True Story (2015)

	Directed by: Rupert Goold	COUNTRY USA GENRE Thriller/Mystery NORWEGIAN TITLE True Story RUNNING TIME 99 minutes
	Produced by: Dede Gardner Jeremy Kleiner Anthony Katagas
	Written by (based on the book by Michael Finkel): Rupert Goold David Kajganich

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Michael Finkel	Jonah Hill	½
Christian Longo	James Franco
Jill Barker	Felicity Jones	½
Greg Canley	Robert John Burke	½
Karen Hannen	Gretchen Mol	-
Cheryl Frank	Betty Gilpin	-
Lincoln County Lobby Sheriff	John Sharian	-
Jeffrey Gregg	Robert Stanton	-
Mary Jane Longo	Maria Dizzia	-

Review

There's a looming intensity and promise to this intriguing but ultimately underwhelming true crime story about the relationship between a formerly revered New York Times feature journalist (Jonah Hill), and a recently apprehended man accused of murdering his wife and children (James Franco), who while on the run had been using the journalist's name. Hill and Franco, both fresh off recent successes, have the ability to harbour and convey the kind of enigma True Story sets out to explore. And British first-time director Rupert Goold gives his stars ample opportunity to flesh out their characters and backstories. When the film nevertheless falls semi-flat, it's because the Franco character – real-life convicted murderer Christian Longo – either never had the personality and depth worthy of building a feature film around, or because Franco becomes too gimmicky and Goold too preoccupied with playing his audience for the supposed cryptic story about him to shine through with real integrity.