True Story
True Story

Movie spotlight

True Story

2015
Movie
99 min
English

A drama centered on the relationship between journalist Michael Finkel and Christian Longo, an FBI Most Wanted List murderer who for years lived outside the U.S. under Finkel's name.

Insights

IMDb6.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes50%
Metacritic60
Google Users58%
Director: Rupert GooldGenres: Crime, Drama, Biography

Plot Summary

A New York Times Magazine journalist's career is threatened when he investigates a murder case and discovers the accused killer has been using his identity. As the journalist delves deeper into the man's life, the lines between truth and fiction blur, forcing him to confront his own personal failings and the nature of storytelling itself. The film explores themes of identity, ambition, and the media's role in shaping narratives.

Critical Reception

True Story received mixed to average reviews from critics. While some praised the performances of the lead actors, particularly Jonah Hill and James Franco, and the film's intriguing premise, others found the execution lacking and the narrative to be somewhat ponderous. Audience reception was similarly divided, with some appreciating the thought-provoking themes and others finding the film slow-paced and underdeveloped.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for strong performances from James Franco and Jonah Hill.

  • Appreciated for its exploration of identity and media manipulation.

  • Criticized for a slow pace and an underdeveloped narrative.

Google audience: Google users were divided on "True Story." Many appreciated the film's thematic depth and the compelling performances, particularly Jonah Hill's departure from his typical comedic roles. However, a significant portion of viewers found the pacing to be too slow and felt the story did not fully capitalize on its interesting premise, leading to a sense of dissatisfaction.

Fun Fact

The film is based on the true story of Michael Finkel, a journalist for The New York Times Magazine, who was allegedly impersonated by Christian Longo, a man accused of murdering his family.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
Reno

Reno

**About a man who has nothing to lose and a man who can't afford another failure!** It was based on the book of the same name, which was originally inspired by the real events. But there's a striking resemblance between this and the Trum...

Andres Gomez

Andres Gomez

James Franco delivers a good performance but the story is disconnected and doesn't explain the evolution of Hill's character. The problem is the script and the directing. You don't get to understand where the movie is leading to or why and ...

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