X
- 2015
- R
- Sony Pictures Classics
- 2 h 5 m
- 2015
- R
- Sony Pictures Classics
- 2 h 5 m
Summary In 2004, Mary Mapes (Cate Blanchett), an award-winning CBS News journalist and Dan Rather's producer, uncovered that a sitting US president may have been AWOL from the United States National Guard for over a year during the Vietnam War. When the story blew up in their face, the ensuing scandal ruined Dan Rather's career, nearly changed a...
Directed By: James Vanderbilt
Written By: Mary Mapes, James Vanderbilt
- 2015
- R
- Sony Pictures Classics
- 2 h 5 m
- 2015
- R
- Sony Pictures Classics
- 2 h 5 m
Truth
66
6.8
Where to Watch
Summary In 2004, Mary Mapes (Cate Blanchett), an award-winning CBS News journalist and Dan Rather's producer, uncovered that a sitting US president may have been AWOL from the United States National Guard for over a year during the Vietnam War. When the story blew up in their face, the ensuing scandal ruined Dan Rather's career, nearly changed a...
Directed By: James Vanderbilt
Written By: Mary Mapes, James Vanderbilt
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 35 Critic Reviews
66
69% Positive
24 Reviews
24 Reviews
26% Mixed
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
6% Negative
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 35 Critic Reviews
66
69% Positive
24 Reviews
24 Reviews
26% Mixed
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
6% Negative
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
Mr. Redford doesn’t look like Dan Rather, but displays the same dedication to — and respect for — journalism that he brought to the role of Bob Woodward in "All the President’s Men."
The keenly focused intelligence and low-boil intensity that James Vanderbilt demonstrated in his screenplay for “Zodiac” are on impressive display in Truth.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 68 User Ratings
6.8
68% Positive
46 Ratings
46 Ratings
25% Mixed
17 Ratings
17 Ratings
7% Negative
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 68 User Ratings
6.8
68% Positive
46 Ratings
46 Ratings
25% Mixed
17 Ratings
17 Ratings
7% Negative
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
Do not fail to see the movie "Truth." In its way it is more important than the movie that eclipsed it, "Spotlight." I have not always loved Cate Blanchett's work, but she is luminous in this one as Mary Mapes. And, Redford is a very credible Dan Rather. Breaks your heart, because there was no happy ending to this tale. Nor, has there been a good coda to the stories of either of these films. This film is not about George W. Bush's service (or lack thereof) in the Texas Air National Guard. It is about the ongoing failure of American "journalism" to support its troops.
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I suppose in this day and age one shouldn't be surprised at the number of people who completely miss the point and importance of this film.
Dan Rather, successor to Walter Cronkite as the most trusted man in America, courageously and truthfully reports (along with producer Mary Mapes), on the scurrilous, cowardly and hypocritical character and conduct of George W. Bush in avoiding combat in Viet Nam using the influence of his family to get into the National Guard and who then deserted even those light duties. But, behind the scenes the same network of interests that let George Bush escape the war, are able to manipulate and distract the "main stream media" from the real story into a thicket of minutiae that focuses not only on the trees rather than the forest, but on the twigs and branches. Were the documents authentic? Was the informant truthful (let's not look at the pressures that may have been brought upon him to make him equivocate).
And so, for the average American, the truth of the story is no longer important--what the corporate media tells them is important is to put Dan Rather and Mary Mapes on trial. In the process, the last vestiges of an independent press are brought to heel by the corporate press. Accordingly, a double standard whereby some consistently get a pass and others are cast in the worst light by the mainstream (now corporate) press becomes the norm. Too many Americans swallow the myth of "the liberal media" that has just been destroyed.
Dan Rather (who famously signed off his broadcasts with one word "Courage") is brought down, Mary Mapes is destroyed and the Fourth Estate becomes the tool of the profit-seeking corporatocracy. This film brings us the "Truth" about why this country and its citizenry has become so ignorant and ill-informed. Robert Redford, as Dan Rather, chillingly conveys the fundamental truth in his soliloquy describing how he has seen the news business change from truth seeking to profit seeking. Yes, the Truth is there to see for those who have the courage to open their eyes--the film is brilliantly acted and written and is as important as any movie of the last 50 years--but too few of us will notice.
Report
Truth would have been more compelling with less sanctimony and tougher self-examination.
The weirdness of Truth — and, I fear, its involuntary comic value — arises from a disparity between the sparse and finicky minutiae of the narrative and the somewhat bouffant style of the presentation.
Truth also ignores Rather’s famous showboating, pettiness and hubris. He’s worked in lower-profile gigs since, but trust me, there’s a good reason why no news organization will touch Mapes with a 10-foot pole.
The film feels dodgy, tentative and uncertain as to how to frame its own protagonist in a complicated story of journalistic compromise (and worse).
Condescending, self-righteous and sloppy, Truth is simply a bad film for which there are no excuses.
Wow !!! Sometimes I'm dumbfounded by some of the ratings on here. This movie was a terrific rendition of the true story. Robert Redford portrayed Dan Rather excellently & Kate Blanchett could be on the Oscar's role with her performance. Ignore this 6.5 rating people and go see this film. In my top 5 of the year category. Not quite a 10 but well over a flat 9.0.
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How interesting to see the behind the screen story. But the whole calamity resulted from the rush (5 days) to put the story on the air. Why the rush? In "Spotlight", they told you they were afraid the rival newspaper would beat them to print the story, but no explanation given here. I remember at the time it was the Internet 24/7 news releases on sites like Yahoo that pushed them. No mention in the movie. Why not? If they had had more time, they might have done more research and avoided this mess. Dan Rather had dark hair, was Robert Redford too proud to dye his hair to match his character? Just a few problems I had with the movie that knocked my rating down.
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Although Dan Rather (Robert Redford) is the famous character in this film, the focus is on his "60 Minutes" producer, Mary Mapes (Cate Blanchett). She got the scoop that George Bush may have been AWOL during his National Guard service. The movie tracks her team as they researched and prepped the story for airing. Her close relationship with Rather provides a crucial angle, but it's her team's professional and political struggles that capture the heart of the controversy. Blanchett is wonderful, as always, and the story unfolds in a mostly rational, analytical process. This makes for an interesting journalistic procedural, but lacks emotional power or a sense of outrage that would have made it compelling cinema.
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A terrible, self-righteous liberal circle-jerk glorifing vulters who got the shaft by their shady overlords.
Don't touch this movie unless you want a good laugh at how self-righteous the political left is, and how far they'll go to justify everything they do, and vilify anyone who disagrees.
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For a while I thought I was was watching a humorless comedy. The over the top dramatization and glorification made the entire thing feel like a mockumentry. I have see better quality from North Korean puff films. The acting is fine. It's the script that makes you cringe. Heads up to the director; you're trying too hard to make a point from where none exists.
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Production Company
Sony Pictures Classics,
Echo Lake Entertainment,
RatPac Entertainment,
FilmNation Entertainment,
Blue Lake Media Fund,
Deluxe Australia,
Mythology Entertainment,
Dirty Films,
Stereo D
Release Date Oct 16, 2015
Duration 2 h 5 m
Rating R
Tagline When Truth becomes your downfall.
Website
http://sonyclassics.com/truth/
Awards
Palm Springs International Film Festival
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Mill Valley Film Festival
• 1 Nomination
Central Ohio Film Critics Association
• 1 Nomination
