The
Truth About Charlie/Charade
(Universal Studios
Home Entertainment)
DVD
Release Date:
April
1, 2003
Length:
105 mins.
Rated:
PG-13
Format:
Widescreen (2.35:1)
Audio:
English
Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital mono, French Dolby
Digital 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital Surround
Subtitles:
English, French, Spanish
Extras:
Feature
Commentary with Director Jonathan Demme, Deleted Scenes, The
Making of The Truth About Charlie, Theatrical Trailer,
Production Notes, Cast and Filmmaker Biographies
Thandie Newton, who you may remember her
from MI:2, reprises the Audrey Hepburn role in this remake of the 1963
movie, "Charade". The movie is about Newton's character who
is suddenly widowed and begins to discover that her deceased husband
led a mysterious life of which she was unaware. Soon Newton is being
pursued by strangers claiming she has something her husband stole from
them. With the help of Mark Wahlberg (in the Cary Grant role), who
also has too many names to remember and an even more suspicious
character played by Tim Robbins, Newton attempts to solve the mystery
of her husband's sordid past.
Jonathan Demme directs the remake and states that he did so with a
bold new approach to stylizing suspense movies. Well, unless you find
the 'bat-angle' a suspenseful technique, this movie lacks any steady
pace to create a sense of tension. You remember the Batman TV series
and how the camera tilted on an angle in order to convey something
sinister was happening? Did you ever really find that suspenseful? If
not, then how can one find "The Truth About Charlie" a
suspenseful thriller in any way? In addition, with characters that
have very little likeability, and a muddled plot put together with a
dud of a climax, "The Truth About Charlie" isn't a very good
movie. Visually, the colors of the film are a little bland and many,
if not all of the scenes appear to be filmed on overcast days making
the DVD not particularly lively to watch. There are also very few
action sequences that require crafty sound editing to spice up the
film.
The special features have little to offer. The commentary with Demme
put me to sleep. Why not have more than one person doing the
commentary? It would make it a little more interesting to listen to.
The "Making of" featurette wasn't very exciting either.
Listening to Wahlberg and Demme state how this was Wahlberg's most
challenging role to date seemed like a hidden excuse to cover up the
uninspired performance in the movie. The DVD extras also include the
regulars - a trailer, production notes, biographies of cast and crew
and deleted scenes that deserved to be deleted.
On the flip side of the disc you'll find the original version of the
film titled "Charade". I'm not sure if it is considered a
special feature, but offering the original film is pretty much the
most original thing about this DVD.
"Charade" then, the original movie, stars Audrey Hepburn as
the widow thrown into solving the mysterious life of her dead husband.
Cary Grant plays the role of the suspicious stranger who offers his
help. One can't dislike Cary Grant. He is just too debonair. And
Audrey Heyburn has enough screen delicacy to still charm today's
modern audience. Also, there's enough sexual innuendo between the two
leads to carry the film all on its own, which is good considering the
'villains' in "Charade" (even the ever-cool Lee Marvin)
don't evoke any sense of danger. As a result, the movie is more
charming than it is suspenseful. It is worthwhile to watch if you like
older films. It is, however, better than "The Truth About
Charlie".
