Plain Truth

COULD have been a fine film, but the slipshod script and corny manipulations made it annoying instead. Oh for intelligent dialogue and more plausible story clashes: Katie insists on telling the plain truth in court, and yet has had no compunction re lying to Ellie at every turn.

Easy on the eyes, this film is flakey on the brain and thus misses the heart. I am sure the author of the book felt sad to see what became of her sensitive story.

The cast did their admirable best, especially the main family as well as Hargitay and LaPaglia. Kate Trotter's subtle genius as the mother was the highlight of the film. These gifted actors surely deserved better than a director who seems to assume his viewers are plain stupid. Watchable, yes, but what a let-down!

I first heard about Jodi Picoult (author of the book Plain Truth) from one of my teachers during a Values through Literature class. I decided to read Plain Truth after reading one of her other books. Then a buddy of mine bought me the movie. The movie and the book work really well together. I wish they would have used more from the book and made the movie longer, but i really really enjoyed it. I'd recommend that you read the book, then watch the movie. This way you know a lot more about the characters, and then get to see them. It's a great companion. Mariska Hargitay as always gives an incredibly convincing and extraordinary performance. I had never heard of Alison Pill, but was pleasantly surprised with her performance. The soundtrack is also amazing. A movie I would definitely recommend.

I liked the overall look of this film and also the work of the actors. Escpecially the main characters, Amish girl and her lawyer do a good job, I like the closeup shots of their eyes and faces, those are wonderful, to portray emotions and expressions in their eyes in such a way is really good. The problem of this movie is that it is trying to be a thriller and an psychological movie at the same time. It could have chosen one or the other, that would have made it more intense. I think a murder mystery thriller in the Amish environment would have been a mighty good idea. Or then full-time psychological drama, the clash of Amish world and regular Western world through personal drama of one person. At the moment this hoovering on the border of both genres makes the movie weaker. In spite of this, overall it was an interesting movie, and the actors did a really good job.

This movie was wonderful. It had you guessing the whole time and changing your mind about what happened. I felt so sorry for Katie she wanted to tell the truth so that her family would still accept her and she could stay in the community but then Ellie wanted her to stand up for herself so that she wouldn't go to prison. When you thought you knew what happened the story changed just enough to make you change your mind. Mariska Hargitay and Alison Pill are great actresses. I have always loved Hargitay's work and can't wait to view more of Pill's work. I hope everyone else takes the time to watch this movie. Hope to see more movies like this soon.

I'd recommend reading the book before seeing this movie. I was extremely disappointed by the way the movie was portrayed. Aside from having some of the names & events changed, there was a lot missing. I would have preferred that this movie be made into a mini-series that encompassed the entire nature of the story. Specifically Ellie & Katie's relationship & how that came to develop throughout the story. By not reading the book 1st, the movie allows for one to be completely lost. I love Marishka Hargitay in L & O: SVU & she did a great job in this movie. I would have on the other hand found someone else to play the role of Katie other than Alison Pill. I believe too that she didn't do Jodi Picoult's work any justice. If I had to grade the movie it would be a D. I think even that's a little too kind...