Maybe this is a Hollywood version of a friendship but Aristotle would sniff at this.  Aristotle believes that friends must be peers.  One cannot have something to gain from another if they are to be friends.  Lopez saw Ayers as an interesting subject and moved heaven and earth to help him.  The latter actions are signs of true friendship - we would do anything to help a friend.  But to call this a peer relationship is to stretch this a bit.

In my book, Buddy System: Understanding male friendships, 400 men were interviewed and asked to define friendship.  Trust, loyalty, and dependability were the terms used.  While Lopez may be all these things to Ayers, the reverse is not the case in the movie (though it may be in real life - who knows?)  Can a reporter befriend a subject who will never be his peer? Sure - but is this the basis for a friendship? As long as Ayers continues to need assistance from Lopez and there continues to be a power imbalance, I would contend this is not a true friendship.