellen Parks
- Charlotte Driscoll as Sadie Longo
- Maryann Plunkettas Maureen Duffy
- David Pittuas Marcus Lickermann
Production[edit]
Filming[edit]
Principal photographybegan in March 2013 inWarwick, New YorkandNew York City.[4][5]Brad Pittproduced, along with several others, andFox Searchlight Picturesdistributed.[6]
Music[edit]
Marco Beltramiwas hired on July 18, 2014, to write the film's music.[7]
When Jill visits Longo in prison, she plays him a recording of "Se la mia morte brami"(If you desire my death), amadrigalby the Italian renaissance composerCarlo Gesualdo.She explains that despite its beauty, she can not hear it without remembering the facts of the composer's life: that Gesualdo murdered his wife, her lover, and their child.[8]
Release[edit]
The film was originally scheduled for alimited theatrical releaseon April 10, 2015.[9]That release date was delayed for one week in favor of awide release.[10]
Reception[edit]
True Storyhas received mixed reviews from critics. OnRotten Tomatoes,the film has a rating of 45%, based on 169 reviews, with an average rating of 5.44/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "James Franco and Jonah Hill make a watchable pair, butTrue Storyloses their performances—and the viewer's interest—in a muddled movie that bungles its fact-based tale. "[11]OnMetacritic,the film has a score of 50 out of 100, based on 40 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[12]
Accolades[edit]
Award | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref(s) |
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Teen Choice Awards | Choice Movie Actor: Drama | James Franco | Nominated | [13] |
Jonah Hill | Nominated | |||
Choice Movie Actress: Drama | Felicity Jones | Nominated |
References[edit]
- ^"TRUE STORY(15) ".British Board of Film Classification.May 6, 2015.RetrievedMay 6,2015.
- ^"True Story (2015)".The Numbers.RetrievedMarch 12,2016.
- ^Nicholson, Max (February 27, 2012)."Hill, Franco Join Pitt for True Story".IGN.RetrievedMay 13,2012.
- ^Fleming, Mike Jr (March 29, 2012)."New Regency To FinanceTrue StoryWith Jonah Hill And James Franco ".Deadline.RetrievedJuly 1,2013.
- ^Christine (March 21, 2013)."First look at Jonah Hill & Felicity Jones filmingTrue Storyin NYC ".On Location Vacations.Archived fromthe originalon June 3, 2017.RetrievedJuly 1,2013.
- ^Christine (March 7, 2013)."The Brad Pitt-produced movieTrue Storyis filming in Warwick, NY this week ".On Location Vacations.Archived fromthe originalon June 23, 2013.RetrievedJuly 1,2013.
- ^"Marco Beltrami to ScoreTrue Story".Film Music Reporter. July 18, 2014.RetrievedJuly 19,2014.
- ^William B. Ober, "Carlo Gesualdo, Prince of Venosa: Murder, Madrigals, and Masochism" inBulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine,Vol. 49, No. 7, July 1973, pp. 634–645
- ^"First Photos from True Story, Starring Jonah Hill and James Franco".ComingSoon.net. December 16, 2014.RetrievedDecember 17,2014.
- ^"Theatrical Movie Schedule Additions and Changes".Box Office Mojo.
- ^"True Story".Rotten Tomatoes.Flixster.RetrievedMay 17,2020.
- ^"True Story".Metacritic.RetrievedJuly 15,2015.
- ^"Winners of Teen Choice 2015 Announced".Teen Choice Awards.FOX.August 16, 2015. Archived fromthe originalon August 18, 2015.RetrievedAugust 17,2015.
External links[edit]
- 2015 films
- 2015 crime drama films
- 2010s legal drama films
- 2010s mystery drama films
- 2010s prison drama films
- American films based on actual events
- American crime drama films
- American courtroom films
- American legal drama films
- American mystery drama films
- American prison drama films
- Crime films based on actual events
- Drama films based on actual events
- Mystery films based on actual events
- Films about journalists
- Films produced by Dede Gardner
- Films produced by Jeremy Kleiner
- Films scored by Marco Beltrami
- Films set in New York City
- Films shot in New York City
- Fiction about familicide
- Plan B Entertainment films
- Fox Searchlight Pictures films
- Regency Enterprises films
- 2015 directorial debut films
- Films directed by Rupert Goold
- 2010s English-language films
- 2010s American films
- English-language crime drama films