WHERE THE TRUTH LIES
Atom Egoyan
(2005)
A thriller film based on the novel of the same title by British-American composer, singer-songwriter, dramatist, and author Rupert Holmes, transports audiences to the 1950s, where popular and beloved comedian duo Lanny Morris (Kevin Bacon) and Vince Collins (Colin Firth) find themselves embroiled in a career-ending scandal.
Following a grueling 39-hour live telethon to raise money for polio-stricken children, Lanny and Vice board a plane bound for the opulent Palace del Sol hotel in New Jersey, owned and operated by notorious mobster Sally Sanmarco (Maury Chaykin). Upon arrival, they find the body of a young woman named Maureen O’Flaherty (Rachel Blanchard) in a bathtub.
Lanny and Vice present convincing evidence and credible witnesses to exonerate themselves of the murder charges. The police conclude that Maureen was intoxicated and overdosed on drugs, drowning in the bathtub. However, this incident marks the demise of the beloved American comedy duo. They resolve to go their separate ways and never speak of the incident again. The dissolution of the comedy duo remains a mystery, as no one truly knows what transpired in that hotel room.
Fifteen years later, journalist Karen O’Connor (Alison Lohman) accepts an assignment to ghostwrite Vince Collins’ autobiography. She promises Mrs. O’Flaherty (Deborah Grover) that she will uncover the truth about her daughter Maureen’s death. Karen sets out to unravel the deception and twisted narrative surrounding Maureen O’Flaherty’s demise.
While the plot of the film initially appears promising, its weak narrative ultimately renders it boring and unmemorable. The filmmaker’s attempt to confuse the audience with non-linear editing, shifting between the 1950s and 1970s timelines, fails to compensate for the film’s shortcomings. Several scenes provide overly simplistic and obvious answers, particularly Karen’s sudden transformation into a gifted detective despite her lack of prior experience.
Despite its multiple twists and turns, which keep the audience guessing until the very end, the film abruptly concludes after 90 minutes, leaving viewers feeling unsatisfied. The writer fails to deliver the unexpected and instead opts for a convenient and unsatisfying conclusion.
WHERE THE TRUTH LIES premiered at Festival de Cannes on 13 May 2005. The film had a limited theatrical release in the United States on 21 October.
