True Believer (1989)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

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	...	Edward '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	...	Arturo 'Art' Esparza
Charles Hallahan	...	Vincent Dennehy
Sully Diaz	...	Maraquilla Esparza
Misan Kim	...	Mrs. Kim
John Snyder	...	Chuckie Loeder
Luis Guzmán	...	Ortega
Graham Beckel	...	Vinny Sklaroff
Tony Haney	...	David 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:

Factual errors: The opportunity for cross-examination or re-direct examination of the witnesses is frequently glossed over. Not just that a character doesn't cross-examine such as the lack of cross of the prisoner at the end of the state's case, but most egregiously, the judge gives the district attorney no opportunity for re-direct of the eyewitness who testified she never took her eyes off the gun even though she obviously wanted to say more. No competent DA would fail to give her a chance to clarify her statements during the cross-examination.

Quotes:

Eddie Dodd: We pleaded out Clyde Gruner to five years probation.
Billy: Ohhhh, score another point for truth and justice!

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

Crystal Ship

This is one of the few rare intelligent films of the 80s

I saw this movie around 1990 and was surprised at how smart this movie was. Few movies from the 80s were so fascinating. James Woods is one of the best actors that came from the 80s. That is why I hate Tom Cruise films from the 80s and usually from the 90s.