Inside Pulse DVD Review – Where the Truth Lies

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Credit: www.DVDTown.com

Writer/Director:

Atom Egoyan

Cast:

Kevin Bacon……….Lanny Morris
Colin Firth……….Vince Collins
Alison Lohman……….Karen O’Connor
Rachel Blanchard……….Maureen
David Hayman……….Reuben
Maury Chaykin……….Sally SanMarco
Kristin Adams……….Alice
Deborah Grover……….Mrs. O’Flaherty

ThinkFilm presents Where the Truth Lies. Based on the novel by Rupert Holmes. Running time: 107 minutes. No MPAA rating (intended for adults). Available on DVD: February 28, 2006.

The movie:

Whodunit? That’s the first question you must ask yourself with any mystery that involves a dead body. In Where the Truth Lies the victim is found naked in a bathtub. There are no ligature markings, only a few scratches on her torso. What is interesting is that the woman was last seen in a Miami suite shared by Lanny Morris and Vince Collins, two prominent entertainers from the 1950’s. The comedy duo have an alibi regarding her death: They were hosting a polio telethon on network TV, then boarded a plane to New York, and had the police escort them to their awaiting hotel room in Atlantic City, the same room where the body was found.

Atom Egoyan delivers his most accessible film to date as he creates a puzzle with intrigue, a story about two men who are trying to retain their notoriety, despite the fact that their comedy routine has run its course. The plot is thick with characterizations and flashbacks of a time when Morris and Collins lit up a room.

In 1957, Morris (Kevin Bacon) and Collins (Colin Firth) have reached the height of their popularity, entertaining nightclub after nightclub with a brand of comedy that is not unlike Martin and Lewis. As they bring smiles and laughs to crowds of hundreds, they do so with the help of pills, lots of pills. The drugs help Morris and Collins live that limousine ridin’, jet flyin’ lifestyle every morning, noon, and night. With too many uppers in their system after a comedy bit the two need some sort of release. Feeling the urge for sexual indulgence, they convince beautiful, yet uninhibited females to satisfy them.

When Maureen O’Flaherty (Rachel Blanchard) arrives at their Miami Versais hotel room with room service, they suggest she perform another kind service. Maureen isn’t apprehensive about the situation she’s willing. Even though all she really wants to do is interview them for her college campus paper.

Maureen is the woman who’s found dead in Atlantic City, leading to a mystery that is never solved by authorities. Morris and Collins, ultimately breakup. Could the two incidents be interrelated? Fifteen years later in 1972, another fair-haired beauty with journalistic aspirations wants to write a book about Vince Collins. Karen O’Connor (Alison Lohman), who is in her mid-20s, is able to negotiate a million-dollar book deal for Collins, with the condition he tells her about the murder of Maureen O’Flaherty. Here is where it gets a little confusing. Prior to her meeting Collins, she had an auspicious encounter with Lanny Morris on an airplane. The two chatted, later dined, and had sex. The next day she wakes up alone.

Even stranger than this occurrence, Karen had met the duo back in 1957; she made an appearance as a young polio victim on their telethon.

Happenstance aside, the real story is who killed the waitress, and the reason behind it. It’s a mystery where all the doors to the room were locked from the inside, thus neither man could have done the deed. Ah, but what if it was someone else? Someone who had something to gain from the death of Maureen O’Flaherty.

Both Collins and Morris are secretive about their lives, sometimes crossing that fine line between fact and fiction in the stories they tell. Morris has tried to remain close to the entertainment business sustaining an office in L.A. His partner Collins has taken a life of anonymity, moving to a house in the Hollywood hills where he can act out his wanton need of sex and debauchery as he pleases.

Having read what other critics thought about Where the Truth Lies, I can’t understand why they would criticize Alison Lohman’s performance. It could be because she is depicted as this twenty-something-year-old journalist who, in spite of her age, gets closer than the police in uncovering the truth behind the death of Maureen. Yes, but it is not inconceivable that this investigative journalist wouldn’t discover new leads. Also, if her age was questionable, well, she was a young nine-year-old girl in 1957; by 1972 she would have been in her twenties. Besides, her youth is important if only for the fact that she bears a striking resemblance to Miss O’Flaherty, hence potential danger may still exist.

Kevin Bacon, often the fodder for “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon” games, is at his sleazy best playing egregious roles that many would turn down. It’s strange to see Bacon in a production like this. But he has a storied history of jaded and immoral characters. Lanny Morris is no different. Always looking to be in the spotlight he situates his face in front of cameras wanting to take his picture. Away from the public’s eye, though, the relationship he has with Colin Firth’s character is secretive. Love and repulsion behind locked doors.

It must be noted that the MPAA rated Atom Egoyan’s Where the Truth Lies NC-17. The depiction of sex is nothing hardcore, but it is the constant reminder of power, and how stardom allows celebrities to influence ambitious females in the world of entertainment.

Score: 8.5/10

The DVD:

VIDEO: How does it look?
(Presented in 2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen)

The video transfer is absolutely stunning. The attention to detail with a beautiful-looking print with deep colors and a brilliance that radiates on screen should be seen to be believed. There is no edge enhancement or contrast problems to affect cinematographer’s Paul Sarossy film noirish style. SONY has given those who pick up this DVD a film so vibrant, so full of life and beauty that it’s downright awe-inspiring.

Score: 10/10

AUDIO: How does it sound?
(English Dolby Digital 5.1 EX and French 5.1)

The audio presentation is as impressive as the image quality on the disc. Clear and crisp, the soundtrack makes good use of the surround speakers. Normally this isn’t the case with independent features, but Where the Truth Lies is low budget entertainment that looks like it has a Hollywood studio budget. It goes without saying, I’m not sure you could have improved upon the audio mix. Even if a DTS track was included. Optional yellow subtitles are sure to strain your eyes, unfortunately.

Score: 9.5/10

SPECIAL FEATURES: Deleted scenes and a short Making-of!!

Sadly, this is the part of the disc where it is less than desirable. In addition to the numerous trailers, there is a short behind-the-scenes feature entitled The Making of Where the Truth Lies. Atom Egoyan is a visual filmmaker and in this five-minute piece you get to see some of the raw footage shot during production. There’s no continuity in what is shot, as the footage follows the cast and director as filming is taking place.

The only other extra are deleted scenes. “The Father Theme” is interesting because it gives a little background on the nine-year-old Karen O’Connor. Her father was a journalist covering the Veterans Day Polio Telethon. Here his daughter goes from being his daughter to becoming just another story for the newspaper. The second group of deleted scenes vary in length, as some last only a few seconds. No major developments take place.

Score: 3.5/10

Travis Leamons is one of the Inside Pulse Originals and currently holds the position of Managing Editor at Inside Pulse Movies. He's told that the position is his until he's dead or if "The Boss" can find somebody better. I expect the best and I give the best. Here's the beer. Here's the entertainment. Now have fun. That's an order!