True Believer (1989)

Director:

Joseph Ruben

Writer (WGA):

Wesley Strick (written by)

Release Date:

17 February 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Crime

Tagline:

When evidence leads to murder, sometimes it takes a dangerous man to free an innocent one.

Plot:

Eddie Dodd is a burnt out former civil rights lawyer who now specializes in defending drug dealers. Roger Baron...

Plot Keywords:

Law | Police | Corruption | Prison Gang | Prison

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

James Woods	...	Eddie Dodd
Robert Downey Jr.	...	Roger Baron
Margaret Colin	...	Kitty Greer
Yuji Okumoto	...	Shu Kai Kim
Kurtwood Smith	...	Robert Reynard
Tom Bower	...	Cecil Skell
Miguel Fernandes	...	Art Esparza
Charles Hallahan	...	Vincent Dennehy
Sully Diaz	...	Maraquilla Esparza
Misan Kim	...	Mrs. Kim
John Snyder	...	Chuckie Loeder
Luis Guzmán	...	Ortega (as Luis Guzman)
Graham Beckel	...	Sklaroff
Tony Haney	...	Montell
Joel Polis	...	Dean Rabin

Also Known As:

Fighting Justice (Philippines: English title)

Runtime:

105 min | USA:108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Germany:16 (DVD rating) | New Zealand:R16 | Australia:M | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16 (f)

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The character of Eddie Dodd was modeled after famed civil rights lawyer Tony Serra.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Eddie fights with Chucky, he rubs the painted tears off Chucky's face with his right hand, leaving black marks on his index and middle fingers. A while later, while looking through a mug book at the cop shop, he looks at the marks on his fingers, which have now switched to his left hand.

Quotes:

Brian Nevins: [after Eddie has gotten him acquitted] Eddie Dodd... everybody should own one.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Simpsons: Homer and Apu (#5.13)" (1994)

Soundtrack:

All Along The Watchtower

An outstanding stab at a familiar story.

I can't really count the number of clichés associated with the courtroom drama. Every single word and behavior exhibited in the court has been seen time and time again. So what makes this one stand out? Well, there's the eccentric direction of Joseph Ruben, the gritty cinematography of John Lindley, as well as the performance of James Woods. Yes, that all helps, but I believe that the film would have failed without the brilliant dialogue of Wesley Strick.

There are perhaps only 1 or 2 good courtroom dramas for every 10 made, but this is certainly one of those. I was quite pleased with it overall, but it doesn't have much replay value.

6.9 out of 10