True Confessions

Movies 365: Day 31 – True Confessions

Though both Robert DeNiro and Robert Duvall were in The Godfather Part II, they never actually shared the screen together, it would take another seven years before they starred alongside each other, so is True Confessions a film worthy of their talent, or is it just dreck like the terrible Righteous Kill which paired Pacino and DeNiro for the first time since their five minutes of shared screen time in Heat?

Fortunately, True Confessions is much better than Righteous Kill. Set in Los Angeles in the 1940s, True Confessions follows Robert and Robert as brothers Tom (Duvall) and Des Spellacy (DeNiro). Tom works as a homicide detective in the LAPD, while Des is the monsignor in the Los Angeles archdiocese. When a prostitute turns up dead, her body cut in half and placed in a field, she’s nicknamed “The Virgin Tramp,” and Tom is asked to head up the investigation. Meanwhile Des is busy working on getting a new school built thanks to the donations of local construction mogul Jack Amsterdam (Charles Durning).

True Confessions is very obviously inspired by the Black Dahlia case, however, it’s much better than Brian DePalma’s terrible 2006 film based on the same case. DeNiro and Duvall are both in top form in this film, but it’s the supporting actors who steal the show. Charles Durning is really good as Amsterdam, both menacing and likable, he plays both sides wonderfully. But it’s Kenneth McMillan as Duvall’s partner Frank Crotty who is really worth watching here. He’s great, and very funny, particularly in a scene in a Chinese restaurant following the discovery of the body of “The Virgin Tramp.”

The film looks great, and credit is definitely due to Ulu Grosbard, whose direction is wonderfully restrained. He lets scenes play out well, and coaxes great performances from his cast. I really enjoyed True Confessions, it’s a really well done mystery, and it includes some great performances by some really great actors, what more can you ask for?