True Story

True Story 

Rating 6 out of 10

This movie didn't get much press.  Most have not even heard of it.  True Story is actually based on a true story.  Back in 2001 Michael Finkel while writing for the New York Times was found guilty of plagiarism.  He embellished his story on some African children and lost his job and creditability.  Not long after he found out that accused murder Christian Longo was picked up in Mexico telling everyone he was the writer.  Guess he didn't hear about the plagiarism.  In real life the two looked a good bit alike.  In the movie not so much. Finkel is played by the chubby again Jonah Hill and Christian Longo is played by the creepy again James Franco.

Longo was accused of killing his wife and children, stuffing them into suitcases and throwing them into the Oregon ocean.  Finkel having no work reaches out to Longo only to find out he is a big fan.  He agrees to give Finkel the scoop on his story if he will in return help him with his creative writing.  The guy is clearly nuts.

The movie is interesting although it creeps along at a fairly slow pace.  Finkel's wife is not crazy about her husband hanging with a murder.  Finkel thinks of this as a way to get back on top. The movie tracks from their meet on through the murder trial. The acting is pretty good even though I'm not a fan of Jonah Hill or James Franco.

This would make a good rainy day rental.