Based on a True Story

2017

1h 40m

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

List

50%

Tomatometer

30 Reviews

37%

Audience Score

100+ Ratings

Although she is wading through her own personal crisis, a writer becomes involved with an obsessive admirer.

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Tommaso Tocci

indieWire

A stylish but ultimately stiff collection of old tropes about writers and their audience, fiction vs. reality, and the Other that becomes you.

Rated: C+

Jun 1, 2017

Full Review

Kaleem Aftab

Independent (UK)

For all its zest and pulp elements, this is a minor work from the Chinatown director. It is told too obviously and lacks any of the ambiguity found in the first-person novel.

Rated: 2/5

May 31, 2017

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Robbie Collin

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Nothing in this feeble psychological thriller rings true for a moment, though its unhinged machinations feel as pedestrian as soap opera in execution.

Rated: 1/5

May 29, 2017

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Benedict Seal

Vague Visages

Based on a True Story couldn’t be further from reality. At one point, Elle declares that people believe the printed word. You certainly won’t believe the film adaptation, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t some fun to be had on the way.

Dec 5, 2023

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Based on a True Story has the kind of conclusion that makes you want to go back and watch everything again, looking for clues in the performances or the subtle maneuvers of Pawel Edelman's camerawork

Rated: 3.5/4

Mar 3, 2022

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Mieke VanderBorght

Common Sense Media

Irritating psychological thriller has drinking, drug use.

Rated: 2/5

Nov 4, 2019

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hesiode b

Yet another insight into the hypnotic process of writing... or movie watching. It looks like a cliche, and you know it's Polanski, with a timeless quality, and pushed to the extreme. But it's so carefully unfolded, that you don't know when he caught you off guards. Critics don't like it, but I love that.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This is typical Polanski - it's a film that makes you think. Just about the opposite of most of the trash they produce in the United States.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

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Audience Member

I thought the movie was great but the book was better. Read the book. Delphine De Vigan is a great author

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

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matthew b

Yeah...I wasn't that obsess.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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william k

Well-staged intense psychological drama with a (predictable) twist can't avoid the impression one has already been here before, but the Seigner's and Green's performances are well worth the watch.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

(G) 7.3 [Roman Polanski]

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

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Roman Polanski

Director

Emmanuelle Seigner

Delphine Dayrieux

Eva Green

Elle

Vincent Perez

François

Dominique Pinon

Raymond

Camille Chamoux

Oriane, l'attachée de presse

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Synopsis

Although she is wading through her own personal crisis, a writer becomes involved with an obsessive admirer.

Director: Roman Polanski
Producer: Wassim Béji
Screenwriter: Roman Polanski, Olivier Assayas
Production Co: Wy Productions, Mars Films, R.P. Productions
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: French (France)
Runtime: 1h 40m