Where the Truth Lies (2005)

Director:

Atom Egoyan

Writers:

Rupert Holmes (novel)
Atom Egoyan (screenplay)

Release Date:

7 October 2005 (Canada)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

K. O'Connor, a young journalist known for her celebrity profiles, is consumed with discovering the truth behind a long-buried incident that affected the lives and careers of showbiz team Vince Collins and Lanny Morris.

Plot Keywords:

Sex | Duo | Murder | Narration | Multiple Narrators

Awards:

2 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Kevin Bacon	...	Lanny
Colin Firth	...	Vince
Alison Lohman	...	Karen
David Hayman	...	Reuben
Rachel Blanchard	...	Maureen
Maury Chaykin	...	Sally Sanmarco
Sonja Bennett	...	Bonnie
Kristin Adams	...	Alice
Deborah Grover	...	Mrs. O'Flaherty
Beau Starr	...	Jack Scaglia
Arsinée Khanjian	...	Publishing Executive
Gabrielle Rose	...	Publishing Executive
Don McKellar	...	Publishing Executive
David Hemblen	...	NY Hotel Concierge
John Moraitis	...	Irv Fleischman

Also Known As:

Somebody Loves You (Canada: English title) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexuality, nudity, drug use and language. (DVD version)

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

Canada | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Sweden:11 | Hong Kong:III | South Korea:18 | Canada:18A (British Columbia/Ontario) | Hungary:16 | Finland:K-15 | Malaysia:(Banned) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | USA:R (DVD version) | Singapore:R21 (cut) | Argentina:16 | USA:Open (rating surrendered) (2005) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Germany:16 | Canada:R (Alberta/Manitoba) (original rating) | Australia:R | USA:NC-17 (original rating) | UK:18 | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Portugal:M/16 | Ireland:18 | Japan:R-18 | Canada:18A (Alberta/Manitoba) (re-rating on appeal) | USA:TV-MA (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Brantford, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Serendipity Point Films

Trivia:

Director Atom Egoyan made cuts to the film, including an orgy scene, in a failed attempt to challenge the NC-17 rating given by the MPAA. ThinkFilm has since announced that the version shown in US theaters is the same as the one shown at the Cannes Film Festival.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Lanny and Karen are having dinner and they leave the restaurant Karen has hoop earrings in (both ears) but when she goes back and Lanny kisses her she has no earring in her left ear, though the one in her right ear is still visible and she had them both on throughout the rest of the scene.

Quotes:

Lanny Morris: Having to be a nice guy is the toughest job in the world when you're not.

Movie Connections:

Featured in This Film Is Not Yet Rated (2006)

Soundtrack:

White Light

This film wants to be too much at the same time

In enjoyed most of Egoyan's movies very much, but I was disappointed by Where The Truth Lies. I got the impression the film wants to be too much at the same time. There is no real focus while the story swerves from the fifties to the seventies, and from Los Angeles to New York to Miami. It's a historical portrait about Hollywood in the fifties, but also a psychological drama and a whodunit at the same time. This movie could have been great if it restricted itself to one of those genres. I kept wondering what Egoyan wanted to tell us - except who killed Maureen O'Flaherty. Maybe he wanted to tell us only that, but in that case the movie could have been a lot less complex. What annoyed me most was the completely improbable plot. A corpse in a lobster crate, mixed-up identities, secret letters from unknown senders, blackmail threats - that's so Agatha Christie! And I wonder if anyone felt not disappointed after the ridiculous ending.