DVD When Regina Lambert is informed that her husband Charlie has been murdered, she soon discovers there was far more to him than he ever let on.
Details
Whilst contemplating ending her marriage to Charlie, Regina Lambert takes a short break in Martinique. On returning to Paris she bumps into Joshua Peters, the same man she met on the beach, and when her husband fails to collect her from the airport she accepts a lift home. Upon entering her apartment she finds it completely empty - no furniture, no pictures, not even curtains. Matters deteriorate further when the police arrive to inform her that Charlie has been murdered and their bank accounts have been emptied.
Forced into playing detective, Regina becomes immersed in the suspicious circumstances surrounding her husband's death. It soon emerges that Charlie was not the simple art dealer she believed she had married. She also becomes the target of a ruthless gang demanding the return of $6 million they claim Charlie stole. Amid the confusion, she is rejoined by her holiday acquaintance and US government agent Mr. Bartholomew, who reveals that Charlie had been leading a dangerous double life.
With Bartholomew's help, Regina uncovers even more unsettling truths about Charlie's past and the gang pursuing her. However, as revelations mount, she realises that Joshua may not be who he claims to be either. To complicate matters further, Commandant Dominique is convinced Regina herself may be responsible for her husband's death. With suspicion lurking at every turn, trust becomes a luxury she can ill afford.
Picture & Sound
The picture is crisp and clear throughout but noticeably lacks vibrancy. Whilst this muted palette may be deliberate in the rain-soaked backstreets and shadowy interiors of Paris, it feels equally flat during the supposedly sun-drenched scenes in Martinique - which appear closer to a damp day in Blackpool than the Caribbean. Thankfully, the transfer is free from artefacting and edge enhancement, and the print shows no signs of scratches or blemishes. On a positive note, The Truth About Charlie features imaginative cinematography, and there are clear stylistic nods to the likes of Alfred Hitchcock from director Jonathan Demme.
The soundtrack is reasonably dynamic, with clear dialogue anchored in the centre channel. The LFE channel is barely noticeable, and surround usage is modest, largely reserved for the musical score. Given that this is primarily a dialogue-driven thriller - complete with a variety of accents to decipher - the restrained sound design is not necessarily a drawback.
Menu & Extras
The menu system is pleasantly animated, featuring clips from the film accompanied by its catchy theme music. Unfortunately, that's where the effort ends. There are no extras whatsoever - not even a theatrical trailer. In today's well-established DVD market, "scene access" hardly qualifies as bonus material. It's surprising that a title of this profile was not afforded at least minimal supplementary content. Perhaps the decision was simply to release it at the lowest possible production cost.
Overall
The Truth About Charlie is a remake of the 1963 thriller Charade, starring Carey Grant and Audrey Hepburn. Rather than a scene-for-scene recreation, it takes a modernised approach similar to remakes such as Ocean's Eleven and The Thomas Crown Affair. However, one is left questioning whether this particular remake was necessary, especially when compared with the charm and chemistry of the original. Grant and Hepburn it most certainly does not replace.
Even viewed independently of Charade, the film struggles to fully convince. There are more double-crosses than a noughts and crosses convention to satisfy any thriller fan, but when twists become too frequent they lose their impact. Eventually, the constant reversals make it difficult to invest in any character's motivations.
It's also hard to ignore the uneven performances. Whilst Mark Wahlberg and Tim Robbins lend some Hollywood weight, the film never quite gels. Thandie Newton, despite her striking screen presence and promising performance in Mission: Impossible II, delivers an unconvincing turn here that ultimately undermines the tension. As a result, what should have been a stylish thriller feels oddly disjointed.
Coupled with the complete absence of extras, this makes the disc a difficult purchase to recommend. Particularly so when the Region 1 release includes the original Charade, an audio commentary, deleted scenes and a making-of featurette. A missed opportunity indeed.
Special features
- None
