Borgarkeri A bit overrated, but still an amazing film

HottWwjdIam There is just so much movie here. For some it may be too much. But in the same secretly sarcastic way most telemarketers say the phrase, the title of this one is particularly apt.

Benas Mcloughlin Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

Sarita Rafferty There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

Alyssa Black (Aly200) A burned out former civil rights lawyer and his hero-worshiping clerk are attempting to free an innocent man, but the web is trickier than they expected. That is the basic plot of this lesser known legal drama starring James Woods and Robert Downey, Jr. The performances by Woods and Downey, Jr. are the film's highlight. James Woods brings his trademark sarcasm and wit to the role of Eddie Dodd, the disillusioned lawyer who went from the best to a low-level defender of drug peddlers. When Downey, Jr.'s Roger Baron arrives on the scene and fanatically pushes Eddie to take the case of a Korean inmate who might've been wrongly convicted, Woods goes just barely over the top as he chews Downey out for his idolization of him. However Eddie Dodd realizes that what he sees in his new clerk is the same spirit Dodd himself once had and pursues the case. The chemistry between Woods and Downey, Jr. make for the best of the film's out of court scenes and for some heartfelt moments.The plot of the film is relatively simple as it plays like a "race against time" to find out the true culprit. However the filmmakers make this cliché work to their advantage as the web of lies grow more elaborate until the final reveal of the true villain. The tension is paced well and doesn't try to move into a genre the film is not.

Billy_Tallent I imagine people seeing this movie when it was initially released in 1989 probably have a different perspective on it.However, I can only review it from today's bias, since I only recently saw it. This may mean I am judging the movie, on its own merits, unfairly.The fact is, I have seen this plot innumerable times on Law and Order and all those similar cop/lawyer shows. It's just not very interesting. We all know what is going to happen. There's no tension. Of course, ordinary plot can be compensated for by strong characters, but here the characters are also pretty one-dimensional. James Woods as Eddie Dodd over-acts, and I don't buy his character's sudden change from defending scuzzy drug-dealers for cash bonuses, to caring once again about the people he defends. There's just no reason given for it. I think we were supposed to get the idea that he sees his former self in the younger and idealistic Roger Baron (Downey), except we don't see any evidence of this transition, we only know this because it's a standard of any movie featuring the older jaded mentor and the young fresh tyro. Downey has very little to do, everything focuses on Dodd's journey. And Dodd is just not a compelling character.

aubrechon Absolutely one of the best movies I've ever seen. Woods has the uncanny ability to make you feel like your witnessing an event first hand versus some other actors strategies of mustering up some half-baked emotion to match the script. Watching Woods in this film is like watching someone who is being filmed while they're all alone but they don't realize that a camera is on them. The movie is extremely action packed and moves at lightning speed. Also rather complex. I had to watch it twice to really soak it all in but loved every minute of it. After watching this movie I understood and agreed with Bette Davis when she said that James Woods was the best actor in Hollywood. All the other actors did a great job. They seemed to feed off of Woods fanatical high energy and roll with the flow.

FSUKXAZ Very cool movie. Excellent plot. Robert Downy Jr plays an excellent new attorney. James Woods is in top form as the experienced attorney. In fact, he is the movie and steals the show. Excellent court room drama, action, and comedy all rolled up in one movie. True Believer is definately worth owning.