THE WHOLE TRUTH
US, 2016, 95 minutes, Colour.
Keanu Reeves, Renner Zellweger, Gugu Mbatha Raw, Gabriel Basso, Jim Belushi, Jim Klock.
Directed by Courtney Hunt.
The title reminds the audience of the oath at the beginning of any testament in a court case, the telling of the whole truth. In fact, this film is basically a court case.
The film is also a star vehicle for Keanu Reeves, one of his better roles. He is an able lawyer, with a good reputation, asked to defend young man, aged 16 (Gabriel Basso), who has confessed to the murder of his father will standing by his corpse. He has refused to make any comment beyond the confession and refuses to speak to his lawyer whom he has known for some years as a friend of the family. This means that his lawyer is hamstrung in terms of a way of defence as well as of interrogating witnesses.
Most of the action takes place in the court although there are substantial flashbacks to the life of the family, a wealthy family in the south, an arrogant and bullying father played by Jim Belushi, who has been violent towards his wife, demanding of his son, especially for his college studies. His wife is played by Rene Zellweger (exhibiting the disadvantages of her having had facelift treatment). She is presented as a rather timid wife, verbally abused and physically battered.
The court also appoints a young lawyer whose father had a reputation in the town as the assistant to the defence (Gugu Mbatha Raw).
The film shows the interrogation of the witnesses, especially the flight attendant on a private plane and her relationship with the dead man, his behaviour on flights, defending him – although there is a good scene where she is re-questioned by the new assistant and her testimony is seen as questionable.
The police are also interrogated but, with the confession of the young man, there was no need felt for further suspects.
Eventually, the young man speaks, and has a story of his father sexually abusing him for some years. Is this the truth or is the young man trying to defend his mother?
If the audience were to be told that there is a twist at the end, perhaps the most improbable twist, then this is actually what the end of the film does produce!
Which means that this is something of a minor drama, an interesting court case and an entertainment.
1. The title, the emphasis on truth? The familiar phrase from the oath in court? Testimony? Perjury?
2. The film is basically a court case, the trial sequences, legal offices, consultations, the courtroom? The witnesses, the stand? The jury? Those attending? The background of the story, the family, father, mother, son? The sequences at home, the special flights? The musical score?
3. The response of the audience, believing the witnesses or not? The mystery, the resolution – and the extreme twist?
4. Keanu Reeves and his presence on screen, manner, style, knowledge of the law, abilities, taking on the case, his relationship with the family, with the son, the son not speaking to him, being hamstrung? The presence of the mother in the court? The past relationship with the father? His knowing the situation at home? His personality, manner of conducting his case, interrogating his witnesses or not, the appeal to the judge, to the jury?
5. The prosecutor, the range of witnesses, his interrogations? Information and the data? Ramsey and his response, sometimes decision not to interrogate? Having Janelle as his assistant? His attitude towards her, treatment of her?
6. Janelle, her background, her father, her ambitions in law, the affair and her failed professional career? Returning home, assisting Ramsey? Working with him, his treatment of her, confiding, discussing? Her own research? The clash with Loretta? The special interrogation in the court and her being congratulated? Her coming to realise the truth?
7. Mike, his age, his relationship with his father, love for his mother, on the flights, the University plans, his mother’s wishes, his father’s wishes, experiencing their clashes? The flashbacks to the murder, the weapon, blood, fingerprints and his confession? His not speaking to Ramsey, finally speaking out? His testimony about his father’s abuse? How true? Or his defending his mother?
8. Loretta, her presence in the court, the history of abuse, being battered, at social functions, the trophy wife? Her relationship with her son? With Ramsey? Her reaction at the acquittal? The revelation of the conspiracy, her inflicting her own bruises, the death of her husband, the wound? The truth?
9. The police and their role, being called, the arrival, Mike and his confession, the evidence, testimonies – and their not investigating alternatives?
10. The judge, his hearing? The prosecutor and his questions? The range of witnesses, technical? The importance of the interrogation of the flight attendant, Janelle and Ramsey able to tell whether people were speaking the truth or not? Janelle interviewing her, her backing down on her evidence and her being able to see everything that was
going on in the cabin?
11. The speeches, the summing up, the role of the jury, Mike being found innocent?
12. The impact of the final revelation of the truth?
