The tagline for the new movie A Million Little Pieces is “You Must Forget Everything You Know to Reach a Higher Place”—but the controversy surrounding James Frey’s 2003 book still hasn’t faded from memory.
A trailer was released on August 8 for the film, which stars Kick-Ass’ Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Oscar-winner Billy Bob Thornton, Sons of Anarchy's Charlie Hunnam, Oscar-nominee Juliette Lewis, and Sneaky Pete’s Giovanni Ribisi.
The original book, in which Frey recounted a tale of alcoholism, drug addiction, and criminality, was initially marketed as a memoir. It went on to become a major bestseller and a 2005 Oprah’s Book Club selection. Then, the following year, the website The Smoking Gun published an extensive report (“A Million Little Lies”) alleging numerous fabrications in the text, and in a 2006 interview with Winfrey, Frey admitted that he had “altered” facts and characters in his work.
The film was first screened at the Toronto International Film Festival last September, and it will be released in the United Kingdom and Ireland on August 30. No date has yet been announced for an American release.
It’s directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, who’s best known for directing the 2015 film adaptation of E.L. James’ 2012 bestseller Fifty Shades of Grey; she’s also the spouse of actor Taylor-Johnson. Thornton plays the protagonist’s mobster friend Leonard, who was the focus of Frey’s 2005 follow-up My Friend Leonard—whose story the Smoking Gun report also called into doubt.
David Rapp is the senior Indie editor.
