True Colors

Plot synopsis:
The movie opens with Peter Burton (Cusack) and best friend Tim Garrity (Spader) nervously awaiting the results of Peter's congressional election. Tim is telling the story of how they all came to such a thing. The two had met seven years earlier following an argument in the parking lot at law school. After discovering that they are to be roommates, the men become close friends. Tim, who comes from an affluent family, plans a career with the Department of Justice, a fact that doesn't sit well with his girlfriend, Diana (Imogen Stubbs), the daughter of Senator Stiles (Widmark). The couple end their relationship before Tim has a chance to propose. Peter, who is embarrassed by his lower-class roots, plans a career in politics, eventually manipulating his way into a job on a congressman's campaign staff.
The friendship between them is severely tested when Peter confesses to Tim during a ski vacation that he and Diana have been carrying on an affair. He adds that he plans to ask Diana to marry him. Tim, angry at the betrayal, speeds off down a hazardous ski trail. The less experienced Peter follows him down with far less grace than Tim. There's a steep cliff at the end. Tim hesitates to warn Peter, but finally does so. Unfortunately, Peter doesn't hear Tim's belated warnings in time, hurtles down to the bottom breaking his leg and cracking two ribs. Tim forgives Peter and even agrees to be the best man at Peter and Diana's wedding.
Shortly after marrying Diana, Peter falls under the influence of John Palmieri (Mandy Patinkin), who has ties to organized crime and political corruption. He bribes Peter into going along with an influence peddling scheme. Meanwhile, things have begun to spiral out of control in Peter's extended family. Earlier in the film, Stiles is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's disease, something that will end his political career. Peter seizes the opportunity to manipulate his father-in-law into supporting his run for Congress. When the older man refuses, Peter threatens to leak news of the illness to the press. The senator reluctantly acquiesces, but promises Peter that he will eventually get caught.
Tim, who by this time has risen through the ranks of the Department of Justice, launches an investigation into political corruption that will eventually lead back to Palmieri. When Palmieri discovers Peter's ties to Tim, he bullies Peter into setting Tim up by putting him in touch with a bogus tipster. Tim runs with the false info, creating public embarrassment for the DOJ and compromising the investigation. Tim is suspended, and Peter hires him to work for him on his upcoming campaign. Stiles reveals the conversation that he had with Peter to Diana and she decides to divorce Peter. Shortly thereafter, Tim discovers Peter's role in getting him suspended from his job. Diana reveals she has filed for divorce. Tim volunteers to help the DOJ work to bring Peter down.
Tim works diligently to gather evidence of Peter's dealings with Palmieri. After compiling as much evidence as he possibly can, he convinces his superiors at the DOJ to set up surveillance in a hotel room. After Peter wins the election, Tim gets Peter into the hotel room upstairs and to own up to everything on camera. Peter becomes suspicious shortly thereafter; Tim reveals the presence of the surveillance camera. He also tells Peter that Palmieri is being arraigned at that very moment. Peter viciously attacks Tim. When the fighting subsides and the two calm down, Tim tells Peter he has brought his ruin upon himself.
After Peter gives his victory speech, he is arrested and charged with political corruption. The movie ends a few months later when Peter drops by Tim's apartment to drop off a bottle of champagne. Peter reveals that he will not be sworn into office, and that he has been offered immunity in exchange for testimony against Palmieri. Tim then tells Peter that he will be forced to testify against him if he does not accept the plea deal. The two have a reconciliation of sorts and go their separate ways.

Tags: revenge

Review:
True Colors is an intelligently plotted drama that never insults your intelligence.
John Cusack is excellent as Peter Burton, a man with an amazing knack to manipulate people.
James Spader is also excellent as Tim Gerrity, who becomes Burton's best friend.
And we see how Burton's choices cost him in the end.The plot would not work if Cusack weren't so convincing.
His Burton is so good at talking people into things, he can even talk himself into doing things he knows are wrong, dangerous, or both.
While Cusack is at the center, all of the performances are solid; at no point did I focus on the acting instead of the story.
The movie grabbed my attention and didn't let go.I give this drama my highest recommendation..
This is one of the finest political movies ever done.
And if he doesn't decide to return to the screen post his 90th birthday, it is a fitting swan song to the career of Richard Widmark.James Spader's Tim Gerrity and John Cusack's Peter Burton meet on the first day of law school and get assigned to be roommates.
The film follows the career paths each take, the same woman they both are involved with and the values each takes from his background and develops along the way.Spader is the idealistic upper middle class kid who is born to a tradition of public service and attracted by the idealism of it.
He's good in his part, but it's John Cusack's portrayal that really drives this film.Driven is the word for it, that is exactly what Peter Burton is.
In fact, he's invented a background for himself that's phony and the scene where that is revealed is one of the movie's high points.
It's what makes John Cusack's performance so real for me.
I think it is the finest thing he's ever done on film.Richard Widmark plays United States Senator Joseph Stiles, a Yankee blue blood type to the manor born.
Because of that, I have to believe that this role must have been a personal favorite.The best scene in the movie is when Cusack, who Widmark has made a protégé of, essentially blackmails Widmark into supporting Cusack for an open Congressional seat.
He has to give into the blackmail for reasons I won't go into, but he does rip open the character of Cusack in some unforgettable dialog.I would also commend to other actors in this.
Mandy Patinkin who plays an unscrupulous businessman/racketeer with an understated malevolence and Paul Guilfoyle who is Widmark's chief of staff, who has Cusack's number, but is unable to do anything about it.I'm surprised that no Oscar nods came with this film, especially for Widmark as a supporting actor.
"True Colors" tells of two male law school student who are best friends with contrasting integrity which leads to conflict.
Spader plays straight man to Cusack's fast-track-to-success character who uses manipulation and ruthlessness on his way to a congressional seat.
This yuppie-flavored flick is obvious in the way it presents it's "Ethics 101" plot but the story moves quickly and is sufficiently interesting to make it worth a look.
An okay diversion for channel surfers interested in a film about two men from opposite sides of the tracks with enduring friendship fraught with conflict and moral issues..
This film explores one pathway: ambitious young man willing to bend the law, take opportunities (or make them) as they come, sacrifice friendship, invent the facts to suit the occasion etc.This time, however, we have the pleasure of seeing some accountability - too bad it doesn't happen more often.Well acted, well directed.
During the summer of 1992, when I was just a young lad of 19, my friend's mother rented TRUE COLORS, and, while I was over, she told me that she already saw the movie and that I should watch it because she thought I would like it.
TRUE COLORS changed my life.
After watching the movie I got pumped up to go to law school and I am now attending NEW YORK LAW SCHOOL.
The movie has intelligent characters, a deep plot, and a powerful message.
This movie demonstrates that the lust for power, if unchecked, corrupts.
That following Christmas my friend's family gave me TRUE COLORS as a Christmas gift.
For me, it's a toss-up between James Spader and Anthony Michael Hall.John Cusack was mesmerizing back in his early-days.
"The Sure Thing" put him on the map and "Say Anything..." made him a household name.But while Crowe's "Say Anything..." was obviously a great movie, it was both a blessing and a curse for Cusack, who has rarely played anything else in his career.
But "a rose by any other name..." His character, no matter what the movie, is essentially always Lloyd Dobbler.Spader sometimes played other types besides the oily Steff from "Pretty in Pink." His typecast-breaking turn came when he played the lead in this movie.
Which was one of my guilty pleasures of this movie.The story and plot are the right out of the old fable about the rich man and the poor man who come together and create something special...
And the poor man plots to take revenge...Another big twist that "True Colors" has is it's twist in typecasting.
Cusack specializes in playing sharp, calculated, smarter-than-average teenager...
Here, Cusack plays a character who's as smart as the heroes he usually plays, though here he uses his intellectual gifts for evil instead of good.
Here he betrays the girl (and his close friend) in order to get what he wants.And Spader usually plays blue-blooded, silver-spoon fed, upper-class yuppie scummy villains.
But a hero, who uses his financial connections to right wrongs and do just.The two meet the first day of law school where there's a fender-bender and brief scuffle.
Cusack angrily attacks Spader violently and blames him for the whole thing and the two have to be pulled apart.
You'll see why.Afterwords, the two form a fast friendship and Spader even uses his financial backgrounds and connections to help Cusack out.
Later we find out that Cusack is lying about his background to fit in and the payoff feels lifted out of a soppy, moralizing and insipid sit-com where today's moral is...
"If you have to be someone else to get a friend, then they're really not your friend."Richard Widmark is great as well as the ailing senator who sees potential and ambition in Cusack after he sees what looks like Cusack doing him a favor, little realizing how dangerous Cusack is.
Spader girlfriend considers breaking off the relationship for Cusack who can keep her bringing in big cash.
She doesn't realize that Cusack is willing to betray her too, in order to get what he wants.One of the major problems is that their true colors are obvious from the beginning.
Cusack is clearly someone not to trust from the start and Spader all but actually walks on water.
And Spader's big plan and the finale is pretty tacked on.The movie aspires to be a movie like "Patriot Games" or "Citizen Kane." But everything is routine and predictable and there are precious few new touches to this tired formula.
If screenwriter Kevin Wade could've given the script a bit more depth and discovery into these characters and done a little more with the formula, this could have really been something special.
The cast does what it can, but inevitably, a good cast can only take a movie so far.
Still, it's worth seeing just for Cusack turn towards the dark side and Spader as a yuppie with heart.Oh, well...--Filled With Personal Politics, Dane Youssef.
I found this movie very entertaining because the character played by John Cusack is somewhat of a tragic hero.
I just wonder whether the title refers to his character or to the one played by Jame Spader.
Overall, the movie has a good message and always holds the viewers attention..
True Colors is certainly not a classic, but it is worth a look,  Having seen it years ago I have always considered it one of those mini discoveries.
A little film that I enjoyed that most people were not aware of.
We all know that politicians are scum and that the government is always at work for US, so NOTHING about this film or the morals of the people in it should surprise.
What is a bit amusing is the fact that the film makers wish us to believe that Spader and the Justice Department have integrity.
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.
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.
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!
True Colors is a good movie with excellent performances by all actors involved.
A very good screenplay also helps this movie, which is not very well known.
It is worth the rental just to watch Cusack and Spader together.
Decent Spader-Cusack film from the early 90s..
True Colors is an alright movie- like a diversion and would seem cheesy by today's standards.
True Colors is an alright movie- like a diversion and would seem cheesy by today's standards.
John Cusack and James Spader play friends from opposite sides of the street- one rich the other poor.
John Cusack and James Spader play friends from opposite sides of the street- one rich the other poor.
Cusack is good as the scheming friend with an ulterior motive and the film never really becomes too saccharine.
Cusack is good as the scheming friend with an ulterior motive and the film never really becomes too saccharine.
A good afternoon diversion but there is other Cusack or Spader movie you can consider if you want to watch their work..
A good afternoon diversion but there is other Cusack or Spader movie you can consider if you want to watch their work..
Peter Burton (John Cusack) and Tim Garrity (James Spader) are waiting for Peter's congressional election results.
The movie flashes back to University of Virginia Law School where the two best friend first met in a fender bender.
Tim is from a rich family and plans to pursue a career in justice.
His girlfriend Diana (Imogen Stubbs), the daughter of Senator Stiles (Richard Widmark), breaks up with him.
Despite that, Tim stays as Peter's best man.
Peter's rise in politics involve mob-connected John Palmieri (Mandy Patinkin) putting him in direct conflict with Tim who joined the Justice Department.These are two of the best actors of their age.
Concentrating on Peter Burton could have made this an interesting dark movie.
This has the feel of a Brat Pack movie trying to do politics although the guys bring it.
True colors.
It's a real journey, picking Spader & Cusack's characters up as they commence college like & following them for the next 10 years or so into there respective careers & personal lives.While both are high achievers; Spader comes from a successful wealthy family & Cusack from a modest working class back ground.
I found exploring both characters fascinating as there relationship is put under enormous strain.It's set from 1984 onwards so if you enjoy being nostalgic over that capitalistic age, & enjoyed the brat pack movies, this will help.
I wanted to like this movie....
I love good political movies.
And I can see what they're trying to do with 'True Colors.' It's definitely ambitious, I'll give you that.
But ultimately, I felt like this film just couldn't pull it off.The writing and dialogue were incredibly contrived.
It felt like they were just plucking ideas from old episodes of that ridiculous show 'Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.' I'm surprised they didn't throw in a scene with characters chatting while on an African big-game safari in Tanzania.Even though I love both actors, at their young ages in these roles Cusack and Spader were playing above their weight class.
They looked more like little boys playing dress-up and pretending to be adults.Imogen Coot or Stubble or Stubbly or Whatever was *horrible*.
Her 'acting' was atrocious.The only thing that kept me mildly intrigued were the oodles of homoerotic overtones (whether intentional or not) that seemed to pop up in so many scenes between Cusack and Spader.
The writers apparently didn't know how to show us that these guys were really close friends, and they ended up writing scenes that just look incredibly embarrassing today.
*That* actually would have been a better movie.Finally, it's a little sad that this was the final role of the great Richard Widmark.
At least we know that when he got to yell at young James Spader for being such a cocky little sunnabitch, he probably didn't have to work too hard at it..
Neither of the lead characters are close to their best but the whole thing has just too little going for it.
It's what I felt about renting this movie..
John Cusack is one of my favorite actors of all time, and James Spader has some talent as well, but this movie, from the "shoot-me-in-the-head-before-I-vomit-my-brains-out" opening theme, through the first half hour (which was all I could stand, and I sat through "Hunk" when it came out in the theater), was one huuuuuuge disappointment..
This must be where Smigel and Sedelmaier got the idea for The Ambiguously Gay Duo. This middling little movie is about a lot of things.
Friendship, politics, betrayal, ambition, classism and idealism are just a few.
What it is about more than anything else, however, is how its two main characters are totally not gay.Peter Burton and Tim Gerrity (John Cusack and James Spader) start out as law school roommates.
Peter is a charismatic young man on the move, reinventing himself as he goes, while Tim is the sort of doggedly earnest do-gooder who disdains things like money and power the way only a rich man's son can.
She starts out with Tim but grows weary of his desire for the small life and transfers her attentions to Peter and his big dreams.
And the fact that both guys get involved with the same girl proves they are totally not gay.Eventually Tim ends up in the Department of Justice and Peter joins the staff of Diana's father (Richard Widmark), angling constantly for his own advancement.
Always full of integrity, Tim sets himself the task of taking down his old friend.
And remember, they are totally not gay.In most respects, True Colors is a fair piece of work.
It's take on political and personal corruption is simultaneously a little naïve and melodramatic, but Cusack and Spader overcome that by giving you an early look at how they'd become such magnetic performers.
Richard Widmark brings a little old Hollywood style to things and Mandy Patinkin glimmers as sleek, worldly temptation.
This is some professionally constructed entertainment.And did I mention that Peter Burton and Tim Gerrity are totally not gay?
Good Dialog, w/ Standard Story.
Take director Herbert Ross's "True Colors" staring 2 young and talented actors of that 1991 year, John Cusack and James Spader.
Even so, it doesn't matter because despite this, the filmmakers and actors keep it interesting with good lead and supporting performances, and fairly good dialog and acting.
Top punchline in dialog was the saying about "morning dew" - if you see the movie you'll know.
Overall though I liked Spader and especially Cusack who were a great pairing and full of energy.
Good Movie - 7/10 Recommended..
Movie about friendship and betrayal.
John Cusack and James Spader are the leading men in this 1991 drama.True Colors tells about two friends Peter Burton (Cusack) and Tim Garrity (Spader).The movie starts with them waiting for the results of the congressional election.Then the movie goes seven years back to the year 1983 at the law school and shows us how they became friends.Then we learn how Peter betrays his best friend when he enters the world of politics.This Herbert Ross movie is fairly good law movie.John Cusack at his younger years gets to show his talent.It's pretty unbelievable to watch his speech at the end.And James Spader is just as good.Another great scene is where these two are skiing down the hill and Peter hurts himself.Imogen Stubbs plays Diana Stiles who talks about marriage with Tim but ends up marrying Peter.Mandy Patinkin plays the true crook John Palmeri.Richard Widmark is Senator James Stiles.Dina Merrill is Joan Stiles.Philip Bosco is Senator Frank Steubens.True Colors is a good movie.It's not a great movie, but it's a good movie.