True Confessions

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True Confessions

R

1981

1h 50m

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

71%

Tomatometer

17 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

07/14/2022

3/4

True Confessions is brilliantly cast and acted.

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Gary Arnold

Washington Post

12/18/2015

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.

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Richard Corliss

TIME Magazine

03/07/2011

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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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Jul 23

3/4

This was largely dismissed upon its original release, yet it remains an underrated picture.

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Stephen Schiff

Boston Phoenix

10/08/2021

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.

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Larry Vitacco

Philadelphia Gay News

05/26/2020

3.5/4

Robert DeNiro and Robert Duvall give masterful performances.

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Heatherjoy K

Nov 21

My favorite movie of all time. Extremely moving. Acting, cinematography, the writing, the musical score…. Saw this move as a 9 year old with my parents when it came out. Have watched it many many times since. Now reading the book which is also a masterpiece imho. Affects me on so many different levels.

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Donn B

Jul 21

Don't let the 69% and 53% fool you. This movie is jamb packed with A list actors who crush all the scenes they are in. It really is a masters class of acting with the minor rolls stealing the show. A must see for a movie released in 81.

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Johannes S

Jun 2

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

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John U

@wbbcmt Jun 1

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!

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Aaron K

Jan 26

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

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bob c

04/14/2024

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

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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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