True Confessions

True Confessions is a deeply gripping, neo-noir drama from 1981 based on the novel by John Gregory Dunne and directed by Ulu Grosbard. The movie makes full use of its leading actors: two of Hollywood's finest, Robert De Niro and Robert Duvall, both of whom inject depth and intensity to their roles, which are critically central to the movie's plot. Additionally, Charles Durning’s performance adds to the believable world crafted in this movie.

The story is set in the 1940s, in post-war Los Angeles, which beautifully captures the era's elaborate grittiness. This dark crime drama revolves around the turbulent relationship of the Spellacy brothers — Tom (Robert Duvall), an honest, hardworking detective, and Des (Robert De Niro), a politically ambitious Catholic priest.

Tom Spellacy, portrayed by Robert Duvall, is the workaholic detective. Clean-cut, conscientious, and stoically honest, Tom has a sense of duty enveloped by a moral compass that always points north. Duvall’s portrayal of this diligent and determined detective regularly clashed in concept and character with De Niro's priest character.

Des Spellacy, played by Robert De Niro, is the high-ranking priest caught amidst the church’s political machinery and century-old corruption. As a charismatic and cunning clergyman, Des navigates power labyrinths as easily as he ministers to his congregation. De Niro's astute performance reveals the often-conflicting duality of this priest: the sanctity of his position against the strategic politics it requires.

As the plot unfurls, the brothers find themselves entangled in a scandal that involves the brutal murder of a young woman, prostitution, church politics, corruption, and of course, the labyrinthine, layered relationship between the two brothers. This exploration of complex morality through the lens of these two distinctly different yet linked professions (law enforcement and religion) sets this movie apart.

Although a murder mystery is pivotal to the storyline, True Confessions is not a typical police procedural or murder investigation film. The mystery merely acts as a catalyst to unravel the deep-seated tension between the brothers and expose the seedy underbelly of the church and law enforcement.

Grosbard directs True Confessions with a keen eye for character development and balanced narrative pacing. His attention to historical details further elevates the movie, with the costumes, sets, props, and décors brilliantly recreating the post-war Los Angeles atmosphere. The dialogue is rich and engaging, often simmering with sub-textual tension, which De Niro, Duvall, and the rest of the cast expertly handle.

The cinematography by Owen Roizman is noteworthy and plays an instrumental role in setting the stage. He uses a varying canvas of lights and shadows to visually represent the moral shades of gray the characters often find themselves in. The movie also features an evocative score by Georges Delerue, the French film composer, which subtly complements the film's moody atmosphere, adding depth to the viewing experience.

Robert De Niro and Robert Duvall's performances are the movie's tour de force, effectively portraying the deep and intricate connection between the brothers. Their on-screen chemistry provides an intriguing study in contrasts and gradually unlocks the multifaceted interplay of familial bonds, personal ethics, and professional duties.

In completion, True Confessions is an engaging and thought-provoking film that brilliantly melds elements of murder mystery with intense drama and social commentary, backed by a powerful performance from its star-studded cast. The film's exploration of power, corruption, morality, brotherhood, and redemption, contextualized within the microcosm of a post-war society, makes it a must-watch for fans of neo-noir cinema and dramatic thrillers.