True Confessions is brilliantly cast and acted.

Des is another solitary soul, but perhaps he's the most subtle and accessible solitary De Niro has yet embodied -- a man whose isolation draws you closer instead of giving you the willies.

Two exciting, dangerous actors have little to do: Duvall spends too much time pacing and waiting; De Niro's big scene has him hanging up his vestments.

The story of two corrupt brothers merely uses the Black Dahlia as its framing device, but it's DeNiro who steals the show.