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True Lies (1994)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Release Date:
15 July 1994 (USA)
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Tagline:
When he said I do, he never said what he did.
Plot:
When a secret agent learns of his wife's extra-marital affair, he pursues her and uses his intelligence resources in a job he kept secret from her. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar.
Another 6 wins
&
14 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(98 articles)
Another New Avatar Clip! Sam On The Run!
(From LatinoReview. 23 November 2009, 8:19 PM, PST)
Opinion In A Haystack: Eric Lichtenfeld Part 2
(From Quick Stop. 18 November 2009, 1:59 AM, PST)
(From LatinoReview. 23 November 2009, 8:19 PM, PST)
Opinion In A Haystack: Eric Lichtenfeld Part 2
(From Quick Stop. 18 November 2009, 1:59 AM, PST)
User Comments:
An extremely entertaining action movie that, for some reason, I like but don't love.
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US TV Schedule:
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Arnold Schwarzenegger | ... | Harry Tasker |
 | Jamie Lee Curtis | ... | Helen Tasker |
 | Tom Arnold | ... | Albert Gibson |
 | Bill Paxton | ... | Simon |
 | Charlton Heston | ... | Spencer Trilby |
 | Tia Carrere | ... | Juno Skinner |
 | Art Malik | ... | Salim Abu Aziz |
 | Eliza Dushku | ... | Dana Tasker |
 | Grant Heslov | ... | Faisil |
 | Marshall Manesh | ... | Jamal Khaled |
| James Allen | ... | Colonel |
| Dieter Rauter | ... | Boathouse Guard (as Deiter Rauter) |
| Jane Morris | ... | Janice |
| Katsy Chappell | ... | Allison |
 | Crystina Wyler | ... | Charlene |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
141 min
Country:
Colour:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) |
Dolby Digital (35 mm prints)
Certification:
Finland:K-16 (original rating) |
Iceland:14 (original rating) |
Iceland:16 (video rating) |
Hungary:16 |
New Zealand:M |
Brazil:14 |
Portugal:M/12 |
France:U |
Netherlands:12 |
South Korea:12 (cable rating) |
Argentina:16 |
Australia:M |
Canada:13+ (Quebec) |
Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) |
Canada:AA (Ontario) |
Canada:PG (Manitoba) |
Chile:14 |
Denmark:15 |
Finland:K-14 |
Germany:16 |
Netherlands:16 (original rating) (cinema release) |
Norway:18 |
Peru:14 |
Singapore:PG |
South Korea:15 |
Spain:18 |
Sweden:15 |
USA:R |
UK:15 (cut)
Filming Locations:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The appearance and traits of Spencer Trilby (Charlton Heston) is based on Nick Fury, a Marvel Comics character. Like Fury, Trilby has an eye-patch and the same mannerisms as well as heading a peacekeeping organization.
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Goofs:
Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Helen tells Aziz that Harry can't ID the warhead, Aziz says "If you are wrong about him, the last thing you see will be your blood spraying across his face." This suggests that, if Harry IS a spy and can ID the bomb (Helen being wrong), Aziz will kill her. He should have said, "If you are RIGHT about him..."
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Quotes:
Harry:
So who are you working on right now?
Simon: I always got a few on the line. But there's this one chick I got right now. I got her panting like a dog. Its great.
Harry: What does she do?
Simon: Some sort of legal secretary. Married to some boring jerk.
Harry: Married to some boring jerk.
Simon: Aww, but she could be so hot if she wanted to. She's like all these babes, you get their pilot lit, they could suck start a leafblower. And she's got the most incredible body too and a pair of titties that make you wanna stand up and beg for buttermilk. Ass like a ten year old boy! AHAHAHAHA!
[...]
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Simon: I always got a few on the line. But there's this one chick I got right now. I got her panting like a dog. Its great.
Harry: What does she do?
Simon: Some sort of legal secretary. Married to some boring jerk.
Harry: Married to some boring jerk.
Simon: Aww, but she could be so hot if she wanted to. She's like all these babes, you get their pilot lit, they could suck start a leafblower. And she's got the most incredible body too and a pair of titties that make you wanna stand up and beg for buttermilk. Ass like a ten year old boy! AHAHAHAHA!
[...]
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Movie Connections:
Featured in This Film Is Not Yet Rated (2006)
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Soundtrack:
Darkness Darkness
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FAQ
What is the name of the music played during the tango scenes in the movie?Will There be a True Lies II?
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*** out of ****
I've seen True Lies at least four times now, and every time I find myself having a great time watching this first-rate action/comedy/thriller. But it's a movie that I can't muster more than passable (but occasionally fairly ecstatic) enthusiasm for. It's a very good action movie, and I can certainly see how it's attained a reputation as one of the best adrenaline-pumping rides of the 90's, but it's not great.
What True Lies has is one of the more ingenious action movie premises I've seen. Arnold Schwarzenegger is Harry Tasker, a husband (to Jamie Lee Curtis) and father (to Eliza Dushku) by day, and world-saving CIA agent by night (or day, it depeneds). His latest assignment puts him on the case of a mad Islamic terrorist called Aziz, who's retrieved several nuclear warheads and plans to set them off on U.S. soil if his group's demands are not met. Complicating matters for Harry is the inclusion of his wife, Helen, whom he believes is having an affair with a used car salesman (Bill Paxton, in what's got to be his funniest performance).
In terms of pure escapist enjoyment, this is actually James Cameron's most successful film. True Lies is probably the only Cameron film that never suffers from the slightest hiccup in pacing (yes, Aliens had a slow beginning and viewing The Abyss was like watching molasses sliding down a brick wall). From beginning to end, there's not a single slow spot, as you can expect either a sharply staged action sequence or comical setpiece around every corner. To keep such momentum up for 141 minutes is pretty damn amazing, and Cameron must be given credit for making such a long movie almost so effortlessly enjoyable.
But for all that is so enjoyable about it, True Lies lacks a strong plot (in terms of action, as the romantic subplot is actually quite excellent). The villains are stereotypical terrorists, pure cartoons who don't even make an impression as cool villains. In his heyday, Arnold has battled tons of memorable villains (T-1000 and the Predator stand out), the terrorists here are clearly among the weakest of Arnold's foes to date.
The action is suitably over-the-top, especially the harrier jet climax, which makes almost all the action that came before it believable in comparison. But the action is mostly excellent, the shootouts and fistfights are exciting, there's plenty of cliffhanger thrills, and the chase/catfight set on the lengthy bridge is classic.
The movie has to keep a balance between strong violence and screwball humor, which it pulls off very well. The half-hour segment devoted entirely to Harry's marital problems is hilarious, its only flaw being the abrupt segue to "typical" Arnold action. Even when Arnold's taking down massive armies of terrorists, Cameron still maintains the same light tone evident during the comical scenes, while still keeping the action thrilling. That's quite an accomplishment.
The cast is all excellent, given the material and intent. Schwarzenegger is still the extremely likeable big lug. These roles aren't a stretch for him, but he excels at such parts because he radiates charisma like no other actor (even if they may all be better than him when it comes to talent). As the comic relief, Tom Arnold is surprisingly very funny (since then, it hasn't been so surprising as he's actually provided decent humor in those Andrzej Bartkowiak films, or however you spell the guy's name). Jamie Lee Curtis is wonderful, too, and I've never been a big fan of hers. Without a doubt, this is easily her most winning performance.
One of the big box-office hits of 1994, I was surprised to see True Lies didn't inspire any genuine imitators. Just as well, I suppose, there's only so much Bond "parody" you can see without the material getting tiresome (Austin Powers, anyone?). But True Lies' charms lies in that it works as parody while still excelling as a straight action thriller. When it comes to pure direction, that's proof James Cameron can be a genius.