Where the Truth Lies (Atom Egoyan) (V): ***
Clumsily written but stylishly directed and expertly acted mystery showcases Egoyan’s talents for sex — but it’s never sexy (which is emotionally truer during a ménage, don’t you think?) — and intrigue. It’s about a fictional, past-their-prime comedy duo (Colin Firth and Kevin Bacon) and a talented young journalist (Alison Lohman, unfairly derided by most critics, gives it her best shot) who wants to uncover the truth about their involvement in the death of a young college student 20 years earlier. Plenty of nudity and uninhibited rumpy-pumpy got it slapped with an NC-17, but it’s considerably sadder and gentler than you’d expect, and not the least bit erotic. The big reveal is a tad dissatisfying (as The Big Reveal always is), but the ending is poignant, and it’s a wonder to look at.
