The Whole Truth

Coming to theatres this week from director Courtney Hunt and Lionsgate is a courtroom drama that seeks THE WHOLE TRUTH.

Mike (Gabriel Basso) is a young man who finds himself in prison. Charged with murdering his father Boone (Jim Belushi), wife Loretta (Renee Zellweger) hires attorney Ramsey (Keanu Reeves).

Immediately Ramsey realizes that this is not going to be an easy case, especially when Mike refuses to speak even in his own defense. Ramsey brings Janelle (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) in to help with fact finding what could have led Mike to do such a thing.

As the trial begins, Loretta is confronted with the problems that happened in the home and the dominance of Boone over his family. With each question she answers, a story unfolds of the father-son relationship and the difficulties.

When Mike finally decides to talk, the story he tells is shocking and takes the case into a direction Ramsey did not expect.

That’s what happens when the whole truth comes out!

Reeves as Ramsey is a lawyer looking for anything to help his client. It certainly doesn’t help when the young man says nothing to any questions he’s asked. Irritated that the boy isn’t helping with the case, he lets the courtroom drama speak. Reeves has the amazing ability to mix the dark and intensity of a situation and play it like a fiddle. The character of Ramsey is no exception.

Mbatha-Raw as Janelle looks for anything that will tell the story of Mike’s situation with his father. Drawn in quickly she not only takes finding the facts seriously but becomes equally stunned with every new discovery. If Mbatha-Raw looks familiar it is because she is responsible for the wonderful character of Dido in the 2013 film BELLE and more recently as Rachel in this years FREE STATE OF JONES.

Zellweger as Loretta is a bit standoffish towards the case but sits in the courtroom every day with her son. There is a bit of disconnect in her character and I’m not totally sure if that was intentional or not. It certainly is curious to be sure.

Belushi as Boone has a smaller role in the film but it certainly is one that raised my eyebrow a few times. This is a darker character than I’m use to seeing this jovial actor play and that’s what being unexpected is all about!

Basso as Mike spends most of his time in the film being absolutely silent. He doesn’t react to anything and no responding to questions. Instead he sits at the defendants table doodling letting the time pass. Just when you think that’s how his character is going to play out – he speaks! What he says changes the entire dynamic of the film until the very end. Well done.

Other cast includes: Jim Klock as Leblanc, Ritchie Montgomery as Judge Robichaux, Christopher Berry as Legrand, Nicole Barre as Angela Morley, Jason Kirkpatrick as Detective Graves, Sean Bridges as Arthur Westin and Jackie Tuttle as Trixie Westin.

THE WHOLE TRUTH is a nice courtroom drama that brings out twists and turns in the story. This is a film where nothing is as it seems and yet it is exactly what it seems. The revelations about certain characters bring more questions instead of the answers Ramsey is looking for.

I enjoy films that keep most of the storytelling in the courtroom although there are scenes outside of it of course but mainly in flashbacks. Having all the key players in the same room is keeping to a captive audience who don’t mind being captive because this is a puzzle that needs piecing together.

Reeves and Basso carry the film with one saying to much and one saying to little yet neither getting to the whole truth!

In the end – do you solemnly swear to tell the truth?