Review of Nothing But the Truth (2008) by Ardiansyah B — 30 Aug 2009

I was totally behind this film. I enjoyed the cast, the speeches, and twists in the story....as long as they made sense. By the the film's third act, however, it became apparently clear that the film was running out of steam and the final act ten minutes devolved into an unnecessary downbeat ending with final twist that bordered on comedy.

I can appreciate "realistic" endings in films but the final actions of Matt Dillon's character and the final reveal of the "source" the film revolves around spoils the performances of both Dillon and Beckinsale, reducing the movie to an absurd ending which I simply find idiotic.

Compared to other films Rod Lurie has created like The Last Castle and The Contender, Nothing But Truth is a believable and gripping premise that completely falls apart in a failed coda which is simply unnecessary.

I would rather have turned off the film ten minutes before it ended. It would have been better. Any principles the film tries to sell you on is flushed down the toilet in the final minute as Beckinsale's character is revealed as an idiot, pure and simple.