In a career littered with iconic and game-changing movies, James Cameron's action-comedy, True Lies, often gets lost in the shuffle. He's known for some of cinema's biggest hits. He's spawned franchises that stretch across time in more ways than one. James Cameron is certainly one of Hollywood's elite filmmakers.
With that said, it's somewhat surprising that a James Cameron film featuring his trademark epic storytelling, and one of the biggest movie stars of the 1990s, doesn't get brought up too often these days. Rarely compared with the likes of Avatar and Titanic, and lacking the longevity of The Terminator, the truth is that True Lies deserves another look.
10 The Cast Is Stacked With An Array Of A-Listers & Award Winners
The award-winning director has often utilized excellent casting throughout his career, and True Lies is no exception to this rule. Stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jamie Lee Curtis, Tom Arnold, Bill Paxton, and Tia Carrere were all nominated for their performances in the film, with Jamie Lee Curtis winning a Golden Globe.
The movie also features big-screen icon Charlton Heston in the twilight of his 60-year career in Hollywood.
9 It Features A Typically Great Brad Fiedel Score
Best known for creating the iconic Terminator theme, Brad Fiedel has also crafted excellent musical accompaniments for such films as Fright Night and Blue Steel. A master of the synthesizer, he collaborated with James Cameron on multiple films.
His hard-hitting True Lies score raises the film's many action set pieces to thrilling heights, whilst he adds weight to the movie's romance with beautiful keyboard compositions. Perhaps his time as a keyboard man for the legendary pop duo, Hall And Oates lent him the skills he needed to truly perfect a love song.
8 It's The Highest Grossing R-Rated Movie Of 1994
R-Rated movies tend to make studios a little nervous, but with James Cameron at the helm, and his past successes taken into account, the only question they really had was how much money could True Lies make?
The film opened at number one and would go on to gross 378 million dollars worldwide, beating out Speed for top-earning R-Rated movie of the year, and leaving True Lies in third altogether, behind only The Lion King and Forrest Gump. Not a bad year for cinema-goers.
7 It's Part Of The Cameron-Schwarzenegger Trilogy
With a working relationship lasting decades, Arnold Schwarzenegger and James Cameron remain friends to this day. Their original outing together, The Terminator, made both men household names, whilst the follow-up, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, cemented the pair as all-time greats in Hollywood.
James Cameron trusted Arnold Schwarzenegger as his leading man once again. True Lies proved another winning team-up for the director and actor collaborators, capping off a trilogy of sorts that holds up as a must-watch for fans of either.
6 The Screenplay is Expertly Written By James Cameron Himself
Aliens was proof that James Cameron could take an existing franchise and switch things up with great results. A remake of the French comedy film, La Totale!, True Lies would be James Cameron's first attempt at reimagining a single film.
Initially hesitant due to his inexperience in writing comedy, James Cameron hired writers to tackle the script. After reading their work, he decided the results weren't funny enough, so he took on the job himself. The finished script is almost all James Cameron's work, with only a few of the original jokes remaining.
5 It Was The First 100 Million Dollar Movie
James Cameron likes to break a record or two, even when it's his own. At the time, True Lies had a production budget of 100 million dollars, making it the most expensive movie ever made, and breaking the record that James Cameron had previously set himself with Terminator 2: Judgement Day.
The cinematography, the all-star cast, the action set-pieces, it's all part of the big-budget brilliance. The Kevin Costner starring Waterworld would break the record one year later.
4 It Has A Wide Array Of Stunning Visual Effects
Though True Lies is the only James Cameron-directed movie to be nominated for the Best Visual Effects Oscar and not win, a nomination is still a fantastic achievement. True Lies uses a wide range of photographic tricks, and it features some wonderfully imaginative examples of miniature effects.
The bridge destruction scene in particular left audiences amazed. True Lies was the first major production under effects company Digital Domain, a company co-founded by James Cameron himself.
3 James Cameron's Direction Is Flawless
True Lies is essentially business as usual for the Canadian director. His expert ability to command a movie is on full show, juggling action, romance, and comedy seemingly with ease.
Though True Lies didn't receive as many award wins as some of James Cameron's more famous outings, he did take home a Saturn Award for Best Director. And the nominations for his cast speak volumes when it comes to James Cameron's ability to get the best out of his performers.
2 It Features A Brilliant Performance From Jamie Lee Curtis
Jamie Lee Curtis made audiences and critics sit up and take notice of her Golden Globe-winning performance in True Lies. Her commitment to the role of Helen Tasker earned her rave reviews and even impressed co-star Arnold Schwarzenegger to the point that he agreed to share top billing with her, something his contract ensured he was never forced to do without his choosing.
James Cameron auditioned many actresses for the part, but it was Jamie Lee Curtis's turn in A Fish Called Wanda that led to James Cameron casting her in True Lies.
1 It Showcases Some Of The Most Mindblowing & Ground Breaking Stunt Work Of The 1990s
Limos plunging into the ocean, high-speed helicopter rescues, and a fighter jet doubling as a safety net, James Cameron pushed the limits of movie making in True Lies. Never one to back down from a challenge, he had many elaborate sets built to pull off the film's most daring sequences, including a crane atop a skyscraper with a jet plane attached.
For added realism, James Cameron used actual military fighter planes. Three Marine Harriers were rented out for production, and as a sure relief for the stunt team, the rental came complete with real-life pilots.