True Confessions

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True Confessions

R

1981

1h 50m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

69%

Tomatometer

16 Reviews

53%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

In 1940s Los Angeles, Detective Tom Spellacy (Robert Duvall) probes into the savage murder of a woman found dumped in an empty lot. At the same time, he investigates a priest found dead in a whorehouse. Spellacy's brother (Robert De Niro), a Catholic priest, is meanwhile attempting to expand his church through Jack (Charles Durning), a shady contractor. While the two police cases and the real estate deal seem a world apart, Spellacy discovers an insidious connection involving money and power.

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Joseph Gelmis

Newsday

True Confessions is brilliantly cast and acted.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 14, 2022

Full Review

Gary Arnold

Washington Post

Des is another solitary soul, but perhaps he's the most subtle and accessible solitary De Niro has yet embodied -- a man whose isolation draws you closer instead of giving you the willies.

Dec 18, 2015

Full Review

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.

Mar 7, 2011

Full Review

Stephen Schiff

Boston Phoenix

Spanning the world of the priest and the world of the cop, True Confessions is at once terribly refined and terribly with it -- holier-than-thou and hipper-than-thou at the same time.

Oct 8, 2021

Full Review

Larry Vitacco

Philadelphia Gay News

Robert DeNiro and Robert Duvall give masterful performances.

Rated: 3.5/4

May 26, 2020

Full Review

Jesús Fernández Santos

El Pais (Spain)

The caustic and ironic tone of the original is lost in this film adaptation. [Full Review in Spanish]

Aug 21, 2019

Full Review

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Johannes S

Interesting story paired with enjoyable performances by Duvall and DeNiro. But, it suffers a lot by being painfully slow.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/02/25

Full Review

John U

Why is this not getting more love? Great cast, great storyline, compelling in every way. Brotherly friction, corruption in the police department, the church struggling with the fringes of corruption during incredible growth, set in 1950s L.A. What am I missing? I loved this movie!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/01/25

Full Review

Aaron K

Definitely worth a watch. DeNiro and Duvall turn in compelling performances. Well written script.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/26/25

Full Review

bob c

Almost incomprehensible plot. But some good work by Duvall and minor characters.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

04/14/24

Full Review

Jelisije J

If you replace all the noticeable actors in this film you got one of the slowest movies you will ever see.....when you have to rely on the actors to be more memorable then your story you get a very flawed film structure.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/15/24

Full Review

Steve D

Should be better given the stars.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/11/23

Full Review

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Ulu Grosbard

Director

Robert De Niro

Des Spellacy

Robert Duvall

Tom Spellacy

Charles Durning

Jack Amsterdam

Ed Flanders

Dan T. Campion

Burgess Meredith

Seamus Fargo

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Synopsis

In 1940s Los Angeles, Detective Tom Spellacy (Robert Duvall) probes into the savage murder of a woman found dumped in an empty lot. At the same time, he investigates a priest found dead in a whorehouse. Spellacy's brother (Robert De Niro), a Catholic priest, is meanwhile attempting to expand his church through Jack (Charles Durning), a shady contractor. While the two police cases and the real estate deal seem a world apart, Spellacy discovers an insidious connection involving money and power.

Director: Ulu Grosbard
Producer: Robert Chartoff, Irwin Winkler
Production Co: Chartoff-Winkler Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Runtime: 1h 50m
Sound Mix: Stereo

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