True Colors

"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.

It's odd how some movies really resonate with you as individual but do not necessarily have mass appeal. I think this is a sleeper, not many people have seen it. This is one of my favourites & a movie I go back to from time to time. 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. Consequently there attitudes & what drives them is completely different. 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. Also an excellent score by Michael Lang called fanfare. Hope you enjoyed it like it did.

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. Not a moment of this movie is wasted, nor a single line of dialog. We see Burton advance his political career by hook and by crook. We see Gerrity's idealism tested. 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.

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. Viewing it now I still enjoyed the relationship between Cusak and Spader. 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 is quite laughable.

My advice is to enjoy the concept and the journey these people take to achieve power.

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 is not like the tripe that Hollywood is pumping out on a daily basis today, but it is more like the classic filmnoir movies of the 1940's. 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. I still have it and watch it maybe around twice every few months to remind myself why I am in law school. Other movies that I recommend include: THE FIRM, FALLING DOWN, SCARFACE, and 8mm.