Nothing But The Truth (Rod Lurie, 2008): U.S.

Reviewed by Kathleen Amboy. Viewed at the Arlington, Santa Barbara Film Festival.

Nothing But the Truth (or nothing like it) was the opening night film at the SBIFF. The plot for this film vaguely follows the true life account of the Lewis Libby/Valerie Plame ordeal in Washington, D.C.

Kate Beckinsale is Rachel Armstrong (role of real life Judith Miller) a head strong reporter that runs with a scoop.  The scoop exposes the identity of a classified, covert CIA operative.  Who was her source?  This is the question that drives the plot which Rachel refuses to reveal.

Vera Farmiga is Erica Van Doren (role of Valerie Plame) the CIA op who first denies the fact, and then tries in vain to reason with Rachel on exposing her source for safety reasons, but Rachel is adamant about protecting her source.

Matt Dillon is Patton Dubois, a prosecutor who is determined to find the leak.  Rachel is jailed for several months, beaten in prison, her marriage falls apart, and she loses custody of her only child – but to top it all off, Van Doren (also a wife and mother) is killed because her identity is exposed through Rachel’s scoop.

The strength in the film comes from the talents of Angela Bassett as Bonnie (Rachel’s Editor) and Alan Alda as Alan Burnside, Rachel’s defense counsel.  The weakest links are by far Noah Wyle (counsel for the newspaper) and David Schwimmer (Rachel’s slovenly husband).  Noah Wyle shook his head a bit too much every time he wanted to express anger – it’s called acting Noah, just act angry!  David Schwimmer plays a non-chalant David Schwimmer through the entire film.

Okay, back to the story.  The source is revealed (Lewis Libby character), but wait a minute – he’s not the real source.  Rachel gets out of the slammer, then she’s back in the slammer and then she ends up in prison for a couple of years!  We basically have to suffer through more unbelievable, ridiculous plot-line before we (much to our chagrin) find out who the real source is.  At this point, without disclosing the real source, there is a sense of relief that Rachel is thrown in prison – for punishment out of sheer stupidity!