The Trouble with the Truth

I love this little film.

It felt like a play in an intimate theater--two actors, a few bit parts, and locations that could have fit on one stage. This could not possibly work in a film except for two things: the amazing, witty, smart, true dialogue; and two astonishing performances.

There are a few films that capture the middle-aged heart well, and this is one of them. With all of our clearer hindsight, regrets, what may have beens, the specter of death ahead, and wondering what this one life really adds up to. For thinking people, these sorts of questions haunt us. And here – with wit and honesty - we see two believable, flawed, appealing characters ask each other the important questions.

The ending is good, for you leave the film wanting to ask if he made the right decision. Sometimes, the questions are more important than the answers.

And, a bit of petty praise, that was one heck of a lot of dialogue to memorize.

This was my final movie on Danielle Harris' movies binge. She's literally only in the opening scene. I assume this movie is based on a stage play from how it's filmed similar to the movie Fences starring Denzel Washington and Viola Davis. There are literally three characters or four if you include the female bartender. This movie stars my favorite version of Lex Luthor himself, John Shea as Robert, Lea Thompson as his ex wife Emily, and Danielle Harris as their daughter Jenny who has become recently engaged. Their daughter's engagement causes the former couple to meet up and have a dinner where they spend the night analyzing their lives and their relationship.

I respect movies like this especially when the dialogue and writing is pretty good. Emily is a successful writer married to a rich husband she's bored with. Robert is the struggling artist living in a tiny apartment and having one night stands with women young enough to be his daughter including the female bartender. The movie analyzing their marriage, what led to their breakup, their daughter's life, aging, success, and even Robert being conflict avoidant to even discourage his daughter from marrying a man who he believes is her fail safe. This movies makes the viewer take a reflection of where they are in their lives and are they truly happy. Is it wise to continue pursuing a dream if you're still struggling to make ends meet? Is success based on luck or chance? Their conversation even causes Robert to question his place in life as a single middle-aged man or was it wise for him to give up on their marriage. One of the final moments of the film was the realistic choice Robert had to make. It's one thing to live in the moment. It's another thing to deal with the consequences after living in the moment.

I figure it was going to be a movie based on stage play based on watching the trailer. I'm not for sure. I'm only assuming based on how the movie was filmed. But I appreciate these films because it reminds us to take a breather and reflect on where we are in our lives. If you like movies like Fences (2016), Before We Go (2014), Closer (2004), or Before Sunrise (1995) and its sequel Before Sunset (2004), you'll enjoy this film because it's based on the strength of the writing and its delivery from the actors. However, if you don't like stage play type films with only a limited number of sets, no action scenes and the actors simply talking to one another and expressing their feelings and emotions through words, then you should skip it. I really enjoyed this film. Would recommend and watch again.

While attending the 2012 Sedona International Film Festival it was impossible to ignore the definite buzz in the air about Writer/ Director Jim Hemphill's new film The Trouble with the Truth, which proved to be a bona-fide crowd pleaser with this year's festival attendees. The film centers on divorced couple Robert (John Shea) and Emily (Lea Thompson), initially brought together to discuss their daughter's impending nuptials.

Throughout the course of one evening,(which includes dinner, desert and more than a few drinks), the former couple playfully revisit their differing ideas regarding love and career which, of course, eventually drives the conversation to the inevitable excavation of their failed marriage. By evening's end their impromptu reunion will lead to a few surprises, a few confessions and, yes, even a few tears.

Given the film is basically a continuing conversation, with limited locations and lots of over the shoulder shots, obvious comparisons have been made to that other flick involving a dining duo, "My Dinner with Andre", but where that classic film deals in matters mostly cerebral, Hemphill's sharp and funny screenplay is all heart and, as a result, is a much warmer, intimate and personal film. If "…Andre" is a "thinking" person's movie, The Trouble with the Truth is for the "feeling", and proves to be an honest and thought provoking debate between the heart and the head.

When you've got a film that involves a lot more talk than action, casting is a make or break proposition, first and foremost, we have to like them, which I am happy to report we do, quite a bit.

We grow to like Robert quickly, due in large part to John Shea's handling of Hemphill's often blunt and hilarious dialog, the actor's years of experience on film, and more specifically the stage, serves him and the film quite well.

Lea Thompson as Emily, however, is the real surprise. The actresses' instant like-ability has been the cornerstone of her long and successful career for the last two decades, where the adjectives "cute" and "suburban" have been exhausted by writers with little imagination, but this time around Thompson is given an opportunity to play a modern woman who is perhaps a little deeper, a little more cultured and a lot more eloquent than we've seen from her previous roles and the result is nothing short of a revelation. Her performance is both funny and heartbreaking, (often simultaneously), and will stay with you long after the credits have rolled.

The many talents of relative newcomer Jim Hemphill are on full display with his brilliant, quotable dialog and thoughtful instincts.The premise alone in lesser hands might have easily degenerated into bad drama and worn out cliché's, but the Director/ Writer deftly avoids the obvious traps at all costs and delivers a smart, funny and engaging film.

The Trouble with the Truth is, by far and away, the best indie I've seen this year. I can only hope a distribution deal is coming soon so that you all will have the opportunity to enjoy this one for yourselves.

This was such a really good film for practically the entire ninety-something minutes.. and then they had to go and spoil it all with a boring, cop-out ending. The two terrific leads deserved sooo much better, as they worked their tails off during most all of the entire production. It's not unusual to see this sort of thing happen in poorer quality films, but when the standards were so high for the entire time in TTWTT, it just leaves you feeling somehow cheated coming away. Would have really looked forward to watching it again, might anyway, but in the back of my mind will not be able to get around the ultimate outcome (or lack thereof).

I agree with the review posted earlier; this is one of the best Indie films of the year.Lea Thompson and John Shea give excellent performances; you get the impression that you are sitting at the next table listening to their conversation. Part of this is due to the dialog and part because the director created a "natural" easy feeling to the film. The performers seem comfortable and I felt they had a genuine affection for each other. This is essential to the success of the film.

An outstanding screenplay, fine performances and a film that says something without being preachy. The Trouble With Truth is a carefully composed, intelligent and enjoyable film.