The Confession (1999)

Best movie of this year hands down!

A Disappointing Continuation

Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

Only I know for how long I've been looking for this picture; considering it's a low budget production, I spent more than a year looking everywhere that could give me clues about how to get it on DVD or any similar, and I finally found it for sale. "The Confession" is a movie that sometimes has the vibe of the courtroom dramas mixed with political conspiracies, delivering something like 1996's "A Time To Kill" and "Primal Fear", among others. I have to mention that the plot is really slow-paced, and for those who prefer movies not that extended, "The Confession" just won't fit. For times I felt like turning it off, given that I couldn't see such surprising outcome it has, and boy, that was just a great twist! Sadly, this film doesn't deserve a better rating due to its extended running time, and maybe because of the weak portrayal of a judge, coming from Anne Twomey-- by the way, why did they change the judges throughout the lawsuit? When I think about the movie's flaws, the photography direction also isn't anything inspiring to see. I can't say if it's good or bad. However, if you are a forbearing watcher that enjoy elaborated pictures, this may be a good choice. This is a regular work that could've been much more recognized than it currently is, and I don't understand why it's so little known.

This is one of those films that has plot elements that someone like Hitchcock and the right script adapters would have made into a classic. The idea of someone being declared mentally incompetent in order to shut him or her up is by no means a new idea, but there is a small twist on it in this film. Fertig, the accountant played by Ben Kingsley, knows too much about the kind of ecological disaster that kills..and would ruin those responsible. It's really handy to have him kill the creeps who failed to give his little son even slightly adequate medical attention in a New York City emergency room. And frankly you will love it that he kills them. The trouble is that religion is mixed in here where it's entirely unnecessary. Someone also forgot that "Death Wish" was a very popular movie. Religious orientation wasn't necessary there.His wife(played by Amy Irving) is a boring character which is not a plus in a film like this..The attorney who is to get Fertig locked up in a mental institution (played by Alec Baldwin) is only slightly interesting as well. The soundtrack is terrible. There is one wonderful goof, however, - a scene in which Baldwin is at the reservoir talking about how nothing is alive there...except a wonderfully irreverent pigeon who suddenly very casually sits down near him. It's worth seeing this trashy film because of the pigeon.Hitchcock..at his best..would have known what to do. So too David O.Selznick. It's too bad..The plot had some good parts..The film is a real dud..EXCEPT FOR THAT PIGEON who should get an award.

I wonder what induced Kingsley, Irving, Noth and Baldwin to participate in this tripe. Understand their beliefs may have led them to do it, but the next time they have a spare weekend, perhaps they could spend it interviewing directors who have a modicum of talent and originality. It was a toss up for me between the direction and the script as to which was the most banal. The consummate professional cast struggled to give the piece some dignity but it was hopeless from the start. On a lighter note, even the delectable Chris Noth plain-janed himself into obscurity.

It amazes me producers can actually take the time to get past the sixth page of the script, and even worse, tarnish great actors like Ben Kingsley and Baldwin, who, despite their brilliance, could never make up for the absurd proposal of the movie. A good premise, poor executed, with a lousy direction. Simply, a total waste. Watch it yourself, you might be acquainted with the oath doctors take upon their course's completion. In Mexico we have a terrible service in Public Health, however, I've never encountered an E.R. that doesn't take two seconds even on a break to take a look at a patient, plus this opening scene is nothing but as predictable as anything you've ever seen.Watch it yourself, then post your comments. It's a shame this premise can be torn down by the execution of the actual movie. I mostly write positive reviews on the movies I find worthwhile, but this was too much an insult to everyone's intelligence.