Trading masterful comedy for murder mystery in "True Story"

Oscar nominees Jonah Hill and James Franco star opposite each other in "True Story," the real-life tale of disgraced New York Times reporter Michael Finkel, who discovers that a man accused of killing his family, Christian Longo, has been using his identity.

Most expect a film by the two witty actors to be comedic, but this flick has a different feel, reports "CBS This Morning" co-host Gayle King.

Franco plays the convicted killer, and said Longo is one of the worst characters he's ever portrayed. It was Longo's emotionless testimony that affected him.

"As an actor, there's the, you know, the belief that you don't want to judge the character when you're playing it; that you want to engage emotionally with the character," Franco said. "But with this character, I found on set, like, I just found myself emotionally detached. Like, 'God, this guy is such a creep.'"

Hill plays Finkel, the reporter who destroyed his own career and sees the discovery of Longo as an opportunity.

"What was interesting is, you know, Mike Finkel, who at the time is 29, had 11 covers of New York Times Magazine and he got busted for making up some facts, and he was really disgraced and at his lowest point," Hill said.

"You learn a lot about some one, about how they deal with a situation of things falling apart," he added.

Hill also said meeting the real-life Finkel was important.

"It's actually been real -- I've played a bunch of real-life people now. And usually, they're furious that I'm playing them," Hill said.

He said he doesn't know why that's the case.

"But also in both cases you have to imagine, 'Brad Pitt's playing this guy, Leonardo DiCaprio is playing this guy. Who's playing me?' And that was always my joke. But Mike Finkel was always very supportive of me playing him. He was excited that I was playing him," Hill said.

This isn't the only collaboration between Hill and Franco. They first worked together in the all-star comedy "This is the End," and the two have been real-life friends for almost a decade.

Franco said they met on the set of "Superbad."

"I saw him do that scene with Emma Stone where he was drunk and trying to kiss her. I was there that day," he said.

Hill said at that point, meeting other actors still felt new.

"He came to set, and I remember, like, none of us had ever really been in movies and James was the only guy who had actually been in movies. So we were, like, 'Wow. James Franco's here,"' Hill said.

Franco starred in "The Interview." The film's plot about killing North Korean leader Kim Jong Un led to an international controversy and limited release by Sony Pictures.

With that stressful time behind him, Franco is relieved and glad it turned out the way it did.

"I'm glad it got out. I really don't think we were being irresponsible. It's not like we were going out on a limb saying that, you know, he's a bad dude," Franco said. "I think most people, you know, internationally around the world-- you know, kind of agree, like, there's some bad stuff going on over there."

Hill, on the other hand, has yet to deal with such a public controversy about one of his projects.

"I know the intentions of these guys that are just trying to make a funny movie," Hill said. "To me, it just felt like, 'Wow, it's scary, and I just hope all of my friends come out feeling OK."'

While Hill and Franco have both enjoyed great success on-screen, they share the desire to work behind the camera.

Hill said he's interested in directing.

"I just think there's no more personal way to tell a story than being the filmmaker," Hill said. "You know, as an actor, you get to be, really supporting the part of someone else's vision and you can add personal layers to it, but I still feel I've never been in a movie that was about what I was feeling."

Right now, Franco is directing a movie in which Robert Duvall stars.

"I'm a little nervous," Franco said. "I've acted in his movie, so now he can act in my movie."

While both Franco and Hill said they're happy with their lives, Hill said he wouldn't mind growing a few inches.

"I feel very lucky. I feel like I have a lot of things that I want. I wouldn't mind being a bit taller," Hill said. "I've always wanted to be, like, a very tall person. And I don't know if it's going to happen," he laughed. "Unfortunately. But I'm pretty good. I'm pretty happy."