Based on the acclaimed novel by Rupert Holmes, Where the Truth Lies is a provocative film about interconnected lives that are shattered by ill-fated acts of deception and ambition. Shifting effortlessly between mob-run clubs of the mid-50’s and glamorous Hollywood Hills mansions of 1972, the film explores the dark, beguiling, and inevitably destructive side of fame and fortune. The result is a tense and atmospheric mystery that uses cinematic sleight-of-hand to challenge any preconceptions about “truth.”
In the 50’s, Vince Collins (Colin Firth) and Lanny Morris (Kevin Bacon) are the hottest showbiz duo in America. The combination of Lanny’s brash American style and Vince’s biting British wit is irresistible, especially to beautiful women. The pair is a particular favorite of Sally San Marco (Maury Chaykin), a mob boss who owns nightclubs up and down the east coast. He makes sure ‘his boys’ have anything they want. The ‘anyone they want’ is handled by Lanny’s inscrutable man-servant, Reuben (David Hayman).
When a beautiful young woman, Maureen (Rachel Blanchard) is found dead in the bathtub of the duo’s suite, their glittery world begins to crumble. They have rock solid alibis and are exonerated of any criminal wrongdoing; however, the scandal causes the once inseparable pair to part company.
Fifteen years later, the myth of the Collins and Morris controversy still fascinates the public. Karen O’Connor (Alison Lohman), a young and ambitious journalist, is determined to uncover the secrets of the two men who, coincidentally, touched her life when she was a child. She persuades a publisher to offer a guarded Vince Collins one million dollars to collaborate with her on writing the untold story of his life with Lanny Morris. There is one condition: the truth must be told about the scandal that destroyed the duo. What really happened the night Maureen died?
After Karen hears that Lanny has written his own tell-all book, she flies to New York to meet her publishers. On the plane she comes face to face with Lanny himself. There is undeniable chemistry between the two. Unwilling to reveal her true identify, Karen pretends she is a schoolteacher. They share one passionate night before resuming their separate lives.
As Karen continues to search for many different truths-the truth about Vince and Lanny, the truth about Maureen’s death, and even suppressed truths about herself- she becomes embroiled in a tense and bewildering game of cat-and-mouse. The problem is, the more she learns, the less certain she is of her role. Is she the cat…or the mouse? And what are the consequences?
Where the Truth Lies is a 2005 British-Canadian erotic thriller film written and directed by Atom Egoyan. Based on Rupert Holmes’ 2003 novel of the same name, the film stars Kevin Bacon, Colin Firth, and Alison Lohman.
The film alternates between 1957, when comedy duo Lanny Morris (Bacon) and Vince Collins (Firth) are at the height of their success, and 1972, when journalist Karen O’Connor (Lohman) is determined to unravel the mystery of a young woman found dead in their hotel suite 15 years before.
The film grossed $872,142 in North America and $2,605,536 in other markets, for a total worldwide box office of $3,477,678. The unrated designation hurt the film’s financial return, since many theaters would not show it due to its NC-17 rating.
Where the Truth Lies (2005)
Directed by: Atom Egoyan
Starring: Kevin Bacon, Colin Firth, Alison Lohman, Rachel Blanchard, David Hayman, Maury Chaykin, Sonja Bennet, Kristin Adams, Deborah Grover, Arsinée Khanjian, Gabrielle Rose
Screenplay by: Atom Egoyan
Production Design by: Phillip Barker
Cinematography by: Paul Sarossy
Film Editing by: Susan Shipton
Costume Design by: Beth Pasternak
Set Decoration by: Trisha Edwards, Carolyn ‘Cal’ Loucks
Art Direction by: Craig Lathrop, Lucy Richardson
Music by: Mychael Danna
MPAA Rating: NC-17
Distributed by: ThinkFilm
Release Date: October 14, 2005
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