Truth - B-

Rated R, 125 minutes

One of journalism's broad responsibilities is to tell the truth, which can carry some heavy consequences with it either way. That and more is explored in the true story of the last days of Dan Rather and his well-meaning producer, the uneven but compelling, well-acted journalism drama "Truth," directed and written by "The Amazing Spider-Man" scribe James Vanderbilt. On the morning of September 9, 2004, veteran CBS News producer Mary Mapes (Cate Blanchett) believed she had every reason to feel proud of a broadcast journalism job well done, producing a story that shed light into then-President George W. Bush's military record. By the end of the day, Mapes, CBS News, and the venerable CBS News anchor Dan Rather (Robert Redford) would be under harsh scrutiny. If you know anything about the Killian documents controversy that came in the final months of the 2004 U.S. Presidential Election, you know it didn't end well for Mapes or Rather (along with others), who lost their jobs over the situation. Based on Dallasite Mapes's non-fiction novel "Truth and Duty," the modestly engrossing but occasionally preachy "Truth" is most memorable for the acting, primarily an engaging Blanchett as Mapes, who this story is really about; Redford's is solid as Rather, and while it's the more high-profile due to Rather's high-profile job as news anchor, he's more of a figurehead and scapegoat for Mapes and her team, an instance of killing the messenger as well as those who developed the story. Redford's weathered look is an advantage here as Rather, and while it's not a direct impersonation of Rather in that it lacks his speech and mannerisms, it captures his commitment to a good story. The strong supporting cast, including Dennis Quaid, James Keach, Elisabeth Moss, Bruce Greenwood and Topher Grace all have a few good moments in spite of Vanderbilt's penchant for a handful of preachy monologues about truth and journalistic integrity, in an effort perhaps to be the next "All the President's Men," which ironically also starred Redford. "Truth" is also somewhat of a misleading title, given the outcome the story and that the documents in question were never proved to be authentic - or fake - for that matter; also, it proves to execute a truly great story, you must have strong storytelling and journalistic qualities, which, in spite of what the movie says, perhaps didn't happen in an effort to get the story to air. Even with its flaws, "Truth" is worth a look for strong performances, from both Blanchett and Redford, both of whom make the movie worth watching.