The Whole Truth - lying game

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Movie
German title The Whole Truth - lying game
Original title The Whole Truth
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 2016
length 90 minutes
Age rating FSK 12
Rod
Director Courtney Hunt
script Rafael Jackson
production Anthony Bregman , Elon Dershowitz , Kevin Scott Frakes
music Evgueni Galperine , Sacha Galperine
camera Jules O'Loughlin
cut Kate Williams
occupation

The Whole Truth , in the German version with the subtitle Lügenspiel , is an American feature film from 2016 , directed by Courtney Hunt . The main actors in the court drama are Keanu Reeves and Renée Zellweger .

action

Attorney Richard Ramsay is defending his client Mike Lassiter, who is charged with the murder of his father, Boone Lassiter, in a lawsuit in Louisiana . Richard is a good friend of the Lassiter family. The exercise of his mandate is made difficult by the fact that Mike does not speak during the trial, including Richard. He hires the young lawyer Janelle Brady as an assistant. Various witnesses are questioned during the trial, including the flight attendant from a small plane Boone chartered, as well as a policewoman, a pathologist and a neighbor of the Lassiter's house. It becomes clear that Boone often beat and raped his wife Loretta. One day when she left her bathroom after taking a shower, she found Boone stabbed to death and Mike next to her, who had confessed his guilt for the murder. Mainly because of this, the prosecutor Mike's guilt is certain. After his mother's testimony, Mike expresses his intention to take the stand himself without speaking to Richard. Richard is forced to agree as Mike threatens to withdraw his mandate. On the witness stand, Mike then testifies that he killed his father, not to protect his mother from further beatings, but to protect himself from further sexual assaults by his father, which he mainly did during childhood, but also during the day of Boone's death - namely on the plane. In another questioning of the stewardess it turns out that, contrary to her first statement, she left Boone and Mike alone for a while during the flight. This backs up Mike's statement about being sexually abused by his father. During a break Janelle believes she realizes in a conversation with Loretta that Mike wants to protect his mother in the process. Janelle confronts Richard with this suspicion, whereupon Richard replies that it is his job to save Mike from conviction and not delve deeper into the case. Shortly thereafter, the jury acquitted Mike of the murder charge. Then he tells Richard in a personal conversation that he saw Richard's wristwatch lying next to Boone's corpse, which was removed by Loretta shortly afterwards. He wanted to protect his mother and was only now sure that Richard was involved in the murder. Mike's request to reopen the case in the face of Richard's guilt is rejected by Richard because it would damage his credibility too much. Then, in flashbacks, it becomes clear that Richard had an affair with Loretta that Boone hinted at with Richard. Richard then stabbed Boone.

publication

The US theatrical release took place on October 21, 2016. The film had already appeared in other countries in the previous months of the year. It was first released in Germany on April 6, 2017, on DVD and Blu-ray. It was later also published via video-on-demand .

criticism

The film service praised the film as a "chamber play-like court drama that entertains exciting thanks to convincing characters and a cunning script." The critic from Variety, however, was not convinced of the film and criticized the plot as predictable, the two main actors deserved better.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Release Info , in: IMDb , accessed on April 3, 2020
  2. ↑ The Whole Truth - Lies game , in: movie service , accessed on April 3, 2020
  3. ↑ Peter Debruge: Film Review: 'The Whole Truth' , in: Variety, Oct. 17, 2016, accessed on April 3, 2020