Review of Nothing But the Truth (2008) by Nathan M — 02 Nov 2012

It's films like these that make me angry that Kate Beckinsale never seems to secure roles that don't resemble a beautiful assassin or a period drama. Her performance in this film was completely authentic and convincing, but the story wasn't super appealing.

A thinly veiled approximation of the whole Valerie Plane debacle from the journalist's perspective, the film lacked the real life punch of Doug Liman's Fair Game, which came out two years later.

Fundamentally, it's an interesting, though not spectacularly original look at the price of sticking to a principle. Again, Beckinsale is very human and convincing in this film, actually letting herself get beat up instead of dispensing the carnage.

Vera Farmiga as the Valerie Plame stand in is very vivacious, to the point of overdoing it, less subtle than Naomi Watts was, but appealing nonetheless. Beckinsale and Farmiga's characters are also both mothers in the film, which adds an interesting dynamic that's frequently shoved to the side in these mature dramas.

Alan Alda was blessed with a series of lines brimming with wisdom. Noah Wyle was good in the small character that he had. Matt Dillon was also good as the initially sympathetic federal prosecutor trying to get to Beckinsale's source.

It's hard to detect whether his character arc is negative or if it's flat and it just seems negative since we grow to sympathise with Becksinale. As a fan of both Beckinsale's action and dramatic roles, I hope she eventually makes a comeback and starts securing more prestigious roles on the awards track, because her raw talent is being overlooked by the film industry.

(1 November 2012).