The Confession
The Confession

Movie spotlight

The Confession

1999
Movie
114 min
English

After his young son dies from the negligence at a hospital, Harry Fertig takes matters into his own hands and kills the doctor, nurse and clerk responsible. Slick lawyer Roy Bleakie, looking only to win a case and not caring of the matters involved, is asked by Fertig's boss to defend him. Shocked to hear that his client wants to plead guilty, the case causes Bleakie to question his own morals by defending an honorable man.

Insights

IMDb6.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes45%
Metacritic55/100
Google Users75%
Director: David JonesGenres: Crime, Drama, Thriller

Plot Summary

A dying mob lawyer, played by Ben Kingsley, confesses to a priest that he orchestrated the murder of a union leader and framed an innocent man. The priest, played by Jay Mohr, grapples with his moral obligation to reveal the confession to prevent an innocent man from serving a life sentence. As the priest investigates, he uncovers more layers of deceit and danger within the criminal underworld.

Critical Reception

The Confession received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the performances of Ben Kingsley and Jay Mohr but found the plot to be somewhat predictable and convoluted. The film's suspenseful atmosphere and exploration of moral dilemmas were highlighted, though some critics felt it didn't fully live up to its potential.

What Reviewers Say

  • Ben Kingsley delivers a compelling performance as the calculating mob lawyer.

  • Jay Mohr effectively portrays the priest's internal conflict and struggle with his faith.

  • The film is a tense thriller but suffers from a somewhat formulaic plot.

Google audience: Audiences found the film to be a suspenseful crime drama, with many commending the performances of the lead actors. Some viewers felt the story was a bit predictable, while others appreciated the moral questions it raised.

Fun Fact

The film was based on the novel 'True Confessions' by John Gregory Dunne, which was also loosely based on the real-life murder of Father John Geoghan.

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