TRUTH
US, 2015, 120 minutes, Colour.
Cate Blanchett, Robert Redford, Topher Grace, Dennis Quaid, Elisabeth Moss, Bruce Greenwood, Stacy Keach, John Benjamin Hickey, David Lyons, Dermot Mulroney, Rachael Blake, Andrew Mc Farlane, Noni Hazelhurst, Lewis Fitz- Gerald, Philip Quast, Steve Bastoni, Nicholas Hope.
Directed by James Vanderbilt.
Truth is a very broad title from any film, let alone one about journalism, especially investigative journalism. director, James Vanderbilt, as written screenplay adapted from the 2005 memoir by Mary Mapes, Truth and Duty: The Press, the President and the Privilege of Power. Mary Mapes was an award-winning television producer, latterly working with television celebrity host, then Rather, and the attempted 60 Minutes program on George W.Bush and his being eased into the National Guard instead of action in Vietnam.
Mary Mapes wrote the book explaining the process of researching and compiling the program, or the producers being subject to a cbs internal investigation and Mapes being fired from her job – and has not worked in television production since. obviously, the film is from her point of view, her explanations and justifications of the behaviour and procedures, the felt prejudices at the time of the 2004 presidential election, the behaviour of CBS network.
Investigative journalism has become very significant in recent decades. With such an appetite for news, radio, television, the press, online, there is also a public desire to go behind the headlines, often sensationalised, often the personal opinion of the journalist with the byline. The Social Media, with easy access for people to offer opinions, blacken reputations, foment conspiracy theories, there is certainly a need for investigation.
Information came in to Mary Mapes about George bushes cracked Bushes military service. She gathered together a crack team and is authorised by CBS to research the program. phone calls were made, documents received, attempts were made to verify the truth of the documents, checks were made on opinions of military personnel… Some were persuaded to be filmed for the 60 Minutes Program.in the immediate aftermath, there were denials, criticisms of the lack of verification of the documents, even to questions about the use of typefaces and particular on typewriters in the 1970s. Of the networks created controversy and the investigator to particular to many lengths to try to verify the truth – unfortunately, not successfully.
This inside look at the methods and processes of such journalism is fascinating in the investigations on current media, whether it be of corruption in racing industries, low wages and exploitation of overseas workers or the royal commission can still into institutional sexual abuse. It is certainly a cautionary tale.
What makes it powerful, whether one agrees with the attitudes of the characters and their conclusions are not, is the presence of Cate Blanchett as Mary Mapes. A commentator noted that the powerhouse performance, one of the best (actually most of Cate’s Cate Blanchett’s performances are best) almost this film to succeed. We are all on her side but appreciate the strengths and flaws, the intensity of the work, the powers of persuasiveness in person and on the phone, admiration for Dan Rather, the glimpses of life, the son and supportive husband.
Robert Redford is always a reassuring presence (despite his age and dyed hair) as Rather, a well journalist who had, in some ways, to fall on his sword. the supporting cast is particularly strong, especially Tofu Grace as at the 30th tracking down leads, with Dennis Quaid and Elisabeth Moss. Stacy Keach is military source who supplies the documents which have to be examined. And then we might notice that Noni Hazelhurst plays his wife, and there are quite a number of Australian actors are present in the film, Andrew Mc Farlane as Mary Mapes’ lawyer, Nicholas Hope as a handwriting expert, Rachael Blake and David Lyons as’s CBS executives. Then, at the end, we are informed that it was all filmed in New South Wales, with a few New York scenes. Indeed, the director of photography, Mandy Walker, the editor Richard Francis- Bruce, and others in the technical credits are also Australian.
The film is an interesting picture of the significance of investigative journalism and the need to try to get everything right – or else.
1. The title, objective, subjective truth? Journalism, in the media?
2. The nature of investigative journalism, getting information, using and protecting sources, documents and verification, the “Gotcha” moments?
3. A true story, based on Mary Mape’s book, her perspective? The work of a production team, critique of the government, network bosses, the public, the media?
4. 2004, in the aftermath of 9/11, in New York City, George W. Bush as President, his re-election? The invasion of Iraq? His reputation? The Republicans, the Democrats, the urgency in the election campaign? John Kerry and the comparison with military service?
5. The reputation of 60 Minutes, of Dan Rather, CBS, Rather as a television icon, his reliability and credibility?
6. The cast, the stars, the character actors, American and Australian? A film of interiors, studios, homes? New York, Texas? The musical score?
7. The framework, Mary Mapes and her discussions with her lawyer, the interview, the flashbacks?
8. Cate Blanchett as Mary Mapes? Mary Mapes’s career, a strong woman, the background her father, his putting her down (and his later television denunciations, and her request, with tears, for him to stop and his agreeing)? As a journalist, as a producer, working with a team, with reporters, with Dan Rather, with the editors and technicians? Her reputation with the expose a of Abu Grhaib? This case, her being fired, her reputation, not working again, writing the book?
9. The George W. Bush issue, his training as a pilot, the issue of going to Vietnam, going to the National Guard, the high-ranking influences, the documents, his being AWOL? The opinions of the sources about the situation, the documents?
10. The CBS chiefs, Andrew Heywood, his presence, allowing the program to go ahead, his calling the team to task, his applauding when Rather finished his work? Josh Howard brought in, young, his experience, permissions, caution? Betsy, the interventions, advice? The dates of the show, in a hurry? The presidential campaign?
11. Texas, Mary and her home, relationship with her husband, with her son, her being busy, depending on her husband, ability to talk with him? His support of her at the end, the going for a walk?
12. The team, Mary as leader, her enthusiasm and zest, Rather and his steady support, interest in the case, his experience? Mike Smith, his reputation and career, leads, attitudes – enthusiasm, with the enquiry, his being ousted by security, giving everyone the finger? Roger Charles, his military background, his knowledge, collaboration? Lucy, her skills, research? The team and their travel, the meetings, the flowcharts, collaboration?
13. The documents, Bill Burkitt as the source, his reputation, his health and sanity, his wife and her care, her presence? Verifying the sources? His giving of a false name as a source? Later, watching the program, his being exposed, agreeingto the interview, the producers watching, questions for Rather in the interview, the glasses of water, Betsy and the questions, Mary and agreeing and disagreeing? His illness, the significant speech from his wife and her disillusionment with their treatment and keeping their word?
14. Phone calls, getting agreements? Barnes, his role as Lt-Governor?, his public statements, interviewed for television, verifying the document, on-air?
15. The handwriting experts, the issues of the signatures, the dead officers? The four experts? The cautious woman? Matley, the discussions, his expertise, speaking on air, his later comments? Responding to the critique?
16. The issue of the documents, type settings, idiosyncrasies not available in the 1970s, the suggestion that it was a Word document on a computer? The team searching for the differences in the documents, finding them?
17. The program, getting ready, final decisions, everybody content watching the program? The immediate complaints, the reaction of the other networks, the questions, the program about a program, the crews outside the Mapes’ house? Hostile emails, critique?
18. The CBS heads, the meetings, the being upset, wanting denials, Rather and his support of the team, making him apologise on air, his finale, and the word courage?
19. The criticisms of Burkitt, his supporting Kerry, against Bush?
20. The setup of the enquiry, the partisan nature of the composition, Lawrence Lanpher as the head of the committee, his questions, his offsider, the other members and their interventions? His making an error and apologising? Tough, the negative report?
21. Mary, with her lawyer, his advice about her behaviour, calm stances, direct? The significance of her speech at the end about the situation and about investigative journalism? The farewell to Dan Rather?
22. Importance of journalism, investigative journalism, sources, protection, verifying – and this case a salutary lesson and warning to journalists?
