|
So what is the truth about Charlie? Going in, I had
no idea. Which is the best way to see this film (or any film),
for sure. See an intriguing trailer on TV or at the theater
and then abstain from any further exposure to the plot or
production.
Whether you know much about it or not, The Truth About
Charlie is watch-worthy. The plot thickens but doesn’t
get too complex. Don’t worry, I won’t give away anything too
vital as per my rant in the first paragraph. Basically, Regina
Lambert (Newton) meets the charming Joshua Peters (Wahlberg)
while vacationing in the Caribbean. We then jump to the demise
of the enigmatic Charlie (Dillane), but of course don’t
see whodunit. Upon her return to Paris, we find out that Regina
is the late Charles’s wife, and she finds out that her flat
and her bank account have been emptied and her husband murdered.
“Coincidentally,” Joshua runs into Regina in Paris and is
all too ready to offer his helping hands. Strong secondary
characters round out the cast: a trio of Charlie’s cohorts
searching for a load of cash they think Regina has (Park,
Levine, Hamilton), a tough Parisian female investigator
(Boisson), a straight-laced American “stars and bars
company man” with a bad Yankee accent (Robbins).
Jonathan Demme (Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia,
Beloved) scores with this fast-paced, edgy remake based
on Peter Stone's motion picture, Charade. After
a decade of great, classically structured films, he wanted
to return to the more creative style of his earlier work (Something
Wild, Married To The Mob). And he does, delivering an
innovative script structure, damn fine cinematography, and
a hip soundtrack featuring world music from Angelique Kidjo,
Robyn Hitchcock, Sparklehorse, and Manu Chao.
Thandie Newton (Beloved, Mission Impossible 2) shines
from start to finish. The stunningly gorgeous actress is altogether
likable, and she has surprisingly good comedic timing. In
his shifty role (his character’s identity changes multiple
times), Mark Wahlberg (Planet Of The Apes, Boogie Nights)
really gets under our skin, in that good way.
The Truth is it’s a cool, funny, engaging, highly
re-watchable movie. The only weakness is a moderate lack of
suspense. Regina is supposed to be protecting herself from
ever-increasing danger. Oftentimes, though, the film’s humor
overshadows its thrilling aspect. Even the bad guys are charismatic
and just plain friendly (which is okay by me). I also had
to deduct a half-star because you won’t walk away feeling
enlightened or changed. Just entertained. Hey, it could be
worse.
—Michelle Fajkus
|
out of 5
While we would never encourage anyone to destroy a video... 
