Where Truth Lies

Starring:William H. Molina
Studio: Vintage Home Ent.
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Director Atom Egoyan's 2005 film Where the Truth Lies is laden with nudity, sex, violence, lies, blackmail, betrayal… and really, what more could you want? Other than some genuine tension, a more compelling story, and better acting, that is. In adapting Rupert Holmes' novel, the Cairo-born Egoyan (Ararat, Exotica, The Sweet Hereafter) has taken on a murder mystery with film noir elements that will leave many viewers wondering exactly "whodunit" until the final few scenes; and while that's surely a good thing, the ride itself simply isn't all that scintillating. Kevin Bacon and Colin Firth star as a (Dean) Martin & (Jerry) Lewis-style team whose principal talents seem to consist mainly of pill-popping, soulless sex with a stream of nubile young women, and hosting an annual polio telethon. Fifteen years after their '50s heyday, journalist Karen O'Connor (Alison Lohman), who appeared on the telethon as a child, seeks out the pair to determine why they split up and, not coincidentally, what really happened to the dead girl with whom they had dallied the night before. Bacon is reasonably unctuous as the leering Lanny Morris; but Firth is uninspired as the more elusive Vince Collins, and although Lohman is game, she sometimes seems out of her depth in a role that calls for her to both seduce and be seduced, to manipulate and be manipulated. Egoyan, who also wrote the screenplay, has an eye for odd little details (much is made of Pan Am's first class dinner service, for instance) and an ear for great music (the soundtrack includes tunes by Charles Mingus, Louis Prima, the Mahavishnu Orchestra, and Funkadelic) and good dialogue ("Having to be a nice guy is the toughest job in the world when you're not"). But the film is curiously tepid; the sex is unconvincing, the mystery lacks a sense of danger, and the resolution is hardly shocking. One wishes that, having dipped into this genre, Egoyan had gone all out and made a film as delightfully sleazy as, say, Basic Instinct. --Sam Graham

Amazon.com

Starring Kevin Bacon (Beauty Shop, Mystic River), Colin Firth (Love Actually, Bridget Jones's Diary) and Alison Lohman (Big Fish, Matchstick Men), Where the Truth Lies is a suspenseful mystery from acclaimed director Atom Egoyan. In the '50s, Vince Collins (Firth) and Lanny Morris (Bacon) are the hottest showbiz duo in America. The combination of Lanny's brash American style and Vince's biting British wit is irresistible, especially to beautiful women. When a beautiful young woman, Maureen (Rachel Blanchard) is found dead in the bathtub of the duo's suite, their glittery world begins to crumble. They have rock solid alibis and are exonerated of any criminal wrongdoing; however, the scandal causes the once inseparable pair to part company. Fifteen years later, Karen O'Connor (Lohman), a young and ambitious journalist, is determined to uncover the secrets of the two men who, coincidentally, touched her life when she was a child. She persuades a publisher to offer a guarded Vince Collins one million dollars to collaborate with her on writing the untold story of his life with Lanny Morris. There is one condition: the truth must be told about the scandal that destroyed the duo. What really happened the night Maureen died? As Karen continues to search for many different truths-the truth about Vince and Lanny, the truth about Maureen's death, and even suppressed truths about herself- she becomes embroiled in a tense and bewildering game of cat-and-mouse.

Customer Reviews:

As the Decades Pass.......2007-04-20

Interesting adaptation of songwriter Rupert Holmes' celebrated thriller is no masterpiece, but it's continually involving and takes the career of Canadian auteur Atom Egoyan to places he's never been before. While his bid for mainstream commercial success may have stiffed at the box office, on DVD the movie may have a new life as people start watching a picture that will reward them for their patience. Anyone adapting Holmes' novel would first off have been challenged by its timeline, for the two main male characters must age dramatically so you have to hire actors who might clean up enough to look sort of young in the earlier scenes, and not too vain to forgo aging makeup for the present-day scenes. Bacon and Firth do well, though Firth's aging makeup makes him look totally gross, while Kevin Bacon looks more or less the same except with rooster-red Rod Stewart hair, giving him a strange resemblance to Gary Oldman playing Sid Vicious in SID AND NANCY. But why on earth hire Alison Lohman to play O'Connor? (We remember in the book how we never find out O'Connor's first name, just her first initial. Here that game is sacrificed right away in the service of naturalism.) O'Connor's supposed to be young, but not that young; she's old enough to have established herself as an up and coming name in "New Journalism," while Alison Lohman still looks like she's being passed around from foster family to foster family in WHITE OLEANDER. She doesn't seem to have the journalistic savvy O'Connor is said to have had before falling for Lanny Morris, so that when she throws away her objectivity it hardly seems shocking any more, she's just doing what any lovestruck teen might do.

If you can't figure out who committed the murder within forty-five minutes into the picture, it's because you, poor thing, have never seen any movies. Here's what you should do, don't start with this one, try RASHOMON or CITIZEN KANE or WINTER LIGHT, but after those chart topper you might try this one again. Egoyan's trademark suburban acuity, and his mastery of pathos and atmosphere, have rarely been so exercised. On the DVD there's an unusual featurette on the making of WHERE THE TRUTH LIES, that is so not your ordinary "Making Of" featurette, that it should get some sort of award for "most moody."

very, very good.......2007-04-18

After reading all the reviews for this movie, I was not sure I really wanted to see it, even though I am a insatiable Colin Firth fan and cannot get enough of him. But I decided to risk it, and I am SO very glad that I did! This movie was so good! It was a very intriguing story, great acting, it held my rapt interest from beginning to end. I am not a huge Kevin Bacon fan, but he was incredible in this part, and, I may have to further investigate other things he has done. And of course, as usual, Colin Firth is extraordinary. The only negative thing I have to say is that the part of Karen O'Connor could have been better cast, I felt like Alison Lohman was playing a part in a school play, yeah, she's beautiful, but not up to the part of the journalist she played. That was a bit disappointing, but not disappointing enough for me to dislike this film. When I got the dvd and saw that it have been given "two thumbs up" by Ebert and Roeper, I knew I had a winner, as I rarely disagree with Roger Ebert. Its a great film, high underrated, IMHO.

Interesting premise, pretty decent film.......2007-02-13

This is a fairly complex mystery, wherein a young, pretty journalist (Alison Lohman) attempts to unravel the truth behind a fifteen-year old murder of a young woman while she gathers research for a biography she is writing. Much of the film is told in flashbacks, alternating between the present (1972) and the time of the murder (1957). The journalist, Karen, is obsessed with solving this crime because her life was changed in 1957 upon meeting the two men intrinsically linked to the murder, Vince and Lanny. At the time, she was ten years old and recovering from polio, a disease for which Vince and Lanny had been hosting a fund-raising telethon. The two men, played by Colin Firth and Kevin Bacon, are a fictitious comedy duo not unlike Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. They have never been charged with the crime because there isn't any concrete evidence against them. Karen knows that, unless she cracks the mystery herself, the murder will remain unsolved because it occurred at a time when justice still had 20/20 vision. As I watched the film, I could not extricate it from its novelist, Rupert Holmes, and kept drifting back to "The Piña Colada Song" and "Him." To me, the film eventually became the story behind a whimsical Holmes song and, consequently, much less intense. Or perhaps, without the distraction of this song filter, the film really isn't very dramatic, which would be a shame because a murder mystery really should be dramatic and suspenseful. Nonetheless, this film is worth watching because it is at least entertaining throughout and because Alison Lohman is so darn cute; as the saying goes, I would watch her read a phone book and she is worth at least an extra ½ star here. Kristin Adams and Sonja Bennett provide some added attractions as well. This movie is slightly above average and I recommend it, at least to liberally-minded adults. It is rife with sex, nudity, language and violence, which will likely offend the more conservative viewers. As one would expect from an official studio release, the DVD transfer is very good and there are subtitle options in addition to deleted scenes.

Nothing here is convincing or engaging.......2007-01-04

I didn't think it was possible to make a movie as bad as this with Colin Firth and Kevin Bacon in major roles. It's really poor. Really. Partly it's the plot -- so much is unbelievable, from Collins' reason for blackmailing O'Connor, to O'Connor's ability to solve the entire mystery after 15 years on the basis of a couple of casual words from Morris. But mostly it's the fact that none of the main characters is remotely convincing or engaging. Lohman is entirely out of her depth, and though Bacon and Firth are competent they're uninspiring. And the pivotal sex scene, which I suppose I shouldn't detail in case I give away the plot, is completely flat. And... well, enough. My advice is, don't bother.

More to the picture than meets the eye.......2006-11-01

Not one of Egoyan's best due to miscasting. Allison Lohman is unconvincing as a reporter doing a "where are they now" piece on a Martin and Lewis-like comedy duo, played flatly by Colin Firth and Kevin Bacon. Supposedly Lohman's character has been a fan of the duo since her childhood appearance on their polio telethon, but there's little in her performance (verbally or nonverbally) that shows why she's willing to go to such lengths to get her story, which evolves into a sleazier version of a Mary Higgins Clark murder mystery:

Years ago, a beautiful woman, who both men were trying to attain, was found in the duo's hotel room. Though the two were never charged, the death was the downfall of their careers. The murderer was never caught.

The film has the usual Egoyan look, and a lot of the dialogue would crackle if the actors seemed to be behind the material. Unfortunately, it seems as if Egoyan took all of the Lewis and Martin humor from Firth and Bacon and saved it for the film's droll punchline.

Average customer rating:

Suspenseful Murder Trial
A note to subtitle/caption users
Very suspenseful!
GREAT SUSPENSE!

Where the Truth Lies
Starring: Marlee Matlin , Regina King , Philip Lester , Robert Blanche , and Linden Ashby
Director: Nelson McCormick (II)
Manufacturer: Starlight Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005NKT1
Release Date: 2001-09-11

Description

A controversial political candidate is murdered. His deaf campaign manager is accused. Her trial becomes an event that will ruin lives and open old wounds. Revelation of a shocking past becomes the pivotal twist of the plot.

Customer Reviews:

Suspenseful Murder Trial.......2004-05-06

Take a murder and throw in deafness, old flames, jealousy, maintaining a perfect trial record---and you've got a good movie. That this movie does.

A deaf witness, a jealous, ambitious wife of son of Senatorial candidate, potential funds comingling, old romance between Prosecutor and Defense Attornies-- makes one think all the time at potential subplots and outcomes.

For sure I was into the wife of Russ doing the murder, but knew that was too obvious---it had to be someone else. Won't begin to give that away for those who haven't yet seen. Ending was surprise that took me off guard.

Acting was good all around. Martin is excellent.

A note to subtitle/caption users.......2004-04-03

Given that this film stars a deaf actress and that I had seen this movie on Lifetime TV with captioning- I had no reason to suspect that the dvd would come WITHOUT CAPTIONS. As a deaf viewer, I was severely disappointed in this product. The film itself is good entertainment- but what's there to enjoy if you can't understand the dialogue?

Very suspenseful!.......2001-08-05

This movie can be described as a mix between a John Grisham story and a Perry Mason mystery. I never knew where the story was going to turn! The acting by Marlee Matlin and Regina King was superb. These two women kept the story believeable and enjoyable to watch. This is one of those movies that you will want to watch twice (once you know how it ends)!!

GREAT SUSPENSE!.......2001-07-27

I saw this movie on Lifetime TV and I would have never guessed that the ending would have been so unexpected. I can't wait for this movie to come out on video. All I have to say is that you need to watch this movie. Marlee Matlin is as convincing as can be. This movie will keep you on the edge of your seat. Regina King, who you may have seen in "Jerry Maguire" as Cuba Gooding Jr.'s wife, is fantastic in this movie as a lawyer. She is one to watch!

Average customer rating:

As the Decades Pass
very, very good
Interesting premise, pretty decent film
Nothing here is convincing or engaging
More to the picture than meets the eye

Where the Truth Lies (Rated Edition)
Starring: Kevin Bacon , Colin Firth , Alison Lohman , David Hayman , and Rachel Blanchard
Director: Atom Egoyan
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Release Date: 2006-02-28

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

As the Decades Pass.......2007-04-20

very, very good.......2007-04-18

Interesting premise, pretty decent film.......2007-02-13

Nothing here is convincing or engaging.......2007-01-04

More to the picture than meets the eye.......2006-11-01

Average customer rating:

Where Truth Lies
Director: William H. Molina
Manufacturer: Vintage Home Ent.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( W ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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Midnight Crossing
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ASIN: B0002KPILO
Release Date: 2004-08-10

Description

After the tragic death of his first wife and the failure of his second marriage, Dr. Ian Lazarre (John Savage) turns to alcohol. Placed under the care of renowned psychiatrist Dr. Vernon Renquist (Malcom McDowell), with aid from "nurse" Racquel Chambers (Kim Cattrall from SEX IN THE CITY), he starts Ian on his radical and experimental rehabilitation program. Soon Ian begins to lose touch with the seperation between reality and dream.

Charlie Rose with Paul Wolfowitz; Rupert Holmes (August 4, 2003)

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose with Paul Wolfowitz; Rupert Holmes (August 4, 2003)

Manufacturer: Charlie Rose, Inc.
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A dialogue with Paul Wolfowitz, deputy secretary of defense and former dean of the school of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, about US policy in Iraq. Then, award-winning writer and composer Rupert Holmes talks about his first novel, a mystery titled Where the Truth Lies.

Charlie Rose with Jeffrey Toobin; Benjamin Brafman & Gerald Lefcourt; Howard Kaminsky & Susan Kaminsky (August 6, 2006)

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose with Jeffrey Toobin; Benjamin Brafman & Gerald Lefcourt; Howard Kaminsky & Susan Kaminsky (August 6, 2006)

Manufacturer: Charlie Rose, Inc.
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Jeffrey Toobin, legal analyst for CNN, discusses the Kobe Bryant sexual harassment case. Then, prominent defense attorneys Benjamin Brafman and Gerald Lefcourt share their opinions on the accusations against Bryant and the beginning stages of his trial. Finally, the writing team of Howard and Susan Kaminsky talk about their novel, The Storyteller, published under the pen name Arthur Reid.

Average customer rating:

Long on atmosphere, short on logic

Where Truth Lies [Region 2]
Starring: John Savage , Kim Cattrall , Malcolm McDowell , Candice Daly , and Eric Pierpoint
Director: William H. Molina
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0000BXBZI

Customer Reviews:

Long on atmosphere, short on logic.......2001-04-11

John Savage heads a cast of direct-to-video regulars in a muddled psychological thriller. The "Deer Hunter" co-star plays Dr. Ian Lazarre, a deeply troubled psychiatrist who tumbles into a deep blue funk of drinking and despair after his first wife dies in an auto mishap. His second wife (Candice Daly) and his best friend (Eric Pierpoint) have him committed to a rehab clinic operated by the mysterious Dr. Vernon Renquist (Malcolm McDowell) and the equally ambiguous Nurse Chambers (Kim Cattrall). And that, of course, is when Lazarre's troubles really begin. The poor guy must cope with ever-increasing doses of an experimental drug, nightmarish visions of an executed serial killer, and sporadic beatings by a bulky orderly (Sam Jones) who enjoys his work much more than he should. "Where The Truth Lies" is long on spooky atmosphere, but short on narrative logic.

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