Movies/Scenes
Representing Truthfulness
- Memento (2000)
- Memento raises questions about the nature of truth. Can we create our own truths? If we believe something totally, does it become true? (Darrel Manson, Hollywood Jesus review)
- Boiler Room (2000)
- "You can be anyone you want to be when you sell on the phone."
- Snow Falling on Cedars
(1999)
- This is a mystery, murder and love story folded together. It deals with forbidden love between a boy who is Caucasian and a girl who is Japanese just after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The theological themes running through it have to do with honesty, truth, integrity and honor. Prejudice impacts the solving of the unexplained death of a fisherman and the Japanese fisherman who is on trial for his murder. One man uncovers evidence that could mean life or death for the accused. He wrestles with his conscience and his unresolved feelings for the woman he still loves. A powerful story! (Sheila Cody)
- The Confession (1999)
- "People who merely tell the truth are understood to be insane."
- Jakob the Liar (1999)
- Jakob's lies give hope. "Sometimes hope is more important than food."
- Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
- Alice's confessions to her husband were the truth, but did not promote intimacy or communication between them.
- Waking Ned Divine
(1998)
- Ned's community attempts to cover up Ned's death in order to receive his lottery money.
- The Postman (1997)
- The Legend the Postman creates of a re-formed United States (and President Richard Starkey!) gives the people hope. (DVD Chapter 22)
- Liar Liar (1997)
- Jim Carrey's character keeps promising his son things but never comes through, eventually his son makes a wish that his dad couldn't lie anymore. (Rick Patterson, Olathe KS)
- The Spitfire Grill (1996)
- A Time to Kill (1996)
- Jake Tyler Brigance: What is it in us that seeks the truth? Is it our minds or is it our hearts?
- Jerusalem (1996)
- This movie has the aura of an Ingmar Bergman production, with a series of twists and turns in the plot and thought-provoking motifs. It is based on the novel by Selma Lagerlof, and portrays Swedish peasant life around the turn of the 20th Christian viewers of this movie will likely be interested in the themes of: mainline versus apocalyptic-sectarian faith, authority and power, discerning the truth, suffering and sacrifice, love and forgiveness. I highly recommend Jerusalem because of theological grist for the the mill that it provides. (The Rev. Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson)
- Courage Under Fire
(1996)
- I think "Courage Under Fire," the story of the investigation of a woman officer for the Medal of Honor, would qualify for this category. The entire movie is a study in Truth and is an excellent movie to discuss with youth/college groups in regard to "the truth shall make you free." (Pamela Thiede, Otterbein, Indiana)
- Dead Man Walking (1995)
- Poncelet finds freedom when he accepts and admits the truth about his responsibility for the murders.
- Six Degrees of
Separation (1993)
- Paul gives hope, though it is through his own dishonesty. "He opened up a whole new world to us. That's all anyone wants, isn't it?" (DVD ch 20)
- A Few Good Men (1992)
- The colonel feels that he should allow and even encourage whatever abuse or mistreatment is needed among the soldiers he commands to ensure that they are obedient and ready to fight and win at any cost. He believes that The Truth in this case is what allows ordinary women and men and children to enjoy their freedom in the US. He views the attorney (played by Cruise) and actually all of us as naive and innocent as we in the US are kept safe from what he sees as a savage and brutal world waiting to pounce at any time. (Fred Kane)
- Red Rock West (1992)
- Michael tries to be honest, and he loses a job because of it. So, he lies in order to get the next job. He spends the rest of the movie dealing with the increasingly complex consequences of his momentary lack of integrity.
- Crimes and
Misdemeanors (1989)
- "And if all your faith is wrong, Saul. What
if..."
"Then I'll still have a better life than all of those that doubt."
"Are you telling me that you prefer God to the truth?"
"If necessary, I always choose God over truth."
- "And if all your faith is wrong, Saul. What
if..."
- Yentl (1983)
- Yentl/Anshel: Why is it people who want the truth never believe it when they hear it?
- Apocalypse Now (1979)
- Willard: "It's a way we had over here with living with ourselves. We cut 'em in half with a machine gun and give'em a Band-Aid. It was a lie. And the more I saw them, the more I hated lies."
