The Christian Longo trial was one of the most published murder cases in recent memory and had the nation waiting for a trial decision.

Based on Michael Finkel's celebrated novel, "True Story," directed by Rupert Goold depicts the courtroom drama that Longo went through and the relationship he formed with Finkel while on due process. The result is a finely crafted tense drama with fine performance by its cast.

The film tells the story of disgraced New York Times reporter Michael Finkel (Jonah Hill) who meets accused killer Christian Longo (James Franco), when he learns that Longo has been stealing his identity. When Finkel agrees to write a book about Longo, his investigation morphs into a game of cat-and-mouse.

Like the title suggests the movie deals with Truth and telling the most factually correct story. However, it is never clear who is actually telling the truth as both characters have different moral agendas. At the beginning of the film, Finkel is seen interviewing African children about the life style conditions they live in. When he publishes the article, his publishers find out that the story was fabricated and he is fired from the New York Times. However, it takes Finkel a couple of lies before he actually admits that his story was compiled from the lives of several individuals. Even when he is working on Longo's book, Finkel is convinced that Longo is innocent and he starts working on a book proving his innocence.

Longo himself also threads through a number of stories which all sound convincing. Not once in the film does one feel he is telling a lie because Franco's performance gives the character a sense of vulnerability and likability. During the climatic courtroom scene, Longo's accounts of the events are so convincing it is hard to get away from the fact that the story is a complete fabrication.

But the strength of the film is really in its performances. While it is Hill and Franco's movie, Felicity Jones steals the spotlight. While she has few scenes, her gestures are nuanced and ensuing tension between her character and Hill's Finkel becomes evident as they interact less with each passing scene and Jones gets fewer lines of dialogue. This is what makes her confrontation with Franco all the more powerful. Jones' actions remain subtle but it is through vocal inflections and her facial expression that she is able to showcase her disdain for Franco's Longo. It is a striking moment and probably one of the most memorable scenes in the film.

Franco's Longo is a sympathetic character who never really shows his true self. Goold focuses on Franco's facial expressions and while the actor can be a bit unsettling, his eyes give the opposite feeling. Franco is able to convincingly play the innocent and vulnerable character. It truly manipulates and creates the tense and eerie atmosphere.

Meanwhile, Hill showcases his dramatic skills in the film. One might struggle to empathize with his arrogance towards the beginning, but as the film develops and Hill's character begins working on the Longo case, the pride and arrogance starts to be displaced by vulnerability. Hill ultimately showcases a weakened character who has a hard time admitting he is wrong. The actor's best scenes are those with Franco as they both play off each other acutely. At the beginning of the film, there is a distance and discomfort in Hill's character but as their relationship develops, Hill's character becomes increasing comfortable and their conversations seems a bit more at ease.

This is definitely represented in the subtle way that Goold shoots the film. Since most of the movie is made up of close ups, Goold makes sure to show Hill and Franco's first encounters in medium close-up, representing the distance. However, as the film progresses, he uses the extreme close-up to show the development. The effect is interesting because even though there is a more comfortable relationship, the extreme closeness creates a sense of discomfort. Marco Beltrami's score made up of arpeggiated notes adds a pulsating beat to the film and heightens the tension.

All in all, "True Story" is a solid drama with some of the best performances from James Franco and Jonah Hill's respective careers.

Related