Review of Truth (2015) by Dann M — 12 May 2016

While it's compellingly told, Truth is a liberal whitewash of one of the biggest modern journalistic scandals in America. Based on the memoir of former CBS producer Mary Mapes, the film follows Mapes and her investigative team during the 2004 election as they look into and report on alleged improprieties by President George W.

Bush when he was serving in the Texas Air National Guard; but the story and its "evidence" are quickly debunked, leading to a number of firings and the resignation of news anchor Dan Rather.

Featuring Cate Blanchett, Robert Redford, Topher Grace, Dennis Quaid, and Elisabeth Moss, the cast is quite impressive and delivers some very strong performances. And the writing does a good job at building tension and suspense as the Guard story comes together and then falls apart.

However, the film only briefly addresses the gross negligence and shoddy journalism of the team, along with Mapes' personal political agenda, and ultimately it surmises that the ends justify the means; that what's most important is asking questions.

Yet despite the heavy handed politics (and conspiracy theories) in the last act, Truth is an engaging docudrama.