True Confessions

1981

Action / Crime / Drama

26
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Rotten 53% · 17 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Spilled 53% · 5K ratings
IMDb Rating 6.3/10 10 9795 9.8K

based on novel or book brothel cop priest los angeles, california murder investigation

Plot summary

A cop clashes with his priest brother while investigating the brutal murder of a young prostitute.

Director

Ulu Grosbard Photo
Ulu Grosbard

Top cast

Robert De Niro Photo
Robert De Niro as Father Des Spellacy
Gwen Van Dam Photo
Gwen Van Dam as Mrs. Fazenda
Pat Corley Photo
Pat Corley as Sonny McDonough
Susan Myers Photo
Susan Myers as Bride
720p.BluRay 1080p.BluRay
808.74 MB
1280*720
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 48 min
Seeds ...
1.64 GB
1920*1080
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 48 min
Seeds 7

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by JoeytheBrit 6 / 10

Religion and Politics

I read John Gregory Dunne's novel quite some time ago, and while the details of the tale - other than it's obvious use of the Black Dahlia murder as a fictionalised sub-plot - were no longer clear in my mind when I watched this film, the memory of being deeply impressed by the book were still very clear.You would think a film version written by the novel's author and starring two modern giants of the screen would have success guaranteed, but Ulu Grosbad's adaptation of True Confessions is only partially successful. As you'd expect, the acting is first rate, especially from De Niro, cast against type as a measured, introspective priest, and the recreation of 40s America stands comparison with the likes of L. A. Confidential but, whereas the medium of literature enabled Dunne to bring a good measure of intrigue to the complexities of religious politics and finance, on the screen he struggles to hold the viewer's interest, while the Black Dahlia sub-plot is almost dismissively brushed aside.Despite this, the plot reaches the screen with its intelligence and cynicism intact, relying on human interaction to drive the plot forward. Essentially a dissection of the relationship of two brothers, one a cop (Duvall) the other a sort of 'glamour priest' who weds wealthy couples and is earmarked for good things, the script steadfastly picks apart the threads of the brothers' lives to reveal the sensitivity and honour of the hard-bitten cop and the self-serving ability of the priest that enables him to turn a blind eye to all that he knows is rotten.This is a film for adults. If you like gunplay or violence look elsewhere. But if you want to see a film that asks you to do a little work to understand the motivation and compulsions of its characters then this one will probably be worth a couple of hours of your time.
Reviewed by nomoons11 7 / 10

Before L.A. Confidential...there was True Confessions

This was a really good little film. It takes a look at the Black Dahlia killing but it mainly focuses on the relationships between the people. Even though they look and figure out who the killer is, it's a secondary part of the story. The Black Dahlia part in this movie is not accurate to the facts from the real case but it's not really suppose to be. Catholic Church corruption, prostitution and murder all combined for a really quiet meaningful little flick.Long before L.A. Confidential, this film made light of the massive corruption and lack of caring in the L.A. police department back in it's bad years from the 20's through the 50's. You'll be glad you didn't live there back in those days.No action but high on drama/thriller twists and turns. If you like L.A. Confidential, see this. I'm willing to bet, you'll like it.
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