Screenwriter James Vanderbilt's most acclaimed film to date was Zodiac, in which Jake Gyllenhaal goes on an obsessive quest for answers about the infamous serial killer. Vanderbilt treads similar territory with his directorial debut, Truth, which is based on 60 Minutes producer Mary Mapes' book about her part in the "Rathergate" scandal that destroyed her career along with that of legendary news man, Dan Rather. The film, which stars Cate Blanchett and Robert Redford, centers on their equally-dogged quest to gain some honest answers about former President George W. Bush's military service. It's a film that examines the state of journalism today, and what the current definition of "truth" really is.
I had a chance to sit down and talk with Vanderbilt about Truth, his reasons for tackling such a hot-button political issue, and of course the casting of Blanchett and Redford. Check out that interview below and find my review of the film here.
