Brainsbell
The story-telling is good with flashbacks.The film is both funny and heartbreaking. You smile in a scene and get a soulcrushing revelation in the next.
Deanna
There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.
Marva
It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,
adonis98-743-186503
A young woman in Paris is about to divorce her husband when she discovers... he's dead; and all their money is gone. She meets a mysterious man, who tells her that the money was really his, and he wants it back, seemingly convinced that she's hiding the cash. Meanwhile, more people end up dead... I knew that The Truth About Charlie was going to suck just by the way it starts it was very boring, dull and a cast of talented people were mostly wasted under a script that simply did not work for me and the fact that this film is 1 hour and 44 minutes and yet it feels like 3 hours was enough for me to rant about it.
winstonfg
There are some films that just shouldn't be re-made. Ben-Hur springs to mind, along with Metropolis, and probably the best of Bogie (with or without Bacall). This was another.I *think* Demme was trying to give Charade a new "voice", but he fails almost immediately by showing us Charles Lampert's demise; when in the original it was the fact that we DON'T know what happened to him that adds to the whole bewilderment for Regina - not to mention the loony (though menacing) baddies, and the bizarre ways they were bumped off.It's also arguable that the original wasn't worth repeating anyway since, at best, it was beautifully done piece of fluff with 3 stars - Hepburn, Grant and Paris - doing what they were known for and did best. This version is much darker, and so misses out on the stylish, chocolate-box feel of the original. Even Paris manages to look dismal.All of which is a great pity because Thandie Newton is a good actress, and was probably at her most gorgeous at this time. And with a lighter touch, Mark Wahlberg might have been given the chance to be the proper leading man he shows glimpses of.Lastly: No kid - who was *pivotal* (if somewhat annoying) in the original. The whole market scene was completely wasted. And boy, did I miss Henry Mancini.So, all in all: A disappointment - even though I'd read a few of the comments before I watched it, so I wasn't expecting much.Unfortunately, they were right.
Anamon
"The Truth About Charlie" is a completely unnecessary remake of the classic "Charade" (1963). While the thrilling espionage and deception plot of the original has been largely carried over, the few adjustments that were made to the story are implausible and arbitrary, and most of its favorite and memorable moments were omitted. The locations around France do create a charming atmosphere every now and then, but the actors keep the presentation even from reaching an average level. Although in the actors' defense, I have to say that anyone would have a hard time making such ridiculous dialog come across realistically. The interesting and fascinating character of Peter Joshua (portrayed in the original by Cary Grant) was watered down to a completely flat and dull figure that will bore you to death, and what Mark Wahlberg does with it is more helpless impersonation than it is acting. One of the other few strong points that I noticed was the soundtrack, which fits the mood nicely, incorporating tracks by artists such as De-Phazz, Asian Dub Foundation, and Gotan Project.Looking at it as just another movie, it receives a personal rating of 2 out of 10 points. But considering that this travesty calls itself a remake of "Charade" really tempts me to rate it even lower. However, it is not fair to relate a film to other works, so based on its own strengths and weaknesses, it has earned the second point. I was surprised to see such a weak production coming from Jonathan Lemme, who gave us titles like "The Silence of the Lambs" and "Philadelphia".I watched "The Truth About Charlie" because I'm a big fan of the original, and I was wondering what they did with the material. Now that I have seen it I can tell you that, should you feel the same urge, you can safely ignore it and just re-watch "Charade", which has not lost any of its charm in the last 40 years. The remake might in some way make you appreciate it even more, but it is not worth the two hours of your life that it will cost you.
RLARKT199
after seeing The Truth about Charlie,i don't think anyone would care. this,so called,remake of the classic,Charade,should not have been made.Charade had it all. Romance,intrigue,comedy,beautiful Paris settings,complimented with a Henri Mancini music score. The remake has none of the above. Dreary Paris settings,music score,nothing to rave about,Thandie Newton is no Audrey Hepburn and Mark Wahlberg is no Cary Grant. This film is not a complete waste. A OK film to watch if nothing else is available. The DVD that Universal has released,here in Canada and the U.S.A. has both editions. In this way you can compare which film is the best. I am sure,most people will prefer the original,Charade. After around 40 years,the original Charade,still stands out. No doubt it will become a classic.
