On this day, February 17, 1989, True Believer premiered in theaters. Directed by Joseph Ruben, the legal thriller starred James Woods as a jaded civil rights lawyer and Robert Downey Jr. as his idealistic young assistant, tackling a wrongful conviction case with life or death stakes.
The film followed Eddie Dodd (Woods), a once prominent activist lawyer who has grown cynical and now defends drug dealers. When Roger Baron (Downey Jr.), his ambitious new associate, convinces him to take on the case of a young Korean-American man (Yuji Okumoto) wrongfully imprisoned for murder, Dodd rediscovers his passion for justice. As they dig deeper, they uncover a tangled web of corruption and police misconduct.
With its sharp courtroom drama and strong performances, True Believer earned critical praise, though it performed modestly at the box office with an $8.7 million gross. The film’s success helped boost Robert Downey Jr.’s early career, paving the way for his rise in Hollywood.
80s insight: James Woods’ portrayal of Eddie Dodd was loosely inspired by real life attorney Tony Serra, known for his civil rights work and unconventional courtroom tactics.
The film followed Eddie Dodd (Woods), a once prominent activist lawyer who has grown cynical and now defends drug dealers. When Roger Baron (Downey Jr.), his ambitious new associate, convinces him to take on the case of a young Korean-American man (Yuji Okumoto) wrongfully imprisoned for murder, Dodd rediscovers his passion for justice. As they dig deeper, they uncover a tangled web of corruption and police misconduct.
With its sharp courtroom drama and strong performances, True Believer earned critical praise, though it performed modestly at the box office with an $8.7 million gross. The film’s success helped boost Robert Downey Jr.’s early career, paving the way for his rise in Hollywood.
80s insight: James Woods’ portrayal of Eddie Dodd was loosely inspired by real life attorney Tony Serra, known for his civil rights work and unconventional courtroom tactics.
