True Confessions

Play trailer

True Confessions

R,

1981,

1h 50m,

Crime/

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Stream Now

Watchlist

72%

18 Reviews

Tomatometer

53%

2,500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

72%

Tomatometer

18 Reviews

53%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

In the 1940s Los Angeles, Detective Tom Spellacy 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, a Catholic priest, is meanwhile attempting to expand his church through Jack, 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.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Stream

Rent True Confessions on Fandango, or buy it on Fandango.

Joseph Gelmis

Newsday

Jul 14, 2022

3/4

True Confessions is brilliantly cast and acted.

Go to Full Review

Gary Arnold

Washington Post

Dec 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.

Go to Full Review

Richard Corliss

TIME Magazine

Mar 7, 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.

Go to Full Review

Joe Lipsett

Murder Made Fiction Podcast - Bloody Disgusting

May 15, 2026

3/5

The story of two corrupt brothers merely uses the Black Dahlia as its framing device, but it's DeNiro who steals the show.

Go to Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Jul 23, 2025

3/4

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

Go to Full Review

Stephen Schiff

Boston Phoenix

Oct 8, 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.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Apr 22, 2019

Certainly a slow burning film, but atmosphere and performances do the heavy lifting. There is little traditional resolution, but in true "noir" fashion, no one escapes unsullied.

See more

George S

Jan 6, 2009

The acting compensates for its lackluster ending.

Read all reviews

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

The First Deadly Sin

63%

30%

The First Deadly Sin

Watchlist

The Postman Always Rings Twice

73%

58%

The Postman Always Rings Twice

Watchlist

True Believer

96%

63%

True Believer

Watchlist

Alive

63%

68%

Alive

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Alive

Pups

90%

73%

Pups

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

In the 1940s Los Angeles, Detective Tom Spellacy 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, a Catholic priest, is meanwhile attempting to expand his church through Jack, 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

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings