True Believer (1989)
- Starring:
- James Woods, Robert Downey, Jr., (more)
- Director(s):
- Joseph Ruben
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
My RatingTheatrical Release Information | See Details About All Versions
The only True Believer at the beginning of this drama is idealistic young attorney Robert Downey Jr., who apprentices under the guidance of celebrated civil-rights activist James Woods. Alas, in the years since the sixties, Woods has become a disillusioned, dope-smoking ambulance chaser. Goaded by Downey, Woods takes up one last "lost cause:" that of Korean-American prison inmate Yuji Okomoto, who is about to be tried for the self-defense slaying of another prisoner. As Woods investigates, he unearths several iniquities in the trial that sent Okomoto to prison. Despite the fact that the one witness who might clear Okomoto is an unhinged conspiracy theorist, Woods endeavors to re-open Okomoto's case--which plays right into the hands of sharkish, politically ambitious DA Kurtwood Smith. Chock full of plot twists and last-minute shockers, True Believer was popular enough to inspire a spin-off TV series, Eddie Dodd. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 104 mins
Complete Cast:
- James Woods - Eddie Dodd
- Yuji Okumoto - Shu Kai Kim
- Kurtwood Smith - Robert Reynard
- Charles Hallahan - Vincent Dennehy
- Misan Kim - Mrs. Kim
- Luis Guzman - Ortega
- Tony Haney - Montell
- Will Marchetti - Judge Quealy
- Miguel Fernandes - Art Esparza
- Abigail van Alyn - Connie Dennehy
- David Booth - Minister
- Jarrett Sullivan - Boy
- Margot Rose - Ms. Jessum
- Sean O'Brien - Clyde Gruner
- Charles Dean - Detective
- Gerry Bamman - Brian Nevins
- Peter Anthony Jacobs - Reporter
- Peter Fitzsimmons - Court Clerk
- Ginger Chung - Translator
- Mike Stone - Client
- Maureen McVerry - Billy
- George Maguire - Maitre d'
- Taylor Gilbert - Reynard's Receptionist
- Robert Downey, Jr. - Roger Baron
- Margaret Colin - Kitty Greer
- Tom Bower - Cecil Skell
- Sully Diaz - Maraquilla Esparza
- John Snyder - Chucky Loeder
- Graham Beckel - Sklaroff
- Joel Polis - Dean Rabin
- Richard Fancy - Ballistics Expert
- Kurt Fuller - George Ballistics
- Tony Abatemarco - Glen Fulton
- Karen Rea
- Jan Schultz - Lindeman
- Ralph Peduto - Court Officer
- Stu Klitsher - Magnate
- Cab Covay - Teardrop
- Gustave Johnson - Detective
- Thelton E. Henderson - Judge Baum
- David Espinoza - Corrections Officer
- Cully Fredricksen - Scarecrow
- Thomas Wagner - Tommy
- Deborah Offner - Laura Gayley
- George Jenesky - Slim Jim
- Ken Grantham - Cecil's Judge
- Director(s):
- Joseph Ruben
- Writer(s):
- Lawrence Lasker, Wesley Strick, Walter Parkes
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R(Violence, Profanity, Not For Children, Adult Language)
- Closed Captioning:
- Check All Versions
- Subtitles:
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