Back in 2001 Christian Longo's wife and three children were found dead in various locations, apparently murdered. Longo himself disappeared and was put on the "most wanted" list. He was found not long after in Mexico, he was claiming to be New York Times journalist Michael Finkel. In 2003 he was tried and found guilty, and sentenced to death. Now, 13 years later he apparently is still on death row.
This movie only treats the murders themselves in a very brief manner, does not dwell on them at all. Instead it focuses on the relationship Longo and Finkel developed. Finkel was a very recent journalistic outcast for having falsified a story about boys held into slavery and was desperately searching for redemption and also a nice paycheck. When Longo requested him, he was more than happy to meet him.
The best thing about this movie are the acting of Jonah Hill as Michael Finkel and James Franco as Christian Longo. Both actors have been in some very poor and stupid comedic roles but here they are straight dramatic roles and each handles it very nicely.
The story is interesting but the focus in on how Longo manipulated Finkel and how Finkel lapped it up. The movie is based on Finkel's own book and, coming off his disgrace for lying, I would presume it is mostly accurate.
Watched the DVD from my local public library. There are a couple of interesting extras and we see and hear Finkel himself.
This movie only treats the murders themselves in a very brief manner, does not dwell on them at all. Instead it focuses on the relationship Longo and Finkel developed. Finkel was a very recent journalistic outcast for having falsified a story about boys held into slavery and was desperately searching for redemption and also a nice paycheck. When Longo requested him, he was more than happy to meet him.
The best thing about this movie are the acting of Jonah Hill as Michael Finkel and James Franco as Christian Longo. Both actors have been in some very poor and stupid comedic roles but here they are straight dramatic roles and each handles it very nicely.
The story is interesting but the focus in on how Longo manipulated Finkel and how Finkel lapped it up. The movie is based on Finkel's own book and, coming off his disgrace for lying, I would presume it is mostly accurate.
Watched the DVD from my local public library. There are a couple of interesting extras and we see and hear Finkel himself.