VividSimon Simply Perfect

Steineded How sad is this?

Inadvands Boring, over-political, tech fuzed mess

Dana An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Benedito Dias Rodrigues True Confessions is a superior movie as Robert DeNiro on unusual role as a Monsignor with ambitious career on Catholic Church which is Cardinal's assessor where get involved with political matters of Church. Your old brother is a bad temper but honest cop they are friends until a corpse found cut on two parts appears on L.A. area which remember Black Dahlia real case.The movie is settled in 1948 and when the Duvall carefully investigating the case found some connections with your brother,so he has to decided what to do!!!Ulu Grosbard made important movies in your life and this picture is one of them and marvelous filmed and directed!!!

Desertman84 True Confessions is a 1981 crime that was loosely based on the still unsolved Black Dahlia murder case of 1947.It stars Robert De Niro and Robert Duvall together with Charles Durning,Cyril Cusack,Burgess Meredith and Kenneth McMillan.Los Angeles detective Tom Spellacy is assigned to investigate the death of a priest.It was stated that the priest suffered from a heart attack after being served by a prostitute.The young Catholic monsignor Des Spellacy,who happens to be Tom's brother is apparently uncooperative with the investigation as he was currying a favor with crooked contractor to finance the expansion of his church.But they finally come together after the murder of a hooker.This film was directed by Ulu Grosbard deals with themes such as power, ambition, and hypocrisy.This was obviously was a fascinating movie.Considering that we have two of the finest actors in De Niro and Duvall,it should have become a classic considering that it deals with the corruption that involves the Catholic Church and police force. Also,it provides a perceptive character study of two brothers that belong to two institutions wherein integrity should has been maintained.Unfortunately,a lot of waiting period scenes made it less interesting that it was suppose to be.But definitely,it was definitely one of the most entertaining and intelligent films ever made during the 80's.

TedMichaelMor "True Confessions" continues to be one of my favourite films. Many reasons define it as a great motion picture. Ulu Grosbard seems not to be well known but he is a great director, even if I do not always understand his work. The script based on one of the writer John Gregory Dunne's novels and written with his wife Joan Didion and Gary Hall is a tight, complex, nuanced, and satisfying story. Cinematography by Owen Roizman has a fine noir look at times and a great historical look at other times. The set design by Marvin March and art direction by Stewart Campbell facilitate these effects as does costume design by Joe Tompkins.Music by George Delerue with period pieces haunt imagination and define a tonality that lingers in memory.The cast is rich. Some critics think De Niro does not convince as a priest, but, in fact, he get is just right. Robert Duvall, De Niro, Charles During, Cyril Cusack, Kenneth McMillan, Ed Flanders, Rose Gregorio, Burgess Meredith, and several others work as a fine ensemble, as if they were all part of a Swedish acting group. This is an elegant, adult film--a masterwork and like fine wine rich three decades after its release.The film is not anti-Catholic but instead celebrates how a priest finds salvation. The film ends on a fine note like excellent coffee at the end of an elegant meal. I very much appreciate this film and apologize for not writing better about it.

nomoons11 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.