A Dark Truth
By S. Jhoanna Robledo,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Generic thriller has plenty of dead bodies, few surprises.
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What's the Story?
Jack Begosian (Andy Garcia), a former CIA operative with a mysterious history, is persuaded to come out of retirement to rescue a South American eco-activist (Forest Whitaker) who has evidence that a multinational corporation massacred an entire village to cover up a deadly design flaw. The ruthless executives will stop at nothing to hide the truth, but Begosian hopes that exposing them will help him atone for past misdeeds.
Is It Any Good?
A DARK TRUTH is a standard-issue thriller, with villains straight from central casting. There's the suit-wearing corporate guy with a clenched jaw who won't let anything derail his big deal; there's the slightly unhinged underling who's willing to do whatever it takes; oh, and don't forget about the violently corrupt South American general. And it's not just the baddies who are familiar; the main character is the requisite quiet loner who cares about protecting the underdog and exposing the truth ... and who just happens to be a trained CIA field agent, now retired.
What A Dark Truth lacks is originality and suspense. It's pretty easy to spot the people who won't make it all the way to the final credits, and is there really any doubt what will happen to the nasty executives? The action sequences aren't especially exciting, and the talking scenes are filled with cliched dialog. Garcia is particularly wooden on screen (a surprise considering how gifted he is as an actor); someone should have told him that he doesn't need to be completely monotone and devoid of emotion to play the strong, silent type. It makes him look bored, rather than imposing.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about A Dark Truth's message. Do you think corporate executives in the real world are willing to go as far as the ones in this movie when it comes to maximizing profits?
Is it always important to do the right thing in the face of deception? Can you think of other movies with this theme?
Why did Jack leave the CIA? And what motivates him to take this job?
Movie Details
- In theaters: January 4, 2013
- On DVD or streaming: March 5, 2013
- Cast: Andy Garcia, Eva Longoria, Forest Whitaker
- Director: Damian Lee
- Inclusion Information: Latinx actors, Black actors
- Studio: Magnolia Pictures
- Genre: Thriller
- Run time: 106 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: violence and disturbing images
- Last updated: July 1, 2022
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