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

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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

Audience Member

A gem of a movie. A modern quasi-film noir murder mystery overlays an updated cliché of priest and cop brothers, each of whom is part integrity—part corruption. The low-keyed action is played with great intensity by a perfect cast.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Two legends come together with confessions of their own Robert DeNiro and Robert Duvall play siblings Tom and Jack Spellacy Jack is a priest and Tom, a detective Back in the 1940s Los Angeles Tom gets wind of a case involving a dead prostitute along with a priest found in a brothel Through a shady contractor Jack is hoping to expand his church But there might be a connection of money and power involving both brothers These two powerhouse actors give such masterful performances facing duty, honor, betrayal, and falling out of touch The rest of the movie though struggles with its murder-mystery; too many players are dropped and the complexity of the case itself is lost Just fine for the two actors

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

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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