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Posted: Wednesday, April 29, 2009, 10:31 AM | 4 comments |

Driving the Wedge

Carrie Rickey, Inquirer Film Critic

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Vera Farmiga and Kate Beckinsale, soccer moms and professionals playing ethical soccer in Rod Lurie's provocative "Nothing But the Truth."

To the list of intriguing new journalism movies that include State of Play and The Soloist, add Rod Lurie's Nothing But the Truth (available this week on DVD), a provocative and wrenching account starring Kate Beckinsale as a Judith Miller-like reporter who outs Valerie Plame-like CIA agent Vera Farmiga, both soccer moms. Does the people's right to know trump the government's need to protect the anonymity of its operatives? Similar in spirit to Lurie's The Contender, NBTT pits journalism against national security, as if they were contenders into an ethical soccer match. If it meant being separated from your children, would you go to prison for your ethical beliefs? I like a movie that drives a wedge between my beliefs and my feelings. Can you think of others?

Posted by Carrie Rickey @ 10:31 AM Permalink | 4 comments

Comments

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 11:01 AM, 04/29/2009

Casablanca is a classic case of heart vs head! Your heart really wants Rick and Ilsa to fly off together and live happily every after, but your head knows that Victor is a crucial cog in the anti-Nazi wheel and must fly off to America and continue his work. And as a mom, no way would I go to prison for my beliefs at the cost of being with my kids. My love for my children IS my strongest belief; nothing trumps it.

— socialgrace

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 11:19 AM, 04/29/2009

My favorite film of this ilk is the criminally underseen THE DANCER UPSTAIRS. A police detective (Javier Bardem) faces some ethical dilemmas in the course of an investigation. It's riveting.

— garyk

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 11:34 AM, 04/29/2009

I heard my heart crack during the penultimate scene of "Million Dollar Baby." I don't know if I could do what Clint Eastwood did, even though I advocate it under the circumstances.

— carrierickey

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:21 PM, 04/30/2009

Sophie's Choice. unbearable emotional conflict.

— Bob Ross

4 comments

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