Film No. 83 (2015) November 23rd. 6.30 PM LUNA Paradiso, Northbridge.
"Those parts of his file that they didn't like got tossed in the waste basket" (The revelation on documents related to George W Bush's military service).
I think Truth should stir more feelings of outrage than it will. A film of this nature shown in the nineties depicting a potential presidential cover-up would certainly have created a stir. Is this because we have become so used to political corruption of any kind or is it because the subject matter in Truth related to the George W Bush era has no new elements included?
Truth is yet another short history lesson about the events surrounding a report aired on US TV (60 Minutes) in 2004 investigating George W Bush's military service. The report speculated that Bush was given preferential treatment when being inducted into the Texas Armed National Guard. The allegation based on documentation which was acquired from "reliable" sources suggested Bush jumped the queue to avoid combat duty. The Killian's Document controversy lead to CBS recanting on the their story which in turn lead to multiple sackings and the ultimate retirement of 60 Minutes front man and legend Dan Rather.
Mary Mapes (Cate Blanchette) and Dan Rather (Robert Redford) are the key characters in this version of the controversial series of events. Given the version presented, Mapes is portrayed as the victim and because Blanchette and Redford match each other step for step as empathetic work comrades in arms we leave satisfied with this version. Truth, after all, is entertainment with a message. I feel sure that a pro Bush faction, if they could be bothered, would have other ideas about a storyline.
Truth is entertaining. A US audience would recall the events far more clearly than I and my Australian compatriots can. Given this, the input into this production by Australians (actors, production and financiers) is possibly a story in itself. Key characters Scott (Elisabeth Moss), Colonel Charles (Dennis Quaid) and Smith (Topher Grace) are not really developed to their full potential but Truth is very much a chance for Blanchette and Redford to draw a crowd. That will happen, to an extent, I feel sure. 9GUMS.
