6/10

The real life account of accused murderer Christian Longo is given the silver screen treatment with a real account of a “True Story”. When disgraced New York Times reporter, Michael Finkel (Jonah Hill) meets accused killer, Christian Longo (James Franco),who has taken on Finkel’s identity, his investigation morphs into an unforgettable game of cat-and-mouse. Based on actual events, Finkel’s relentless pursuit of Longo’s true story encompasses murder, love, deceit and redemption. “True Story” builds it’s audience with must-see performances and the first two acts of a film that slow burns the suspense leaving the uninformed viewer clinging to the edge of their seats. It’s magic is nearly lost whole in a third act that takes it’s time in the inevitably tame ending result. I did enjoy this film, but i think i can relate to those who left the theater with a bad taste in their mouths. For one, the film isn’t entirely true. A lot of the events in the film didn’t take place according to Finkel, and their real life friendship isn’t really ever documented in the film. These are two men who still talk once a month, but the movie would rather put them at odds to make believe something greater is happening for the audience. I remember viewing the trailer of this film a couple months ago and i was immediatly glued for two reasons. The first, Franco and Hill getting a chance to act above mediocre comedies that both are better than. The second, it seemed like one of those psychological thrillers where Longo gets to Finkel mentally from inside of a prison cell. Truthfully, only the former ever happens. Franco and Hill are on top of their Oscar nominated careers here. Hill has always been able to transform himself into every character he has taken on. With the exposition scenes in prison taking place very up close, it gives you a sort of feel from Finkel’s point of view with a feeling of claustrophobia while sitting across from an uncuffed accused murderer. Franco commands the audience’s attention with every long-winded telling of the events he gives. I have always thought James is a very underrated actor, and roles like his one in this film are what he needs to stay closest to. The real stealer of the film however, comes in the young phenom, Felicity Jones. Jones matched Oscar winning Eddie Redmayne in 2014’s “The Theory of Everything”, and she is just as noteworthy in this one. This is an actress whose name we will be hearing for a long time on the list of mountain top accolades. I didn’t know anything about these real life events going into the film, and i think that kind of crowd are the ones who will feel disappointed with how clean and dry the ending events played. The film builds itself up to always leave us thinking something bigger and better is waiting right around the corner, but it never happens. I thought the movie was alright, and if anything, i would recommend a DVD rental just for the profiling performances given by it’s three leads. An end result doesn’t make us feel like our characters are any better for it, but sometimes that is real life, or a TRUE STORY.