True Colors (1991)
Average Rating: 4.9/10
Reviews Counted: 15
Fresh: 7 | Rotten: 8
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: 3.3/10
Critic Reviews: 5
Fresh: 0 | Rotten: 5
No consensus yet.
liked it
Average Rating: 3/5
User Ratings: 4,853
My Rating
Movie Info
John Cusack and James Spader play against type in Kevin Wade's morality play, directed by Herbert Ross. Spader plays Tim Gerrity, a well-heeled WASP blueblood, who has dedicated his life to justice and public service. Engaged to Diana Stiles (Imogene Stubbs), the daughter of a powerful senator (Richard Widmark), Tim seems to have a rosy future ahead of him. Enter Peter Burton (John Cusack), Peter's working-class roommate at the University of Virginia. Peter, a ravenous and devouring go-getter,
Mar 15, 1991 Wide
Aug 20, 2002
Paramount Home Video
Watch It Now
Cast
-
John Cusack
Peter Burton -
James Spader
Tim Garrity -
Imogen Stubbs
Diana Stiles -
Mandy Patinkin
John Palmeri -
Richard Widmark
Senator James B. Stiles -
Dina Merrill
Joan Stiles -
Philip Bosco
Senator Steubens -
Paul Guilfoyle
John Lawry -
Richard G. Adee
Palmeri's First Mate -
Bev Appleton
Professor Houseman -
Steve Aronson
Miami Reporter -
Russell Dennis Baker
Todd -
John Tucker Battle
Burton Campaign Aide -
Sally Beckner
Miami Reporter -
Julian Bell
Anchorman -
Joshua Billings
Justice Department Aide -
Sue Boyd
Senior Supporter -
Donald Campen Jr.
Campaign Aide -
Tony Carlin
Tony -
Timothy Chambers
FBI Agent -
Philip Coccioletti
Carl -
Lisa Cooley
Stile's Secretary -
Kim Criswell
Campus Radical -
O. Dewayne "Bart" Davis
Campaign Reporter -
Ernie Dunn
Campaign Aide -
Tom Ellis
FBI Agent -
Ronnie Farer
Justice Department Agen... -
Rhonda Fitzgerald
Justice Secretary -
Tom Sean Foley
Ken -
Mike Fowler
Burton Campaign Aide -
Anthony Fusco
Sam Minot -
Peter Hackes
Dr. Burt Tuck -
R.M. Haley
FBI Agent -
Thomas Hauff
Detective -
Anne H. Hill
Campaign Aide -
Sam Hoffman
B.J. -
Chester Holt
Senior Supporter -
Karen Jablons-Alexander
Store Clerk -
Larry Joshua
David -
Mary Mara
Sophia Palmeri -
Joe Mattys
Tux Shop Owner -
Bruce McCarty
Mark -
Don McManus
Stubblefield -
Mary McMillan
Campaign Reporter -
Steve Morley
Justice Department Aide -
Rende Rae Norman
Fanne -
Wendee Pratt
Janine -
Antonia Rey
Soledad -
Ed Sala
Lackerby Aide -
Brad Sullivan
Abernathy -
Frank Hoyt Taylor
Senator Lackerby -
Sam Wells
Miami Reporter -
Scott Wickware
Detective -
Michael Kennedy
Miami Reporter -
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All Critics (18) | Top Critics (7) | Fresh (7) | Rotten (8) | DVD (4)
True Colors apparently thinks it is exposing the values of the greedy 1980's. Yet its own understanding of moral conduct is warped.
Top CriticWhile it aspires to lofty heights, it never really goes much beyond the rules of behavior prescribed by the Boy Scout Handbook.
Requires more than the willing suspension of disbelief; it demands a willful abandonment of incredulity.
The painstakingly obvious screenplay by Kevin Wade (Working Girl) plays like an eighth-grade civics primer: ethics and morality are good, greed and corruption are bad.
Diverting political melodrama, but shouldn't Cusack and Spader have switched roles?
A case study of the dire effects of an individual's lack of ethical standards.
Much of the film's entertainment value lies in watching two familiar guys (Cusack and Spader) playing switcheroo with their stock roles, but the movie is more than just effective 'gimmick casting'.
Audience Reviews for True Colors
Super Reviewer
DIRECTED BY: Herbert Ross
Best friends from law school to election night, their friendship is sorely tested when one learns of another's betrayal.
It was a good movie with great performances from Cusack and Spader. At times I found myself thinking that the roles should be switched around. So use to seeing Spader playing the -excuse the language- asshole, and Cusack playing the good guy. But in the end it worked. It got a little boring at times and seemed to drag a bit in the middle, but the ending was where it got really interesting. Especially the play-out of there friendship. So it's well worth the watch. Or you can watch it for the simple fact that I did. I am a fan of both the leads and it was good seeing them in a movie together.
Super Reviewer
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