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IMDbPro

True Believer

  • 19891989
  • RR
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
4.9K
YOUR RATING
True Believer (1989)
text on screen
Play trailer0:31
1 Video
39 Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
A cynical former civil liberties attorney now reduced to "specializing" in defending drug dealers becomes transformed by an eight-year-old murder case.A cynical former civil liberties attorney now reduced to "specializing" in defending drug dealers becomes transformed by an eight-year-old murder case.A cynical former civil liberties attorney now reduced to "specializing" in defending drug dealers becomes transformed by an eight-year-old murder case.
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
4.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Joseph Ruben
  • Writer
    • Wesley Strick
  • Stars
    • James Woods
    • Robert Downey Jr.
    • Margaret Colin
Top credits
  • Director
    • Joseph Ruben
  • Writer
    • Wesley Strick
  • Stars
    • James Woods
    • Robert Downey Jr.
    • Margaret Colin
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 38User reviews
    • 23Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination

    Videos1

    True Believer
    Trailer 0:31
    True Believer

    Photos39

    James Woods and Robert Downey Jr. in True Believer (1989)
    James Woods and Robert Downey Jr. in True Believer (1989)
    James Woods and Robert Downey Jr. in True Believer (1989)
    James Woods and Robert Downey Jr. in True Believer (1989)
    True Believer (1989)
    James Woods and Robert Downey Jr. in True Believer (1989)
    True Believer (1989)
    True Believer (1989)
    True Believer (1989)
    James Woods and Robert Downey Jr. in True Believer (1989)
    True Believer (1989)
    James Woods and Robert Downey Jr. in True Believer (1989)

    Top cast

    Edit
    James Woods
    James Woods
    • Eddie Dodd
    Robert Downey Jr.
    Robert Downey Jr.
    • Roger Baron
    Margaret Colin
    Margaret Colin
    • Kitty Greer
    Yuji Okumoto
    Yuji Okumoto
    • Shu Kai Kim
    Kurtwood Smith
    Kurtwood Smith
    • Robert Reynard
    Tom Bower
    Tom Bower
    • Cecil Skell
    Miguel Fernandes
    Miguel Fernandes
    • Art Esparza
    Charles Hallahan
    Charles Hallahan
    • Vincent Dennehy
    Sully Diaz
    • Maraquilla Esparza
    Misan Kim
    • Mrs. Kim
    John Snyder
    John Snyder
    • Chuckie Loeder
    Luis Guzmán
    Luis Guzmán
    • Ortega
    • (as Luis Guzman)
    Graham Beckel
    Graham Beckel
    • Sklaroff
    Tony Haney
    Tony Haney
    • Montell
    Joel Polis
    Joel Polis
    • Dean Rabin
    Will Marchetti
    • Judge Quealy
    Maureen McVerry
    • Billy
    Abigail Van Alyn
    • Connie Dennehy
    • Director
      • Joseph Ruben
    • Writer
      • Wesley Strick
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

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

      Vincent Dennehy: You know, for eight years I've been waiting for some genius to notice it took me an hour to drive seven blocks?

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Cousins/The Mighty Quinn/True Believer/Tap (1989)
    • Soundtracks
      Busload of Faith
      Written and Performed by Lou Reed

      Courtesy of Sire Records

      By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

    User reviews38

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    A Fair Entertainer, with a Winning Performance by James Woods!
    'True Believer' is A Fair Entertainer, with a Winning Performance by James Woods! Woods delivers one of his best performances in this 1989 Courtroom Drama, and he without a doubt, is the biggest merit of this film.

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

    Wesley Strick's Screenplay is average in the first-hour, but is arresting & absorbing in the second-hour. I really liked the second-hour of the film, it really caught my attention. Joseph Ruben Directs this Courtroom Drama, nicely. Cinematography, Editing, Art Design & Costume Design, are satisfactory.

    Performance-Wise: Woods, obviously, is the show-stealer. As mentioned, The Acting Legend delivers one of his best performances in here. He really rips it up in every scene. Robert Downey Jr. is good. Margaret Colin supports well. Yuji Okumoto is passable, while Kurtwood Smith is excellent. Others fill the bill.

    On the whole, 'True Believer' is a decent film, with Woods ruling the show with a memorable performance.
    helpful•5
    2
    • namashi_1
    • Sep 27, 2011

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 17, 1989 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Das dreckige Spiel
    • Filming locations
      • Long Island City Queens, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Columbia Pictures
      • Parkes/Lasker productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $8,742,750
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $3,009,692
      • Feb 20, 1989
    • Gross worldwide
      • $8,742,750
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 48 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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