Drama. Directed by Atom Egoyan. Starring Kevin Bacon, Colin Firth, Alison Lohman, David Hayman, Rachel Blanchard. Synopsis: An aggressive young investigative journalist assumes her friend's identity for the purpose of getting to the truth of the death of a young woman fifteen years previously in the hotel suite of two well known performers. Her investigation takes her closer to each of the stars and their secrets than she ever dreamed possible.
This film is an interesting telling of a fairly unique story that is well directed and well acted. The story is set in 1972, when ambitious young writer Karen (Alison Lohman Drag Me To Hell) undertakes the task of finding out the truth behind the mysterious death of a young woman named Maureen O'Flaherty (Rachel Blanchard) in the hotel suite of famed entertainment duo and polio telethon hosts Lanny (Kevin Bacon JFK, Mystic River) and Vince (Colin Firth) in 1958.
The story jumps between 1958 and 1972 often and seamlessly, without confusing the story or the characters. Its important in a film that does not follow a traditional chronological order to present its story in a way that allows the viewer to not only follow what is happening, but to know when a scene is taking place in the past or the present and this movie does that well.
It captures the spirit of the telethon and innocence of an earlier time, when many fans thought of their stars and heroes of the screen only in wholesome terms in nice comparison to the seedier reality of their often sordid personal lives.
The overriding theme of the movie is the question of what really happened to Maureen O'Flaherty, why it happened, and how. Karen is determined to find out these answers, as well as expose the cover up. She finds herself closer than she ever thought with womanizer Lanny, as well as his personal assistant (David Hayman) as well as becoming a confidant-and later a victim-of the emotionally tortured Vince. The movie does a good job of giving us clues as to what really happened, and we find out along with Karen. The conflict in the film is Karen's relentless pursuit of the truth as compared to her reluctance to share it when she finds out. I can't say that the ending will take you totally by surprise, there is a twist, but what makes this film is the telling of the story and the character development, not an incredible ending.
Alison Lohman does a good job in the most important role in the film. She puts energy and is totally believable in her character which has to show strength, vulnerability, compassion, and aggressiveness in alternating scenes of the film.
Kevin Bacon, again, reinvents himself as the likable, yet degenerate Lanny as we see him at his height of popularity in the movie and his descent which is obvious to all but him. Colin Firth has the most difficult part, playing the tortured sole with the terrible secret, yet is it really a burden that he should be carrying?
That, of course, is the whole question of the film and I won't spoil it for anyone who has not seen it. But, if you haven't seen this one, take it in if you have the chance. I can't say that its' a "can't miss", but if you appreciate a good story that is well done, you won't be disappointed.
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