True Believer

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True Believer

R

Released Feb 17, 1989

1h 43m

Crime

Drama

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Popcornmeter

96%

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23 Reviews

63%

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2,500+ Ratings

Jaded lawyer Eddie Dodd (James Woods), a well-regarded activist in the 1960s whose moment has long passed, now smokes marijuana and defends drug dealers who pay in cash. Recent law graduate Roger Baron (Robert Downey Jr.) becomes Dodd's apprentice, hoping to learn from him. When an agitated mother walks in insisting her son is innocent of the murder he was jailed for eight years ago, idealistic Roger prods Eddie to take the case, and the pair uncovers a huge conspiracy that endangers them both.

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Critics Consensus

A compelling mystery, social themes, and powerful performances from a pair of well-matched leads make True Believer a legal thriller that definitely passes the bar.

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Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

Woods' angry energy is clarifying as well as terrifying, and when he unleashes it (usually without warning), the effect is to focus our attention where it belongs, not on a suspense story but on the mysteries of human behavior.

Apr 16, 2009

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Time Out

A riveting legal drama.

Jan 26, 2006

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Hal Hinson

Washington Post

Ruben relies too heavily on Woods' whirring turbines to power his scenes.

Jan 1, 2000

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a fairly standard legal procedural that’s elevated by its raft of agreeable, engaging attributes...

Rated: 3/4

Feb 23, 2023

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Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

Rated: 4/5

Jul 16, 2008

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Film4

Woods, as ever, is wired for a fight -- in or outside the courtroom. It's all Downey Jr can do to hold him back.

Feb 27, 2008

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Jelisije J

A story that you seen a dozen times before, but James Woods brings out his charismatic charm that turns a mediocre movie to a good one.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/21/25

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Online A

Very poorly written. Characters' motives are consistently head scratching. Lawyers take a case they have no reason to. They fight hard for innocence yet have no basis for that belief. Injustice is simply assumed until they can find evidence to support it. It's actually really bad.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

11/18/24

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Maggie M

I really wanted to like this movie. It offered all the ingredients for a perfect evening watch: good actors, great 80s music and a gripping legal drama. Unfortunately, the dialogue felt forced, the drama manufactured and the outbursts, in many scenes, fake and overdramatic.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

09/01/24

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Carlos I

It's a pretty standard legal drama, but it does satisfy of you're in the mood for a procedural, one that's heightened by an explosive Woods performance. My God that hair though... I know it's the 80s and all, but talk about distracting!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

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Audience Member

Keeping well in mind the year of release in 1989, this cheesy acted at times crime thriller is pretty good overall and held its own in time stamping while watching last night for only my 2nd time. Robert Downey Jr was significantly better than Woods as Woods gave this film at times some yes, cheese, with some over the top moments. But quite enjoyable and a 7 out of 10. Not on any streaming services please know and note! Why many times dvd's and blu-ray are still superior!!! (May 18/22)

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

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Audience Member

It has been a long time since seeing the film true believer . James woods is a great actor and should get recognized more often. This film had me on edge watching it the whole time. Very worth the ⏲️.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

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Joseph Ruben

Director

James Woods

Eddie Dodd

Robert Downey Jr.

Roger Baron

Yuji Okumoto

Shu Kai Kim

Margaret Colin

Kitty Greer

Kurtwood Smith

Robert Reynard

Against All Odds

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Synopsis

Jaded lawyer Eddie Dodd (James Woods), a well-regarded activist in the 1960s whose moment has long passed, now smokes marijuana and defends drug dealers who pay in cash. Recent law graduate Roger Baron (Robert Downey Jr.) becomes Dodd's apprentice, hoping to learn from him. When an agitated mother walks in insisting her son is innocent of the murder he was jailed for eight years ago, idealistic Roger prods Eddie to take the case, and the pair uncovers a huge conspiracy that endangers them both.

Director: Joseph Ruben
Producer: Walter F. Parkes, Lawrence Lasker
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 17, 1989, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 1, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA): $8.7M
Runtime: 1h 43m
Sound Mix: Surround

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