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Most of the big Hollywood studios seem to be recession-proof, repeatedly pulling in record-breaking box office figures, in spite of the country’s rising unemployment rates. But, unfortunately, the same isn’t true for many of the smaller companies. And when the Yari Film Group (the company responsible for distributing films like The Illusionist and The Painted Veil) filed for bankruptcy in December, they were forced to tighten their belt a bit, squeezing out a number of films that, as a result, didn’t get the theatrical release that they deserved. In the case of Nothing But the Truth, though, it also meant that a couple of talented actresses were overlooked when award season rolled around.
In Nothing But the Truth, Washington reporter Rachel Armstrong (Kate Beckinsale) has just gotten her hands on the biggest scoop of her career. She’s just discovered that fellow soccer mom Erica Van Doren (Vera Farmiga) is actually a secret CIA operative who recently traveled to Venezuela to investigate an assassination attempt on the president. And although Erica reported that Venezuela wasn’t involved in the attempted assassination, the government chose to retaliate anyway.
Carefully researched and corroborated, Rachel’s story makes some huge waves in Washington, and it’s not long before the FBI sends in a special prosecutor, Patton Dubois (Matt Dillon), to find Rachel’s source. After all, it’s treason to reveal the identity of a CIA operative—and the FBI is ready to go over the guilty party. Still, despite the FBI’s threats of fines and jail time—not to mention the pressure from her family—Rachel refuses to reveal her source. As the standoff continues, it’s not just Erica’s life that’s torn apart; Rachel’s is, too—yet she refuses to compromise her journalistic integrity.
Inspired by a true story, Nothing But the Truth is a thoughtful thriller that’s underscored by a number of remarkable performances. Beckinsale, especially, stands out as the conflicted reporter who’s torn between her integrity and her family (as well as her freedom). In fact, it’s quite possibly her best performance to date—definitely deserving of a little award recognition. Farmiga, too, shines as the outed op, while Alan Alda plays Rachel’s high-powered attorney with the perfect amount of strength and arrogance.
Those stellar performances further enhance the thought-provoking and challenging story. The writing is both sharp and smart, and though it does feel a bit drawn-out toward the end, it eventually comes together in a shocking conclusion that you won’t see coming. In fact, I think it may have even caused me to gasp audibly.
Still, while Yari’s unfortunate situation all but destroyed Nothing But the Truth’s chances for award nominations and box office success, the film’s recent DVD release means that you don’t have to miss it. So, the next time you head out to your favorite video store, pick up a copy of this suspenseful shocker. It’s sure to give you plenty to think about (and discuss) long after the movie ends.
