With a cast like that any remake would have a tough act to follow. I haven't seen the original but Jonathan Demme's remake is a slick and witty crime mystery.
The Truth About Charlie success is largely attributable to the performance of Thandie Newton (Mission Impossible 2). She presented with a character that requires her to be simultaneously naive but not innocent, scared but courageous, and sympathetically sultry but not too nice. The multitude of emotions she has to reflect, often within the same scene, is no small task for any actress. Her relationship, with Walberg's character, is particularly vexing as she has to believably waiver between attraction and repulsion. True to character, when she catches Walberg in another lie, she remembers to grab the present he was about to give her before she storms out. Newton succeeds admirably, in this challenging role, and as a result so does The Truth About Charlie.
Along the way we are treated to some other fine performances. Tim Robbins perhaps best captures the tongue in cheek playfulness of the story. He's winking at the audience as he portrays the hard nosed CIA type.
Walberg does an admirable job as well. On occasion though he seems a bit unsure of whether a particular scene should be played straight or with a wink. This uncertainty causes the chemistry, between him and Newton, to sputter but not fizzle out completely.
There are some other great moments, in The Truth About Charlie, that allow the audience to accept an otherwise highly contrived, but well conceived, plot. There's a great chase scene involving Walberg and Park, played seriously, that's actually a send up of all chase scenes that have come before it. The nightclub scene is a similarly unique and funny way to advance the story line. Both, alone, are worth the price of admission.
Initially, I was a little put off by Demme's excessive use of quick edits and quirky camera angles, but in the end they help convey the frenetic energy of the story. Demme also exploits light to its full advantage. For example, the flashbacks of the deceased before he expires have a yellow pall to them, reminiscent of death.
There is also a humourous tribute to, Charlie Aznavour, Europe's version of Frank Sinatra. Whereas 8 Women suffered, for interposing storytelling methods, this is an example of when and where they work. You know The Truth About Charlie doesn't take itself seriously. Stick around for the credits too.
The film does lag near the end but not unbearably. Unfortunately, The Truth About Charlie, may go unlearned by the movie going public. It opened on the same weekend as Jackass: The Movie. Further proof, that there is no accounting for bad taste, Jackass was sold out while I watched The Truth About Charlie in a 3/4 empty theater. Sad but true. I have said it before, and I'll say it again, if the movie going public wants Hollywood to make good films then they have to stop supporting the crappy ones.
The Truth about Charlie is that its a breezy yet sophisticated movie. This is popcorn munching fare 101 that gets an "A-". If you can "...handle the truth", go see it.
Alternative Reviews:
http://www.suntimes.com/output/ebert1/wkp-news-charlie25f.html
http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/movie/review.asp?mid=2045218
Official Website:
http://www.thetruthaboutcharlie.com/
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