Rated R for language and some disturbing material.
Starring Jonah Hill and James Franco
Directed by Rupert Goold
This film was surprising and predictable at the same time.
When disgraced New York Times reporter Michael Finkel (Jonah Hill) meets accused killer Christian Longo (James Franco) —who has taken on Finkel’s identity—his reporting job morphs into an unforgettable game of cat and mouse. Based on actual events, Finkel’s relentless pursuit of Longo’s true story encompasses murder, love, deceit, and redemption.
James Franco and Jonah Hill made their names in bromantic, mindless and often times, crude comedies. Now they both attempt something edgier, more serious and way more mature.
So you can imagine my surprise when the two of them delivered very strong and very believable performances. So much of the film is Hill and Franco face to face in intense conversations about the murder of Longo’s family.
Besides being well acted, the film’s plot is pretty solid. Based on a true story that is almost too disturbing to believe, I was drawn in early and was completely engaged… until the wheels fall off in the last half hour.
Maybe I was expecting some twist ending or a big reveal…but neither happened. In fact it played out more like the last five minutes of any Law & Order episode. I have to say, in my defense, that Goold’s use of eerie music, disturbing flashbacks and creepy conversations all led me to believe something more was happening…but it wasn’t.
For most of this film I was thinking it was a solid “Theater Worthy,” but in the end it’s just a “Rental.”
SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
A photograph of a nude dead woman is seen and a woman is shown nude while lying on a bed (sex is implied).
There is a lot of graphic discussion of a family’s murder and we see photos of the dead bodies.
There are a handful of F-words and some milder language.
CONVERSATION STARTER:
- What did you think of Finkel’s fabricated story?
- What did you think of Longo’s?
- Is there a difference between a big lie and a “white lie”? What is it?
- What can you do this week to be more careful when you are tempted to tell a lie?
Read Proverbs 12:22
Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.
Jonathan McKee
Jonathan McKee is the author of over twenty books including the brand new The Guy's Guide to FOUR BATTLES Every Young Man Must Face; The Teen’s Guide to Social Media & Mobile Devices; If I Had a Parenting Do Over; and the Amazon Best Seller - The Guy's Guide to God, Girls and the Phone in Your Pocket. He speaks to parents and leaders worldwide, all while providing free resources for youth workers on TheSource4YM.com. Jonathan, his wife Lori, and their three kids live in California.