The Unbelievable Truth (1990)
- Starring:
- Adrienne Shelly, Robert John Burke, (more)
- Director(s):
- Hal Hartley
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
- Format(s):
- DVD
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Synopsis of The Unbelievable Truth
Writer-director Hal Hartley's first feature -- shot in less than 12 days in his backyard for a mere $200,000 -- is a dry and dark comedy about the dangerous undercurrents that exist below the surface of normal middle class existence. Over the credits, Josh (Robert Burke), a man garbed in black, is seen hitch-hiking back to his Long Island home. People ask him, "Are you a priest?" and Josh responds, "No. I'm a mechanic." Back in Long Island in the town of Lindenhurst, beautiful and somber 17-year-old Audry (Adrienne Shelly) is busy worrying about the forthcoming apocalypse. Josh arrives in Lindenhurst and is hired by Audry's father (Chris Cooke) as a mechanic at his garage. But Audry's father worries about him, particularly when he falls in love with Audry. Her father's problems compound when Audry dumps her old boyfriend and rejects an invitation to attend Harvard. The whole town is now gossiping about Audry's new boyfriend, with rumors spreading that Josh is a mass murderer who killed two members of the family of local waitress Pearl (Julia McNeal). Pearl tells Audry, "He seems like a nice man." Audry responds, "Even though he killed your father and your sister?" Audry finally makes her father happy when she tells him she won't see Josh again, but dad's relief is short-lived when Audry informs him she's moving to New York to become an underwear model. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 90 mins
Complete Cast of The Unbelievable Truth
- Adrienne Shelly - Audry Hugo
- Chris Cooke - Vic Hugo
- Gary Sauer - Emmet
- Katherine Mayfield - Liz Hugo
- Kelly Reichardt - His Wife
- Paul Schulze - Bill
- Mike Brady - Bob
- David Healy - Todd Whitbread
- Jeffrey Howard - Irate Driver
- Robert John Burke - Josh Hutton
- Julia McNeal - Pearl
- Mark Bailey - Mike
- Bill Sage - Gus
- Edie Falco - Jane (The Waitress)
- Ross Turner - Their Son
- Mary Flynn - Girl at Counter
- Tom Thon - News Vendor
- Matt Malloy - Otis
- Director(s):
- Hal Hartley
- Writer(s):
- Hal Hartley
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R(Profanity, Mild Violence, Adult Situations, Strong Sexual Content, Not For Children, Violence)
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