True Colors (1991)

Touches You

Just perfect...

A brilliant film that helped define a genre

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

For cinema in general, even if a story is derivative or clichéd, good writing can sometimes bolster an average or even sub-par story. Take director Herbert Ross's "True Colors" staring 2 young and talented actors of that 1991 year, John Cusack and James Spader. You can sniff out the storyline from a mile away. It lacked surprise and is utterly predictable. 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. Still, there is some cheese on sound in the stodgy old 90s era Jazz background, and the 80s materialism and hairdos. Overall though I liked Spader and especially Cusack who were a great pairing and full of energy. Good Movie - 7/10 Recommended.

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. Diana (Imogen Stubbs) is the Senator's daughter who comes between them. 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 ready to cut corners, Peter gets a shady developer to bankroll his run for Congress. 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. Yeah, the story never gets much beyond a superficial level. However, it looks good, sounds good and moves along at a nice clip. This is some professionally constructed entertainment.And did I mention that Peter Burton and Tim Gerrity are totally not gay? Yes, they clearly care far more about each other than either did about Diana. Sure, they hang out together and vacation together and trust each other more than anyone else in the world. And of course, the film's big emotional climax sees them rolling around on the floor in each other's arms. But they are totally not gay.Seriously.Not gay.At all.Really.

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. They hit it off from a small automobile accident (pardon the pun), and progressed from minor adversaries, to best of friends. Until Peter's ambition gets the better of him, as he aims to become Congressman in 10 years.From the start, we see a flip side to Peter's goody-two-shoes character. He always has something to hide, and has an ulterior motive to things that he does. He tells little white lies to get his way, and has a siege mentality that it's always him versus Them. 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. It's always about the girl, or is it? And as Tim puts it aptly, only somebody close to you, can do the most damage. They know your secrets, and best of all, they have your trust. It's true though, if you think carefully about it, the best person to ruin you (reputation, etc), is none other than the person you trust the most. 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! Code 1 DVD is the bare bones version, aside from the usual audio and scene selections.

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.