Review of Where the Truth Lies (1962) by Rita P — 11 Jun 2012

An odd misfire from Atom Egoyan in this tale of sex, drugs and murder hiding behind the TV-friendly facade of a 50s Ratpack-style comic duo, played by Firth and Bacon. Alison Lohman feels well out of her depth as the young 70s journalist who is hired by Collins to write his biography, and finds her idolisation of the duo eradicated when she uncovers implications of the murder of a young college student in their hotel room, back in their heyday and leads her into a continuation of some sordid events involving the duo in the present.

There's an interesting story here somewhere but it seems spoiled by stodgy pacing and an uncertainty of tone which seems to alternate between a sleazy but dull TV movie and a far smarter drama but never combines the two effectively.