Review of Nothing But the Truth (2008) by Bill B — 27 May 2011

I was concerned early on that this would degenerate into a "women in prison" flick and by the one hour and twenty minute mark my fear was realized. This film is not "based loosely on actual events", as other reviewers have claimed; instead, it has taken the original premise (the illegal outing of CIA operative Valerie Plame by the Bush administration) and stood it on it's head.

Much more accurate and compelling is 2010 release "Fair Game" which is actually based on the real story. And therein lies the rub - if you know the real story behind it, this story becomes increasingly unacceptable.

Nothing But The Truth is at best a shallow parable of First Ammendment abridgement, and at worst an emotional miasma marionetting the heartstrings of indignant soccer moms who recoil at the maltreatment of one of their own.

Case in point: in the real life story that we are forced to conclude inspired this film the reporter who outted Plame was Karl Novac and a less sympathetic newsman protagonist I cannot imagine; thus the motive of the filmmakers is revealed.

This movie has been referred to as "cerebral" which it is not, and "emotional" which, other than very fine performances by a fantastic cast is about all it has going for it. Vera Farmiga (The Departed, Source Code) is so good that one wishes her character were the lead and Kate Beckinsdale, Matt Dillon, Alan Alda, Angela Basset, Noah Wyle and David Schwimmer all perform admirably considering the misbegotten content and stilted dialogue.

All in all, I wish I had the 107 minutes back.