It's a real shame when a good movie goes unnoticed. Good movies rarely get DVD only releases, so when it does happen one needs to pay attention. For all the crap that gets released into theaters (see Knowing, Paul Blart), why is it that some quality movies still cannot get released?
Nothing But The Truth is one such film. Rod Lurie (The Contender, TV's Commander-in-Chief) has crafted a very solid, very tight, suspenseful political thriller.
Using the Valerie Plame scandal as a framework, Nothing But The Truth is about a reporter (Kate Beckinsale) who outs a covert CIA agent (Vera Farmiga) and is sent to jail when she will not reveal her source. Matt Dillon plays the special prosecutor, Alan Alda as her attorney, and David Schwimmer as her husband. Even Noah Wyle gets a meaty role. The casting is perfect. Beckinsale and Farmiga are two of the best actresses we have around. Someone needs to get these two nominations (and wins) for Best (Supporting, if applicable) Actress awards.
Matt Dillon plays a predator waiting in the weeds for the right time to pounce. As the special prosecutor, his one job is to find the source, with no limits on money he can spend or anything to distract him. When we first meet him he is a very charming country lawyer, but he is tenacious in the courtroom. One of his best roles. Alan Alda is perfect as always, conveying a sense of emotion and sympathy with his client. In fact, his character grows the most throughout the story.
Although using Valerie Plame/Judith Miller as a framework, this work is a pure piece of fiction. And what a great work of fiction it is. It keeps you on your toes, you can guess at what's going to happen but there are still those moments where you are shocked.
Despite its strengths, the ending is a little lackluster; it leaves you asking yourself, "What? She went to jail for that!?" And it leaves you wondering if she went to jail for a principle (The First Amendment), or to protect her specific source. Some may see that as a strength of the film, but I'm not sure it is.
Over all, a very solid 7/10. Very nearly a 7.5, but certainly not any higher than that.
Hope you check this one out. It deserves your attention!
