Not to go all OT here, but we could probably devote an entire thread just to a discussion of how "true" movies that are "true stories" really are. ILYPM is not, after all, a documentary.
Yes, but I also read the book. The movie scenes pretty much holds true to what the book said as well. I mean you could also argue that what Russell says in the book is also untrue, the author had his own doubts -
one of my favorite quotes from the book - I need to put it in the favorite book/movies quotes thread, or maybe I already have? - is when the sheriff of Harris county says "If Steven Russell tells you the sun is shining, I suggest you go outside and see for yourself if that big yellow thing that hurts your eyes is in the sky."
- so the author also checked records, interviewed members of law enforcement, Steven Russell's family, friends and Phillip Morris and pretty much corroborated most of what Russell claimed.
Not to say the movie wasn't Hollywoodized, obviously they always are in some way or other, but for the most part, it's pretty close. I think Segal just wanted to air his grievances about gay movies in general and made ILYPM his scapegoat even though it doesn't really support his stance.