True Colors (1991)

Best friends from law school to election night, their friendship is sorely tested when one learns of another's betrayal.

Director:

Herbert Ross

Writer:

Kevin Wade

Stars:

John Cusack, James Spader, Imogen Stubbs

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Cusack	...	Peter Burton
James Spader	...	Tim Gerrity
Imogen Stubbs	...	Diana Stiles
Mandy Patinkin	...	John Palmeri
Richard Widmark	...	Sen. James Stiles
Dina Merrill	...	Joan Stiles
Philip Bosco	...	Sen. Frank Steubens
Paul Guilfoyle	...	John Laury
Brad Sullivan	...	FBI Agent Abernathy
Russell Dennis Baker	...	Todd
Don McManus	...	Doug Stubblefield
Karen Jablons-Alexander	...	Store Clerk
Wendee Pratt	...	Janine
Rende Rae Norman	...	Fanne
Frank Hoyt Taylor	...	Sen. Lockerby

Storyline

Peter and Tim are both law students looking to get into the battleground of politics in Washington, but they both have different ideals and ethics. Tim wants to pursue a career in justice, but Peter is determined to be a big political power broker any way he can, even if that means bending the rules. As their careers push them towards political opposites, their friendship must constantly adapt to the new situation.

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Plot Keywords:

law school | election | politics | political candidate | election campaign | 

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Taglines:

Friendship and betrayal; Its not all black and white.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and sensuality

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 March 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

True Colours

Filming Locations:

Annapolis, Maryland, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$418,807

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The name of the campaign slogan for electoral candidate Peter Burton (John Cusack)'s "Burton '90" political contest for the 1990 election was "Tomorrow's Looking Good!".

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Goofs

In the parking garage scene, Peter recognizes the car of a senator from Kentucky by the license plate on the front of his car. Kentucky did not issue front plates at any time in the 1980's or 1990's.

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Quotes

Tim Gerrity: We may not always get what we want. We may not always get what we need. Just so's we don't get what we deserve!

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Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Class Action/If Looks Could Kill/Guilty by Suspicion/True Colors (1991)

User Reviews

A Nutshell Review: (DVD) True Colors (1991)

This should be my "John Cusack" holiday weekend, with 2 DVDs rented starring the actor. Earlier, I had reviewed one of his earlier works when he was a teenager - Better Off Dead, and here, I'd think it probably is his first role as a slimeball.

John Cusack and James Spader (Sex, Lies and Videotape) play two friends, Peter Burton and Tim Gerrity, from Law School, and chronicles their friendship. They hit it off from a small automobile accident (pardon the pun), and progressed from minor adversaries, to best of friends. Until Peter's ambition gets the better of him, as he aims to become Congressman in 10 years.

From the start, we see a flip side to Peter's goody-two-shoes character. He always has something to hide, and has an ulterior motive to things that he does. He tells little white lies to get his way, and has a siege mentality that it's always him versus Them. He gets envious of Tim's seemingly good life, and coverts Tim's girlfriend Diana, who is the daughter of a Senator. And thus begins the Kane and Abel like story, of betrayals, and counter betrayals between the two men.

Peter gets involved with the mob in his bid to become elected, while Tim, working for the Justice Department, volunteers himself to get the dirt on Peter. It's always about the girl, or is it? And as Tim puts it aptly, only somebody close to you, can do the most damage. They know your secrets, and best of all, they have your trust. It's true though, if you think carefully about it, the best person to ruin you (reputation, etc), is none other than the person you trust the most. Again, looking at the two characters, there is no right or wrong, it all depends on the methods one uses to achieve one's goals.

It's also an interesting look at the shady dealings of politics, of allegiances made because of donations or help to campaign funding, of owing favors to those who voted in favor of you. Things are never that simple, and the mantra shared by both characters are, so long as you don't get caught.

John Cusack has got this charismatic charm, and in this film, uses it well as he seeks to become a politician (you have to have charisma as you deliver those speeches). James Spader too holds his own, as the naive Tim, who slowly discovers betrayal, and decides to turn the tables against the hunter. Fans of John Cusack, you must catch this! Code 1 DVD is the bare bones version, aside from the usual audio and scene selections.