Confession

Jonathan Myers makes an impressive film debut as writer/director of CONFESSION, a very well done film that unfortunately went direct to DVD. Though the script is at times a bit clumsy and the control over the arch of emotion from the actors could be tighter, the film succeeds as a thriller, beautifully capturing the mysteries of the Catholic traditions.

In a private, expensive Catholic Prep School Luther Scott (Chris Pine) is a business minded renegade, supplying the student body with booze, porn movies, and other off limits paraphernalia. His hesitant roommate Robbie (Lukas Behnken) assists him but on a turnkey night their partying dorm is visited by the headmaster Father Thomas Parker (Bruce Davison) with a potential rich Senator's student son: the party is over. The boys are all subjected to questioning as to the source of the contraband and one student informs on Luther and Robbie and in a fit of anger Luther pushes the student to his death while disguised/dressed as a priest. Luther makes Robbie promise to keep their secret and Luther 'absolves' himself in the confessional where he admits his murderous act to the kind Father Michael Kelly (Cameron Daddo). Obeying the rules that words said in confessional must remain secret, Father Kelly becomes suspect as the perpetrator and elects to remain silent. The manner in which Luther and Robbie cope with the arrest of an innocent man and the resolution of the crime provide the exciting if a bit predictable conclusion to the story.

The cast is variable but generally fine, especially Australian actor Cameron Daddo and young Chris Pine, allowing us to understand the rites of the Church without condescension. The cinematography is moodily atmospheric and the musical score by Ryan Shore admixes ecclesiastic tones with contemporary mood music. Given that this is a first film for Myers it is one worth examining for the potential it carries. Grady Harp

Chris Pine is a trouble maker at a Catholic school and another student points the finger at him. He gets Pine kicked out and his roommate. The squealer goes to confession where Father Kelly takes his confession. Then the squealer gets pushed off a balcony and is dead. Pine and his roommate swear not to tell. Then Pine goes to Father Kelly and confesses. Pine is wearing a white robe covered in blood. A truck driver sees the white robe running from the crime scene. Father Kelly won't tell the police. Pine's roommate sees that Father Kelly is being blamed. He wants to tell the truth.

This has a juicy plot about Catholic priests and boys. All kinds of things could go on there. Very watchable.

Why wouldn't the priest at least say that someone that committed the crime confessed to him, therefore he can't reveal the identity. Instead he keeps his mouth shut and becomes a suspect. Pretty far-fetched if you ask me. Also why doesn't the pries encourages the boy to turn himself in...it would have been a better plot. Not a very believable movie. I was disappointed with the ending. This is not a movie I would recommend, unless you don't have anything else to watch. The character for the policeman is not very well developed either. In addition, the boy who was witness to the murder (accident really) is not very smart either. He should have talked to the priest not as a confession, this way giving the priest a way out form the confession rule.

This is a really poor film. Even the ones made for "movie of the week "are better than this. The story line is predictable, the acting is equal to a high school production and the entire premise, based on the sanctity of the seal of confession is weak. If you are thinking of renting this on DVD , save your money. The girl who plays the main character's girlfriend (who is supposed to be in high school ) , looks about 25 rather than a teenager. There is so much miscasting it is a joke.

At best, the main character Luther, is annoying and my Himalayan cat has more emotion than he possesses. A real turkey!!!

Confession is a drama set in a catholic boarding school revolving around the escapades of Luther Scott, it's self proclaimed "go-to" guy for everything from alcohol to adult magazines. The film does a good job of setting up the character of Luther, portrayed by Chris Pine, and starts to take a turn when Luther is ratted out by one of his classmates after a dorm hall party is busted up by one of the head priest.

I too was mislead by some of the comments on the board into thinking this was going to be something unique but instead found an average run of the mill TV movie. Starts out strong but drags heavily through the middle and it's predictable end.

What I found incredibly distracting was that almost all of the key players, including the 25 year old Pine, were trying to portray 17 year old boys! The overall acting is pretty poor, including some laugh out loud moments, but is adequately carried by Pine. But still you can't help but think you are looking at young stock brokers instead of adolescents. The believability of Pine and some of the other characters as schoolboys was simply stretched too far.

The plot is formulaic and at the end of the day leaves little to remember it by. A good candidate for Movie of the week but can't compete on the mainstream level. There are even mid-movie fadeouts where the commercial breaks will be. Save this one for the 2am "need to sleep" dozer unless you know someone who was in it.

5 out of 10 Maddis