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True Confessions (1981)

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All Critics
Top Critics

Average Rating: 8.1/10
Reviews Counted: 11
Fresh: 8 | Rotten: 3

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 4
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 2

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Average Rating: 3.2/5
User Ratings: 2,389

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Movie Info

Adapted by John Gregory Dunne and Joan Didion from Dunne's novel, True Confessions uses the still-unsolved "Black Dahlia" murder as the foundation for a devastating attack on big-city corruption -- in which it appears that many of the perpetrators wear clerical collars. In, 1948 Los Angeles detective Tom Spellacy (Robert Duvall) is assigned to investigate the death of a priest, who apparently suffered a heart attack while being serviced by a prostitute. Meanwhile, Tom's brother, young Catholic

R, 1 hr. 48 min.

Mystery & Suspense, Drama

Directed By: Ulu Grosbard

Written By: John Gregory Dunne

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1981 Wide

On DVD: Apr 17, 2007

MGM

Cast

Robert De Niro
Des Spellacy
Robert Duvall
Tom Spellacy
Charles Durning
Jack Amsterdam
Ed Flanders
Dan T. Champion
Burgess Meredith
Seamus Fargo
Cyril Cusack
Cardinal Dansher
Rose Gregorio
Brenda Samuels
Kenneth McMillan
Frank Crotty
Dan Hedaya
Howard Terkel
Gwen Van Dam
Mrs. Fazenda
Tom Clarke Hill
Mr. Fazenda
Jeanette Nolan
Mrs. Spellacy
Jorge Cervera Jr.
Eduardo Duarte
Susan Myers
Bride
Louisa Moritz
Whore
Pat Corley
Sonny McDonough
Shelly Batt
Girl
Darwyn Carson
Lorna Keane
Amanda Cleveland
Lois Farenda
Frederic Cook
Brenda's trick
Matthew Faison
Reporter
Louise Fitch
Older nun
Richard Foronjy
Ambulance driver
Luisa Leschin
Towel Girl
Pierrino Mascarino
Suspect
Mary Munday
Nun
Steve Powers
Photographer
Ron Ryan
Detective
Ron Stein
Stuntman
Paul Valentine
Detective
Kevin Breslin
Boy
James Hong
Coroner Wong
Sharron Miller
Movie Star
Michael Callahan Jr.
SubDeacon
Sig Frohlich
Waiter
Louis Basile
Detective
Colin Hamilton
Headwaiter
Eddie Hice
Stuntman
Jeff Howard
Priest
Joe Medalis
Dep. Coroner
Robert Arthur
Newscaster

Critic Reviews for True Confessions

All Critics (11) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (8) | Rotten (5) | DVD (4)

Two exciting, dangerous actors have little to do: Duvall spends too much time pacing and waiting; De Niro's big scene has him hanging up his vestments.

March 7, 2011 Full Review Source: TIME Magazine

| Comment

Richard Corliss

TIME Magazine

Top Critic

Given the powerhouse topline casting combo and provocative theme, True Confessions has to be chalked up as something of a disappointment.

March 26, 2009 Full Review Source: Variety

| Comment

Variety Staff

Variety

Top Critic

True Confessions contains scenes that are just about as good as scenes can be. Then why does the movie leave us disoriented and disappointed, and why does the ending fail dismally?

October 23, 2004 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times

| Comment

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Top Critic

Quite simply it's one of the most entertaining, most intelligent and most thoroughly satisfying commercial American films in a very long time.

August 30, 2004 Full Review Source: New York Times

| Comment

Vincent Canby

New York Times

Top Critic

A fascinating film that exposes the dark underside of the Catholic Church and fixes it firmly in the seedy, corrupt world of film noir.

March 7, 2011 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

| Comment

TV Guide's Movie Guide

Acting compensates for disappointing ending

February 2, 2007 Comment

John A. Nesbit

Old School Reviews Source: Old School Reviews

Numerous vital characters are dropped and the case-solving stripped of its complexity, with the resulting film over-linear and one-dimensional.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

| Comment

Geoff Andrew

Time Out

An atmospheric, always-intriguing mystery that works equally well as a perceptive character study. One of the very best films of the 1980s.

October 21, 2005 Comment

Chuck O'Leary

Fantastica Daily

Robert Duvall puts in a top-drawer performance in this crime drama mixing sleuthing and sacraments, crime and confession - one of the best films of 1981.

January 30, 2002 Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice

| Comment

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Spirituality and Practice

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for True Confessions

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With all the talent in front of the camera there is no way this should be as inert as it is. Visually impressive drama is not terrible but lumbers along to an indifferent conclusion. Watch L.A. Confidental, which presents a simiilar story in a superior manner, instead.

November 14, 2009

jay nixon

Super Reviewer

its a watchable film

February 7, 2009

Film Crazy

Super Reviewer

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