Movie Review - True Story

True Story **½ (out of 5) (R) Jonah Hill and James Franco star in this fact-based drama about the edgy relationship that evolves between disgraced investigative journalist Mike Finkel and Christian Longo, while the latter was awaiting trial for allegedly killing his wife and three children. Longo had fled to Mexico using Finkel’s name, though the two had never met. That prompted Finkel to visit the fellow to find out why, which led to their collaboration on a book about Longo and the crime.

The film is mostly conversations between the two, as both we and Finkel wonder whether Longo did the deed. A creepy co-dependency emerges. For Finkel, the story may provide redemption for having blown his professional credibility and rising-star status with the New York Times. While trying to shock the world about abuse of children by African plantation owners, he presented a composite of anecdotes as having occurred to one victim. Once his deception was discovered, he was toast, negating the cleansing light of exposure to the detriment of those he’d intended to help. While licking his wounds in Montana, he learns of Longo’s bizarre use of his identity, spurring him to confront Longo in his Oregon prison.

I generally admire actors who stretch beyond whatever genre made them famous. Beauties who downplay their looks; hunks who gain or lose many pounds; the DeNiros who turn to comedy, or the likes of Robin Williams and Jim Carrey who shift to dramatic vehicles. So Hill’s most somber, underplayed gig to date, after making it big in lowbrow comedies, could have earned a slew of artistic points for this endeavor. But his parade of blank stares to depict every swirling, often conflicting, thought and emotion wear thin. Franco is solid as the man whose truths and motivations tease Finkel and the viewers with insights that may just be feints; disclosures dangled as strategy.

The talky production drags for a while before kicking into a higher emotional gear before the end. The result is a laudable effort, yielding only a so-so movie experience. (4/17/15)