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True Colors

Play trailer Poster for True Colors R 1991 1h 52m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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44% Tomatometer 18 Reviews 45% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
College roommates Tim Gerrity (James Spader) and Peter Burton (John Cusack) seem as if they'll be friends forever despite their class differences. Tim comes from a privileged family, while Peter's roots are solidly blue-collar. But a rift develops between them when Peter pursues a political career with such wild ambition that he will go to any lengths -- including blackmail -- to get ahead. As the betrayals mount, Tim resolves to stop Peter's rush to power before it's too late.
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True Colors

Critics Reviews

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Steve Davis Austin Chronicle May 20, 2006
1.5/5
The painstakingly obvious screenplay by Kevin Wade (Working Girl) plays like an eighth-grade civics primer: ethics and morality are good, greed and corruption are bad. Go to Full Review Vincent Canby New York Times May 20, 2003
2/5
True Colors apparently thinks it is exposing the values of the greedy 1980's. Yet its own understanding of moral conduct is warped. Go to Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Jan 1, 2000
2/4
Requires more than the willing suspension of disbelief; it demands a willful abandonment of incredulity. Go to Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Jul 29, 2023
3/4
...a progressively engrossing drama... Go to Full Review Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) Jan 26, 2023
The film, aside from improbability, is hypocritical. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Grant Watson Fiction Machine Oct 4, 2022
4/10
Herbert Ross’ political drama True Colors has a weak screenplay, humdrum direction, and a white-guy-sax musical score that refuses to ever end, but its two lead performances almost manage to save it. Almost, but not quite. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Lasse D @RT23735401 Aug 12, 2025 I actually find this movie entertaining ive always liked James Spader and John Cusack The movie also brings some nostalgic vibes from a time pre 9/11 one of the 2 best decades the 80/90s See more Steve D @RT35616104 Feb 23, 2023 The talent is clearly in front of the camera. See more Oct 22, 2018 True Colors is an alright movie- like a diversion and would seem cheesy by today's standards. These films were so common in the time it was made you can call it a product of its time. John Cusack and James Spader play friends from opposite sides of the street- one rich the other poor. Cusack is good as the scheming friend with an ulterior motive and the film never really becomes too saccharine. A good afternoon diversion but there is other Cusack or Spader movie you can consider if you want to watch their work. See more Dec 15, 2015 I shall say, betrayal could well be of human nature. See more Aug 27, 2015 Fair enough, but wasn't really interested of its American politics backdrop. See more May 16, 2015 Give and take between two upcoming young actors is worth the time to watch See more Read all reviews
True Colors

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Cast & Crew

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Herbert Ross

Director

John Cusack

Peter Burton

James Spader

Tim Gerrity

Imogen Stubbs

Diana Stiles

Mandy Patinkin

John Palmeri

Richard Widmark

Sen. Stiles

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True Colors

True Colors (1991) True Colors (1991) True Colors (1991) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis College roommates Tim Gerrity (James Spader) and Peter Burton (John Cusack) seem as if they'll be friends forever despite their class differences. Tim comes from a privileged family, while Peter's roots are solidly blue-collar. But a rift develops between them when Peter pursues a political career with such wild ambition that he will go to any lengths -- including blackmail -- to get ahead. As the betrayals mount, Tim resolves to stop Peter's rush to power before it's too late.
Director
Herbert Ross
Producer
Laurence Mark, Herbert Ross
Screenwriter
Kevin Wade
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount Pictures
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 15, 1991, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 21, 2010
Box Office (Gross USA)
$304.5K
Runtime
1h 52m
Sound Mix
Dolby, Surround
Aspect Ratio
35mm
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