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:

A cynical former civil liberties attorney now reduced to "specializing" in defending drug dealers becomes transformed by an eight-year-old murder case.

Plot Keywords:

Drug Dealer | Korean | Law | Lawyer | Civil Liberties

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
Will Marchetti	...	Judge Quealy
Maureen McVerry	...	Billy
Abigail Van Alyn	...	Connie Dennehy
Deborah Offner	...	Laura Gayley
Thomas Wagner	...	Tommy
Richard Fancy	...	Ballistics Expert
Kurt Fuller	...	George Ballistics
Ginger Rolstad	...	Translator (as Ginger Chung)
Thelton E. Henderson	...	Judge Baum
Gerry Bamman	...	Brian Nevins
Charles Dean	...	Detective #1
Gustave Johnson	...	Detective #2
Cab Covay	...	Teardrop
Tony Abatemarco	...	Glen Fulton
Ken Grantham	...	Cecil's Judge (as Kenneth Grantham)
Ralph Peduto	...	Court Officer
Margot Rose	...	Ms. Jessum
Jan Michael Shultz	...	Lindeman (as Jan Shultz)
George Maguire	...	Maitre'd
David Espinoza	...	Corrections Officer
Conrad Dunn	...	Slim Jim (as George Jenesky)
Sean O'Brien	...	Clyde Gruner
Cully Fredricksen	...	Scarecrow
Taylor Gilbert	...	Reynard's Receptionist
Peter Anthony Jacobs	...	Reporter
Stu Klitsner	...	Magnate (as Stu Klitsher)
David Booth	...	Minister
Peter Fitzsimmons	...	Court Clerk
Jarrett Sullivan	...	Boy
Mike Stone	...	Client (as Michael Stone)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Chris Jorie	...	Assistant D.A. (as Chris Jorie)
Darryl Fong	...	Jimmy Chin (uncredited)
Woody Harrelson	...	Man in Dodd's office (uncredited)

Directed by
Joseph Ruben

Writing credits (WGA)
Wesley Strick		(written by)

Produced by
Patrick Crowley	....	co-producer
Lawrence Lasker	....	producer
Walter F. Parkes	....	producer
Peter Rosten	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Brad Fiedel

Cinematography by
John Lindley		(director of photography) (as John W. Lindley)

Film Editing by
George Bowers

Casting by
Karen Rea

Production Design by
Lawrence Miller

Art Direction by
Jim Pohl

Set Decoration by
Jim Poynter

Costume Design by
Erica Edell Phillips

Makeup Department
Joseph Coscia	....	hair stylist: New York (as Joe Coscia)
Deborah Figuly	....	makeup artist
Candace Neal	....	hair stylist
Allen Weisinger	....	makeup artist: New York (as Alan Weisinger)

Production Management
Nan Bernstein Freed	....	unit production manager: New York (as Nan Bernstein)
Whitney Green	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Julie A. Bloom	....	second second assistant director (as Julie Bloom)
Annie Spiegelman	....	second assistant director
Michael E. Steele	....	first assistant director (as Michael Steele)
Stephen Wertimer	....	second assistant director: New York (as Steve Wertimer)

Art Department
Rodney Armanino	....	construction foreman
William Beck	....	set designer
Richard W. Clot	....	construction coordinator (as Rich Clot)
Elisa Nevel Demarest	....	scenic artist: New York
Claudette Didul	....	art researcher: New York
Tim Galvin	....	art director: New York
Stephen J. Gardner	....	set dresser (as Steve Gardner)
Gilbert Gertsen	....	construction coordinator: New York
Elizabeth Hamilton	....	scenic artist
Harley Jessup	....	illustrator
Steven J. Jordan	....	set decorator: New York (as Steven Jordan)
Len Morganti	....	storyboard artist
Billy Puzo	....	master scenic artist: New York
Gary E. Roloff	....	set dresser (as Gary Roloff)
Philip Saccio	....	prop master: New York
Michelle Souza	....	property master
J. Michael Speakman	....	assistant props
Eric Stepper	....	assistant props: New York
Don Watson	....	leadman
Lisa Winick	....	stand-by scenic artist: New York
Jennifer Clinard	....	stand-by painter (uncredited)
Lisa Devlin	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Sound Department
James Ashwill	....	foley mixer (as Jim Ashwill)
Kevin Bartnof	....	foley artist
Tom Bellfort	....	sound editor
Lon Bender	....	supervising sound editor (as Lon E. Bender)
Neal Burger	....	sound editor
Michael Evje	....	production sound mixer
Dan Gleich	....	boom operator
Avram D. Gold	....	sound editor (as Avram Gold)
Devon Heffley Curry	....	adr editor (as Devon Heffley-Curry)
Chris Hogan	....	sound editor
Randy Kelley	....	sound editor
Larry Kemp	....	supervising sound editor
Lou Kleinman	....	sound editor
Mark R. La Pointe	....	sound editor (as Mark La Pointe)
Mary Jo Lang	....	sound recordist
George Reinhardt	....	cable person
Daniel Rosenblum	....	sound mixer: New York
Wylie Stateman	....	sound editor
Alicia Stevenson	....	foley artist
Mel Zelniker	....	sound re-recording mixer
Hugo Weng	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
John McLeod	....	special effects coordinator

Stunts
Rocky Capella	....	stunt coordinator
Jim Lovelett	....	stunt coordinator: New York
Rocky Capella	....	stunts (uncredited)
Kevin Larson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Lyons	....	stunts (uncredited)
Johnny Martin	....	stunts (uncredited)
Mike Martinez	....	stunts (uncredited)
Randell Dennis Widner	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Phil Bray	....	still photographer
Richard L. Carden	....	dolly grip (as Rick Carden)
Dave Childers	....	dolly grip
Robert Dalva	....	still photographer: period stills
Greg Davies	....	gaffer
Brad Edmiston	....	assistant Steadicam operator
Thomas Ford	....	best boy electric: New York
Walt Fraser	....	additional first assistant camera
Tom Gilligan	....	best boy grip: New York (as Thomas Gilligan)
Tony C. Jannelli	....	camera operator: New York (as Tony Jannelli)
Lawrence Karman	....	first assistant camera (as Larry Karman)
Billy Kerwick	....	grip
Jay Levy	....	first assistant camera: New York
Larry McConkey	....	Steadicam operator: New York
Deborah Morgan	....	second assistant camera
Randy Nolen	....	Steadicam operator
Douglas Pellegrino	....	second assistant camera: New York (as Doug Pellegrino)
Bobby Powell	....	best boy
Ed Quinn	....	key grip: New York (as Edwin Quinn)
Patrick Riley	....	additional first assistant camera
Peter Thomas	....	key grip
Jon R. Tower	....	gaffer: New York (as Jon Tower)
Barry Wetcher	....	still photographer
Barry Wetcher	....	still photographer: New York
Michael Whitehurst	....	best boy grip
Kenneth Zunder	....	camera operator (as Ken Zunder)
Kjell Ness	....	genny operator (uncredited)
Michael Olague	....	best boy gaffer (uncredited)

Casting Department
Aleta Chappelle	....	casting: San Francisco and New York (as Aleta Helena Chappelle)
Laura Folger	....	extras casting assistant
Doreen Lane	....	casting assistant: Los Angeles
Davia Nelson	....	extras casting
Riccardo Bertoni	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Michael Becker	....	costume supervisor
David Bess	....	wardrobe supervisor: men, New York
Barbara Kassal	....	costumer
Sue Miller	....	set costumer
Susan J. Wright	....	wardrobe supervisor: women, New York (as Susan Wright)

Editorial Department
Patricia A. Galvin	....	assistant editor (as Patricia Galvin)
Robert Grahamjones	....	assistant editor
Lauren A. Schaffer	....	first assistant editor (as Lauren Schaffer)
Doron Shauly	....	apprentice editor
Robert Wait	....	post-production coordinator
Roger La Prairie	....	telecine colorist (uncredited)

Music Department
Sharon Boyle	....	music supervisor
Tim Boyle	....	scoring mixer
Allan K. Rosen	....	music editor (as Allan Rosen)
Sandy K. Tanaka	....	assistant music supervisor
George Doering	....	musician (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Steve Collins	....	transportation captain
William Curry	....	transportation captain: New York (as Bill Curry)
Richard McDermott	....	transportation coordinator (as Rich McDermott)
Dennis Salomone	....	transportation: New York
Ken Fleisch	....	driver (uncredited)
John Melendez	....	driver: San Francisco (uncredited)
Kjell Ness	....	driver: San Francisco (uncredited)
David Pappas	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Carlyn Bochicchio	....	production assistant: New York
Sidney Brammer	....	production secretary: New York
Jacob F. Conrad	....	location manager: New York (as Jacob Conrad)
Carol DePasquale	....	script supervisor (as Carol De Pasquale)
Christopher Desmond	....	first aid
Jane Nerlinger Evans	....	production coordinator: New York
Susan Fanara	....	assistant to producers
Maxine Garcia	....	production secretary
Barbara Ludlum	....	production auditor
George F. Mauricio	....	craft service (as George Mauricio)
Sue Miller	....	set supervisor
Douglas Morton	....	production assistant
Maureen Murphy	....	production coordinator
Anne Reddington	....	assistant location manager: New York
Mike Revell	....	assistant production accountant
Donna Santora	....	assistant auditor: New York
L.J. Silverman	....	first aid
Anastasia St. Amand	....	executive assistant
Gail Stempler	....	location manager
Spooky Stevens	....	publicist
Al Cerullo	....	helicopter pilot (uncredited)
Anne Lockhart	....	adr voice group (uncredited)
Nicholas Wolfert	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1989) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Film (1989) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1989) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan)
• Columbia TriStar Films (1990) (France) (theatrical)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures International Video (1990) (West Germany) (VHS)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia Pictures of Canada (1989) (Canada) (theatrical)

Other Companies

• Arriflex  lenses and Arriflex® camera by
• Cinema Research  opticals and titles (as Cinema Research Corporation)
• DTC Grip & Electric  grip and lighting equipment
• Gourmet Catering  caterer
• Mason Studio Services  location equipment provided by
• Saxon/Ross Film Design  titles designed by
• Soundelux  sound editing
• TAJ Soundworks  foley by

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:

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

Filming Locations:

Chinatown, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The character Shu Kai Kim is based on Korean-American Chol Soo Lee, who was imprisoned for nearly 10 years after wrongful conviction for a murder he did not commit.

Goofs:

Continuity: When showing the original murder in flashbacks, the killer is standing five feet or more away from the body when he shoots him. When Dennehy tells Dodd and the flashback is shown beneath the bridge, the gun is aimed only a few inches from the previous bullet hole. A gun fired that close would leave burn marks and gunpowder residue on the victim's head, which would be incongruous with the eyewitness accounts of the actual murder.

Quotes:

Eddie Dodd:[to Roger] You want to be a criminal defense attorney? Then know this going in... everybody's guilty. Everybody.
Roger Baron:[long pause] Do you know that you wouldn't have said that ten years ago?
Eddie Dodd:Ten years is a long time.

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

Freedom Rider

For The Greater Good?

The title role in True Believer is played by Robert Downey, Jr., who is an eager young law school graduate looking forward to interning with famed civil rights attorney James Woods.

Woods who's a throwback to the hippie days of the Sixties is now making a living defending drug dealers and other various and assorted dregs of society. He's an attorney and bills have to be paid. By the way note that his office has his living quarters in it, a practice perfected back in the day by Roy Cohn.

Out of the blue comes a mother looking for an attorney for her son who killed an Aryan brother in prison. But she's also looking to re-open the case that got him there in the first place, a Chinese gang killing that he swears up and down he did not do.

Woods and Downey go to work and what they uncover is a frightening case of official corruption. It's an object lesson in how law enforcement can if it wants to, manufacture evidence to convict someone if they want them bad enough. In this case it's to cover up the real murderer, but I won't say more.

James Woods is just about perfect casting in the role of the aged and jaded defense attorney whose young assistant helps him recapture some of his youthful idealism. Robert Downey, Jr. aids and abets Woods every step of the way in this.

But the best three performances in the film by far are Miguel Fernandes as the corrupt and maniacal police snitch, Kurtwood Smith as the District Attorney of New York County and Yuji Okumoto as the imprisoned defendant.

Kurtwood Smith came to be known to millions as lovable, irascible Red Foreman in That Seventies Show. Here he's one hard-nosed District Attorney who sanctions all kinds of rule breaking for what he considers the greater good. He's far from TV's Adam Schiff or the real life Robert Morgenthau.

True Believer is a nice drama about some people who take on the system and win.