The Whole Truth Blu-ray Review
Score: 51
from 2 reviewers
Review Date:
Despite solid A/V quality and some commendable performances, 'The Whole Truth' suffers from predictable storytelling and lacks bonus features, making it largely skippable.
Disc Release Date
DTS-HD MA
Video: 68
"The Whole Truth" Blu-ray offers a strong 2.40:1 and 1080p transfer with excellent clarity, fine details, healthy skin tones, and solid black levels. The Alexa-shot film has a glossy yet flat look, with some minor noise in night scenes but overall impressive detail and minimal compression issues.
Audio: 68
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix of 'The Whole Truth' is solid, providing clean and clear dialogue with a front/center focus while utilizing the score and subtle sound effects to maintain presence in the surround channels, although it lacks breathtaking immersion, especially given the courtroom setting.
Extra: 0
The so-called Special Features on 'The Whole Truth' Blu-ray are merely trailers for other Lionsgate releases and bookmarks—lacking any substantive bonus feature content.
Movie: 36
"The Whole Truth" on Blu-ray, while technically proficient with its Louisiana setting and skilled performances by Keanu Reeves and Renée Zellweger, ultimately falls short with its predictable plot and a final twist that fails under scrutiny, making it feel more like a gussied-up made-for-TV movie rather than an engaging thriller.
Video: 68
"The Whole Truth" is presented on Blu-ray with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in a 2.39:1 aspect ratio, courtesy of Lionsgate Films. The film, shot using the Arri Alexa, embraces the signature glossy yet somewhat flat aesthetic typical of the camera. Fine details are excellently rendered, especially during close-ups utilized by director Hunt. The contrasting visual styles between the slightly desaturated courtroom scenes and the more buttery, golden-hued flashback sequences are executed adeptly, enhancing the narrative's emotional nuances. Despite a couple of almost imperceptible instances of noise, this presentation remains competent with minimal compression anomalies.
Clarity and detail are standout features in this 2.40:1 1080p transfer. Fine facial features, detailed costuming, and the lush Louisiana locations are vividly captured. Summer-like yellows and greens dominate the color palette without compromising primary colors excessively. Occasionally, skin tones may exhibit a slight yellow tint, but overall they appear natural and healthy. Black levels are robust, delivering deep, inky blacks with commendable shadow separation, which provides the image with a pleasing depth and dimension. While some night scenes, particularly at the motel set up by Ramsey, exhibit reduced detail and a somewhat flatter appearance, these moments are brief and not overly distracting.
Overall, this transfer maintains high standards, delivering a visually compelling experience that capitalizes on detailed imagery and dynamic color contrasts.
Audio: 68
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track on "The Whole Truth" is well-executed, yet primarily restrained to match its courtroom drama setting. The mix does not frequently engage in aggressive surround effects, instead opting for a more front-and-center audio presentation. This makes the film’s dialogue—which is clear and clean—somewhat central to the experience. Notably, the overamped score by Evgueni and Sacha Galperine adds depth by filling the surround channels, enriching the overall auditory environment despite the film’s generally subdued nature.
While the sound mix achieves a strong level of clarity, especially for a dialogue-driven film, its immersion capabilities are somewhat limited. Directionality manifests subtly through ambient noises—a creak of a chair or spectator sounds in the courtroom—that create a nuanced auditory space. Despite the lack of awe-inducing moments, this restrained audio presentation is very fitting for the film's atmospheric requirements, making for a modest yet effective auditory experience.
Extra:
The Blu-ray edition of "The Whole Truth" is regrettably sparse on substantial extras, offering little beyond standard promotional material. The disc primarily features trailers for other Lionsgate releases and bookmarks, which are neither noteworthy nor deserving of a dedicated score in terms of supplementary content. In essence, the expected wealth of bonus features simply doesn't exist in this edition.
Extras included in this disc:
- Trailers for Other Lionsgate Releases: Promotional material for related films.
- Bookmarks: Allows users to mark and return to specific parts of the film.
Movie: 36
Nicholas Kazan's screenplay for "The Whole Truth," directed by Courtney Hunt, strives for a nuanced, morally ambiguous narrative but instead leans towards predictability and drabness. Keanu Reeves stars as defense attorney Richard Ramsey, representing Mike Lassiter (Gabriel Basso), a teenager accused of murdering his father, Boone (Jim Belushi). While the movie attempts to establish a Rashomon-esque atmosphere rife with unreliable narrators, it primarily devolves into a procedural courtroom drama. Despite its promising start, the film struggles to maintain suspense, culminating in a twist that astute viewers would see coming from afar. The overall direction suggests that Kazan may have distanced himself from the project, as evidenced by his use of a pseudonym in the credits.
The performances are commendable, with Basso delivering a compelling portrayal of a possibly abused son and Renée Zellweger injecting much-needed energy into her role as Loretta Lassiter. However, despite the talents involved, including Gugu Mbatha-Raw as a perceptive young lawyer and Reeves’ typically understated performance, the film ultimately fails to transcend its routine setup. The overreach to deliver an unexpected twist in the final moments undermines the narrative's integrity and jars with the established tone of the preceding scenes.
"The Whole Truth" is technically competent, skillfully produced, and features an engaging cast, but its attempt at cleverness in the concluding moments detracts from what could have been a satisfactorily mediocre but enjoyable legal drama. While the courtroom machinations are somewhat engaging, the problematic ending reduces its overall impact, making it a less memorable contribution to the thriller genre.
Total: 51
"The Whole Truth" offers a serviceable courtroom drama built on familiar tropes, featuring solid performances from its cast. Keanu Reeves delivers a somewhat lethargic performance, and while the narrative lacks innovation, Renée Zellweger stands out with a compelling portrayal of Loretta, infusing depth into the otherwise predictable plot. Gabriel Basso's role as the self-confessed killer adds some intrigue, but overall, the film's twists fail to innovate within the genre. Signs of production struggles and tinkering are evident, which might detract from the viewing experience for some.
Lionsgate presents "The Whole Truth" on Blu-ray with commendable audio and visual quality, ensuring an optimal viewing experience from a technical standpoint. Unfortunately, the absence of bonus features diminishes the overall value of the package. The film’s muddled attempts at cleverness in its conclusion might leave audiences wanting more from a genre that thrives on surprising revelations and intricate plotting. Despite its polished A/V presentation, the lack of supplementary content is a missed opportunity for deeper engagement.
In conclusion, "The Whole Truth" may appeal to fans of the cast who can appreciate the stronger performances despite the film's inherent flaws. The technical merits of the Blu-ray release are certainly strong, making it a competent choice for a casual viewing. However, with its lackluster plot and absence of bonus content, it remains a disposable entry in the courtroom drama genre, warranting only a cautious recommendation.
Blu-ray.com review by Jeffrey KauffmanRead review here
Video: 80
There are a couple of very brief moments (including one night scene involving Reeves and co-star Gugu Mbatha-Raw outside of an apartment house, for example) where there's very slight noise that's almost...
Audio: 80
The film really doesn't have huge opportunities to exploit impressive surround effects, and therefore much of the immersion comes from the relatively cloistered confines of the courtroom, where directionality...
Extras: 0
The so-called "Special Features" listed on the Main Menu of the disc turn out to be trailers for other Lionsgate releases and bookmarks, neither of which I consider a scorable supplement....
Movie: 40
While large swaths of The Whole Truth play out as a courtroom procedural, an approach that in and of itself tends to focus on "machinery" rather than character, one of the interesting elements of the story...
Total: 40
Reeves almost seems to be sleepwalking through large swaths of The Whole Truth, and the film has a kind of pall surrounding it where the perception that everyone knows things aren't quite working as well...
High-Def DigestRead review here
Video: 80
There are a couple of moments in night scenes taking place at the motel where Ramsey has set up shop that tends to be less detailed and a bit flatter, but these aren't too distracting but still worth noting....
Audio: 80
Imaging is, for the most part, fairly restrained as this is such a conversational film that any sense of directionality or immersion comes from the creak of a chair in the courtroom gallery or a cough...
Extras: 0
...
Movie: 40
Like with a good Agatha Christie story, say 'Witness for the Prosecution' as an example, the twist holds up to multiple viewings because there is enough evidence peppered throughout to provide you with...
Total: 40
Unfortunately even good performances aren't enough to surmount the misguided attempt at being clever with the conclusion of 'The Whole Truth.'...
Director: Courtney Hunt
Actors: Keanu Reeves, Renée Zellweger, Gugu Mbatha-Raw
PlotDefense attorney Richard Ramsay is tasked with defending a teenage boy named Mike Lassiter, who is accused of murdering his father, Boone Lassiter. Boone, a wealthy and powerful man, was found dead with a knife in his chest, and Mike was discovered at the scene holding the murder weapon. Despite Mike's refusal to speak about the incident, Ramsay is determined to prove his innocence. Throughout the trial, Ramsay works closely with his colleague, Janelle Brady, gathering evidence and testimonies to build a defense. As the trial unfolds, revealing troubling details about Boone's abusive nature and the tumultuous family dynamics, Ramsay becomes increasingly focused on proving that things are not as they appear.
As Ramsay digs deeper, he uncovers shocking secrets that cast doubt on everything he thought he knew about the Lassiter family. The courtroom drama intensifies as suppressed memories and hidden truths come to light, painting a complex picture of both victim and accused. With witnesses providing conflicting stories and Ramsay's own ethical dilemmas mounting, the stakes rise dramatically. The tension escalates with each revelation, leading to a gripping finale where the true events surrounding Boone’s death—and the real motives of those involved—are finally exposed.
Writers: Nicholas Kazan
Release Date: 21 Oct 2016
Runtime: 93 min
Rating: R
Country: United States
Language: English