True Confessions (1981)
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73% of critics liked it
(11 reviews) -
52% of users liked it
(2,520 ratings)
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… More 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 monsignor Des Spellacy (Robert De Niro), is reluctantly currying favor with crooked contractor Jack Amsterdam (Charles Durning), the better to finance an expansion of Des' church. The unifying factor between Tom and Des, beyond their sibling relationship, turns out to be the grisly murder of a hooker. The key words in the labyrinthine proceedings are power, ambition, and hypocrisy. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Ulu Grosbard
- Written By
- John Gregory Dunne
- Genres
- Mystery & Suspense, Drama
R,
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1981 Wide
- Studio
- MGM
Critic Reviews
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Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine
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.
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Variety Staff, Variety
Given the powerhouse topline casting combo and provocative theme, True Confessions has to be chalked up as something of a disappointment.
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Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Numerous vital characters are dropped and the case-solving stripped of its complexity, with the resulting film over-linear and one-dimensional.
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Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
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?
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Vincent Canby, New York Times
Quite simply it's one of the most entertaining, most intelligent and most thoroughly satisfying commercial American films in a very long time.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
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Cast
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Robert De Niro
as Des Spellacy
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Robert Duvall
as Tom Spellacy
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Charles Durning
as Jack Amsterdam
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Ed Flanders
as Dan T. Champion
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Burgess Meredith
as Seamus Fargo
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Cyril Cusack
as Cardinal Dansher
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Rose Gregorio
as Brenda Samuels
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Kenneth McMillan
as Frank Crotty
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Dan Hedaya
as Howard Terkel
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Gwen Van Dam
as Mrs. Fazenda
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Tom Clarke Hill
as Mr. Fazenda
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Jeanette Nolan
as Mrs. Spellacy
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Jorge Cervera Jr.
as Eduardo Duarte
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Susan Myers
as Bride
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Louisa Moritz
as Whore
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Pat Corley
as Sonny McDonough
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Shelly Batt
as Girl
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Darwyn Carson
as Lorna Keane
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Amanda Cleveland
as Lois Farenda
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Frederic Cook
as Brenda's trick
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Matthew Faison
as Reporter
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Louise Fitch
as Older nun
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Richard Foronjy
as Ambulance driver
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Luisa Leschin
as Towel Girl
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Pierrino Mascarino
as Suspect
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Mary Munday
as Nun
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Steve Powers
as Photographer
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Ron Ryan
as Detective
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Ron Stein
as Stuntman
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Paul Valentine
as Detective
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Kevin Breslin
as Boy
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James Hong
as Coroner Wong
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Sharron Miller
as Movie Star
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Michael Callahan Jr.
as SubDeacon
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Sig Frohlich
as Waiter
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Louis Basile
as Detective
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Colin Hamilton
as Headwaiter
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Eddie Hice
as Stuntman
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Jeff Howard
as Priest
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Joe Medalis
as Dep. Coroner
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Robert Arthur
as Newscaster
