Nothing But the Truth

< Previous Trailer  |   Add to My Scrapbook  |   Next Trailer >
Nothing But the Truth

71% Liked It
liked it

Nothing But the Truth

Kate Beckinsale, Matt Dillon, Angela Bassett, Alan Alda, Vera Farmiga

Inspired by today's politically charged climate, "Nothing But The Truth" features Kate Beckinsale as Washington, DC political journalist Rachel Armstrong, who writes an explosive story about a governm...( read more  read more... )ent scandal in which she reveals the name of a covert CIA agent (Vera Farmiga). When a special government prosecutor (Matt Dillon) demands she divulge her source, she refuses and finds herself behind bars, struggling to defend the principles she has based her career upon.

Id: 10973158

Do you want to see this movie?

My Friends Said...

Nothing But the Truth Recent Reviews

Register or sign-in to see your friends' reviews !

Recent Reviews

Nothing But the Truth Recent Reviews
  • clooneyfan
    September 20, 2009
    clooneyfan
    It was interesting how this one newsppaper story tore apart so many lives. I think it was unethical of the newspaper reporter to have written it in the first place but I admire her for not giving up her source. I would have cracked after the first week in jail.
  • irisheyes686
    September 5, 2009
    irisheyes686
    Good movie with a good cast, but...I thought the ending kinda sucked. It's not like they would've arrested the kid.
  • briandeguelle
    August 2, 2009
    briandeguelle
    Great cast with a great story moves a long at a steady pace.It does feel like a tv movie but you get over that.Nice to see David Schwimmer in a different role for a change, under used but all the same it may me forget about hes friends role.Anyway nice movie not boring and easy t...( read more)o follow with a great little twist at the end..
  • PvtCaboose91
    July 3, 2009
    PvtCaboose91
    "I'm writing a story. I work for the National Desk okay, and it's gonna run tomorrow, and it's gonna say among other things that you are a CIA operative and that you went on a mission, a fact-finding mission to Venezuela."


    Nothing But the Truth is rock-solid e

    ...( read more)ntertainment devised by adults, starring adults, and intended for adults. The opening moments of this riveting journalism drama emphasise that it's merely inspired by (but not based on) a true story. The plot is a moderate reworking of an event that occurred in 2005 - New York Times reporter Judith Miller served time in gaol for refusing to reveal her source for a story that exposed the identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame. For Nothing But the Truth, details of this true story have been altered (Iraq is changed to Venezuela, 9/11 is changed to an attempted Presidential assassination), but the broad strokes are there. Writer-director Rod Lurie employs the true story's basic elements to craft this compelling political thriller. And in doing so, Lurie has created a powerful examination of the fragility of Constitutional rights as well as the consequences of journalistic integrity. In a contemporary cinematic climate of kid-friendly and action-drenched multiplexes, Nothing But the Truth stands out as something rare - a top-flight drama for grownups. One of the most overlooked and unappreciated movies of 2008, this is an intelligent motion picture which centres on smart characters.


    In this loose retelling of the 2005 Miller/Plame affair, an ambitious Washington journalist named Rachel Armstrong (Beckinsale) writes an article that divulges incriminating evidence about the United States government. This article also reveals that a local suburban woman named Erica Van Doren (Farmiga) is a covert CIA operative. The axe falls immediately - Rachel's story triggers a swift reaction from the government, who demand to know who gave the reporter confidential information. However Rachel refuses to reveal the identity of her source, and consequently she's thrown in gaol by smooth-talking US prosecutor Patton Dubois (Dillon). As days turn into weeks, and weeks into months, Rachel refuses to talk, which brings about dire consequences for herself and her family.


    Director Lurie manages to keep the gripping narrative throttling forward at a brisk pace. The speed and force with which the government come down upon Rachel is as abrupt and startling to the characters as it is to a viewer. As the plot progresses, Lurie continually adds more nuance while also offering a thoughtful commentary on several things - the fleeting media attention for Rachel's plight, the shifting public perception of the media, and even sexism (in the form of criticism against Rachel for remaining in gaol instead of being with her son). These elements culminate in a terrific speech delivered by Rachel's attorney (Alda) at a US Supreme Court hearing. Nothing But the Truth concentrates on Rachel's dilemma while simultaneously displaying the aftershock for CIA agent Erica Van Doren. As Erica is continually grilled by her superiors (who believe that she is either the leak or has carelessly disclosed her identity) and Rachel is threatened with prison time, it becomes possible to sympathise with both of these women.


    Lurie's screenplay deviates considerably from the Miller/Plame affair that inspired the film in order to critique the American government and a modern society. One of the picture's strongest points is that those unfamiliar with the real-life story will be easily sucked into the film's narrative, and the movie doesn't contain many exaggerations to distract those acquainted with the story. The filming style adopted by Lurie and cinematographer Alik Skharov is tremendously gritty, and the immediacy is downright staggering from time to time. The thoughtful script is also well-written - heated conversations between the characters are intense instead of over-the-top - and the central narrative is wrapped up with a clever, unexpected plot twist. The film is sharply edited thanks to editor Sarah Boyd as well, and everything is topped off with a powerful, evocative score courtesy of Larry Groupé. Nothing But the Truth has its faults - it's underwritten (more character development would've been beneficial), the politics of the knotty case are oversimplified, and the subplot about Rachel's husband is a dead end (both emotionally and structurally) - but it's nevertheless a masterful effort, and these faults aren't enough to outweigh its abundance of strengths.


    One of the strongest points of Nothing But the Truth is the cast, led by Kate Beckinsale who submits one of the best performances of her career. Through Beckinsale we can see Rachel Armstrong's ambition as well as her love for her son, and her shock and outrage at the treatment the FBI subjects her to. Director Lurie relies a lot on close-ups, and this style is advantageous because the myriad of emotions conveyed by Beckinsale are brought out.
    As the explosive CIA operative Erica Van Doren, Vera Farmiga is downright excellent. The conviction and indignation that Farmiga manages to bring to her character is startling. Matt Dillon is impeccably nuanced as Patton Dubois. Dillon's restraint in the role (he never plays Dubois as an antagonist) makes it easier to see things from his perspective.
    The supporting cast is equally remarkable. Angela Bassett conveys grave authority in her role as Rachel's editor, while Noah Wyle does an excellent job as the newspaper's hot-headed legal counsel. Alan Alda is terrific as the overly dapper but committed attorney, bringing a great degree of gravitas to this challenging role. Meanwhile, David Schwimmer submits understated, engaging work as Rachel's embittered husband.


    Unjustly ignored during its brief period in theatres, Nothing But the Truth is a crisply-shot political thriller that's definitely worth checking out.
  • DerekA101
    June 4, 2009
    DerekA101
    Nothing But the Truth is an underrated, lesser-known 2008 political thriller that delivers on all levels. The story is based off true events and revolves around a reporter whose story blows a CIA's cover and the government's atrociously relentless pursuit of discovering h...( read more)er "source" whom the reporter refuses to reveal.

    The story is gripping and powerful, filled with excellent performances. Kate Beckinsale doesn't usually impress outside of her looks, but here she does a film where she spends 90% of it with no makeup and she delivers one of the finest performances of her career! Alan Alda and the underrated Vera Farmiga were exceptional here as well.

    It's amazing to me that extremely average political thrillers like State of Play had a tremendous amount of marketing and A-list actors only to deliver a mediocre movie... but yet a film like Nothing But the Truth falls through the cracks and turns out to be one of the finer films of the year.

    This film is engaging from start to finish... I found myself emotionally attached to the poor reporter. It was an amazing, unforgettable story that was based off true events. Heartbreaking to say the least.... And the ending will absolutely floor you, I did not see that coming. Nothing But the Truth was a pleasant surprise that everyone should check out.
  • GetToKnowMe121
    December 25, 2009
    GetToKnowMe121
    Inspired by the real-life drama of former CIA agent Valerie Plame and New York Times writer Judith Miller. Nothing but the Truth is a very well written movie. Very captivating throughout. It contains a stellar cast who give superb performances! Without being too much of a spo...( read more)iler, I'll just say I liked the ending. Great story! I would recommend this movie to anyone.
  • cruster
    December 19, 2009
    cruster
    A rocking political thriller! Not a cheap one, which is predictable from the beginning. This is some serious stuff.
  • Cvalda
    December 8, 2009
    Cvalda
    Kate Beckinsale isn't terrible, and neither is Matt Dillon, which is something of a miracle. Like most of the recent "political thrillers" to be spawned from real-life headlines of the past few years, Nothing but the Truth walks an annoyingly bi-partisan line in an attempt...( read more) not to offend anyone from either the left or right, but it's disarmingly well made and gripping for lengths of its running time--another thing that puts it well above its recent ilk. Predictably, it got dumped into only two theaters and was plunked onto DVD with no fanfare.
  • nedallovem
    December 1, 2009
    nedallovem

    Dating on girls
     Movies Mobile
     New Movies 2010
    ...( read more)tle="????? ?????" href="http://www.banat2.net/"> Movies Youth  
    Movies  Romo      

    Kingdom
    Girls
     New
    Movies 2010     >    Movies
    Mobile
    Dating on
    girls

    Funny
    movies

    Action
    Movies
     New Movies
    2010


    Movies Mobile
    Dating on girls
     Indian
    movies
    2010
    Funny movies
     Movies Youth
     Action Movies
    Foreign films
    2011


    A series of sex
    films
    Movies
    New Movies 2010
    A series of sex
    films     
    Series
    foreign
    Music

    Action Movies
     Horror
    movies
    Action
    Movies
    Run movies
    Movies exciting
    Games
    Foreign
    foreign music

    Movies Mobile

    Comedy movies
    Kingdom Girls
    Series foreign
    Action
    Movies
     Movies 
    Romo      


    Kingdom Girls
    Movies Mobile
    Series foreign


    Music
    Action Movies
    Games
     Horror movies
    Foreign combat games
    Indian movies

    Sex movies


    New Movies 2010




    Run movies
    Games
    Comedy movies
    A series of
    sex films
    New Movies 2010
    Series
    foreign
    Movies Mobile
    Run movies
    A series of sex films
    Action Movies

    Movies exciting
    Comedy
    movies
    Games girls    Run
    movies
    Movies
    A
    series of sex films


    Movies ?
    Music ?
    Sex movies ?
    Indian movies ?
    Foreign foreign music ?
    New Movies 2010 ?
    Games ?
    A series of sex films


    Movies Mobile
    Action
    Movies
    Action Movies     Movies for
    adults only     Foreign combat
    games
    Kingdom Girls  Foreign
    films
    Sex movies

    Movies Mobile
  • Nawya
    November 29, 2009
    Nawya
    Jos jedan intrigantan film o novinarstvu i principima gdje je prelijepa Kate Beckinsale odlicno odglumila lik zene koja ne odustaje od svojih nacela. Dobar film... Snazno, zanimljivo, inspirirajuce. Dva citata koja si moram zalijepiti-prvi kaze: A man can live a good life, be ho...( read more)norable, give to charity, but in the end, the number of people who come to his funeral is generally dependent on the weather. A drugi je duzi: "In 1972 in Branzburg v. Hayes this court ruled against the right of reporters to withhold the names of their sources before a grand jury, and it gave the power to the government to imprison those reporters who did. It was a five-four decision. Close. In his dissent in Branzburg, Justice Stewart said, "As the years pass, the power of government becomes more and more pervasive. Those in power", he said, "whatever their politics, want only to perpetuate it and the people are the victims." Well, the years have passed, and that power is pervasive. Ms. Armstrong could have buckled to the demands of the government. She could have abandoned her promise of confidentiality. She could have simply gone home to her family. But to do so would mean that no source would ever speak to her again, and no source would ever speak to her newspaper again, and then tomorrow when we lock up journalists from other newspapers, we'll make those publications irrelevant as well, and thus we'll make the First Amendment irrelevant. And then how will we know if a president has covered up crimes? Or if an army officer has condoned torture? We, as a nation, will no longer be able
    to hold those in power accountable to those whom they have power over. And what then is the nature of government when it has no fear of accountability? We should shudder at the thought. Imprisoning journalists? That's for other countries.That's for countries who fear their citizens, not countries that cherish and protect them. Some time ago, I began to feel the personal human pressure on Rachel Armstrong, and I told her that I was there to represent her and not a principle.And it was not until I met her that I realized that with great people,
    there's no difference between principle and the person."
View All Reviews

Opening This Week

Top Box Office

Upcoming Movies

New on DVD