Where the Truth Lies
Unrated Version
In the 1950s, Vince Collins (Colin Firth) and Lanny Morris (Kevin Bacon) are the hottest showbiz duo in America. The combination of Lanny's brash American style and Vince's biting British wit is irresistible, especially to beautiful women. The pair is a particular favorite of Sally San Marco (Maury Chaykin), a mob boss who owns nightclubs up and down the east coast. He makes sure "his boys" have anything they want.
The "anyone they want" is handled by Lanny's inscrutable man-servant, Reuben (David Hayman). When a beautiful young woman, Maureen (Rachel Blanchard) is found dead in the bathtub of the duo's suite, their glittery world begins to crumble. They have rock solid alibis and are exonerated of any criminal wrongdoing; however, the scandal causes the once inseparable pair to part company.
Fifteen years later, the myth of the Collins and Morris controversy still fascinates the public. Karen O'Connor (Alison Lohman), a young and ambitious journalist, is determined to uncover the secrets of the two men who, coincidentally, touched her life when she was a child. She persuades a publisher to offer a guarded Vince Collins one million dollars to collaborate with her on writing the untold story of his life with Lanny Morris. There is one condition: the truth must be told about the scandal that destroyed the duo. What really happened the night Maureen died?
Based on the novel by Rupert Holmes.
Member Reviews
Long on hype-very short on delivery - avidfilmbuff
Yet another in the list of disappointing Egoyan films. This director seems to lose his focus as the film develops. The dark sides of the two main characters became tangents down which the director became obsessed leaving the main plot suspended and lacking continuity at times. Why was it necessary to develop these tangents to the point where the film bordered on pornography? The acting talents of Firth and Bacon were left largely undeveloped and whoever played the role of the journalist was completely out of her depth. She delivered a very shallow and wooden performance which was emotionally repressed. Disappointing! Egoyan, please see Eastern Promises or Inglourious Basterds to take a lesson in the coherent development of plot, character, and tension."...Truth Lies" has heft - LeoBeaches
Back in the fifties, there wasn't more successful, popular entertainers than the ccomic duo of Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis. They sang, they danced and they were laugh out loud funny. They were on top of the world. And then the partnership and their friendship ended. They both went on to enjoy great success on their own but their breakup spawned endles speculation and mystery. Atom Egoyan has taken this real life premise and created a deeply satisfying probe of the dynamic between his fictional Martin & Lewis, Vince & Lanny, while throwing in a pretty nifty murder mystery as well. While Colin Firth and Kevin Bacon are just fine as the funny men they never quite have the chemistry that made Dean & Jerry so lovable. Never the less, their partnership works well enough. This film is really a showcase for Alison Loman as the young journalist trying to get to the bottom of the death of a young woman whose body was found in the famous pair's hotel suite and which apparently led to their breakup. Although the film felt a little slow in spots it always had enough pizazz to keep me focused. Not just another who dunnit, "Where The Truth Lies" has some heft. Check it out.A Lame Conclusion - FilmJunkie
I truly believe that Atom Egoyan is one of the most talented filmmakers working today. He has impressed me time and time again, and yet here I am not sure what he was thinking.
The film starts out a very promising story about a pair of comedians ...(read more)known for their telethons (much like Martin and Lewis) who have hidden from a scandal involving a dead girl in their hotel room for 15 years. Kevin Bacon and Colin Firth play the duo and are exceptional in their roles. We are drawn in and begging to know more.
Yet as the film continues to unfold we are forced into the life of Karen (Alison Lohman), a journalist connected to the two who is attempting to write a book about their lives. I have liked Lohman in previous roles, however here her voice is childish and grating and her performance is too soft and cold to be interesting. As we are forced more and more into Karen's world, we lose our connection to the two men and the plot becomes predictable, soft core porn-ish and unentertaining.
Egoyan stays true to his Canadian roots by casting Rachel Blanchard as the dead girl as well as Don McKellar, Arsinee Khanjian and Gabrielle Rose as publishing executives and the incomparable Maury Chaykin as a gangster. I appreciated seeing these great Canadian actors in their small roles, only wishing they were more involved in the story.
Overall I saw it coming and by the time it was 'revealed', I just didn't care anymore. If only the second half lived up to the first.
Member Reviews
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Long on hype-very short on delivery - avidfilmbuff
Yet another in the list of disappointing Egoyan films. This director seems to lose his focus as the film develops. The dark sides of the two main characters became tangents down which the director became obsessed leaving the main plot suspended and lacking ..."...Truth Lies" has heft - LeoBeaches
Back in the fifties, there wasn't more successful, popular entertainers than the ccomic duo of Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis. They sang, they danced and they were laugh out loud funny. They were on top of the world. And then the partnership and their friendship ...A Lame Conclusion - FilmJunkie
I truly believe that Atom Egoyan is one of the most talented filmmakers working today. He has impressed me time and time again, and yet here I am not sure what he was thinking.
The film starts out a very promising story about a pair of comedians ...(read ...