The Confession Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

After hospital neglect causes his son’s death, a religious accountant commits revenge murders, forcing his morally flexible lawyer to debate God’s law, human law, and maybe an environmental cover-up.

🍿 The Confession: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Father’s Grief and Revenge

Harry Fertig, a devout Jewish man and successful financial executive in New York City, faces a devastating tragedy when his six-year-old son dies after being denied prompt medical attention at a hospital emergency room. Overwhelmed by grief and a sense of injustice, Harry decides to take matters into his own hands. Driven by vengeance, Harry tracks down and murders the three hospital employees he holds responsible for his son’s death: the admitting attendant, the nurse, and the doctor. Following these actions, he turns himself in to the police, making no attempt to hide his guilt.

The High-Stakes Defense

Harry Fertig’s case attracts the attention of Jack Renoble, his powerful and wealthy employer, who hires ambitious New York litigator Roy Bleakie to represent him. Bleakie, known for his ruthless tactics and aspirations to become District Attorney, initially sees the case as a high-profile opportunity. Bleakie intends to build a defense based on temporary insanity, arguing that Harry’s actions were a result of profound grief and mental distress. However, he quickly faces an unexpected challenge: Harry insists on pleading guilty, believing he must face the consequences of his actions according to both human law and God’s law.

A Moral and Legal Struggle

The central conflict of the film emerges from the clash between Bleakie’s legal strategy focused on winning and Harry’s unwavering moral and religious conviction to confess and accept punishment. As Bleakie delves deeper into Harry’s life and motivations, he begins to grapple with his own ethical compromises and the true meaning of justice. Complicating matters, Bleakie uncovers potential hidden motives behind Renoble’s eagerness for an insanity plea. He suspects that Harry, as the company’s CFO, may possess damaging information related to corporate activities that Renoble wants to keep buried, leading Bleakie down a path that challenges his career ambitions and his conscience.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Harry Fertig (Ben Kingsley): A devout Jewish father who commits murder to avenge his son’s death and insists on accepting punishment based on his moral beliefs.
• Roy Bleakie (Alec Baldwin): An ambitious and initially cynical defense attorney hired to represent Harry Fertig, whose moral compass is challenged by the case.
• Sarah Fertig (Amy Irving): Harry’s wife, who is grappling with the grief of losing her son and the complicated legal and moral fallout of her husband’s actions.
• Jack Renoble (Jay O. Sanders): Harry Fertig’s wealthy and influential employer whose motives for providing Harry’s defense become increasingly suspect.
• Mel Duden (Kevin Conway): Roy Bleakie’s investigator and co-counsel who often acts as a sounding board and voice of conscience for the attorney.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Jack Renoble: “A cynic is an idealist who’s been disappointed.” – Said to Roy Bleakie, offering a perspective on cynicism that reflects Bleakie’s own potential disillusionment.
• Harry Fertig: “I confess because it is God’s law. I must take responsibility for my deeds.” – Explaining to Roy Bleakie his unwavering desire to plead guilty and accept punishment according to his religious and moral beliefs, defying legal strategy.
• Roy Bleakie: “It’s not hard to do the right thing, Mr. Fertig. It’s hard to know what the right thing is.” – Bleakie grapples with the moral ambiguity of the case and the conflict between legal strategy, his ambition, and Harry’s unyielding moral code.
• Harry Fertig: “My son is dead because of their indifference.” – Stating the simple, painful reason behind his actions, highlighting the negligence that led to his son’s death.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $4,000,000
• Domestic Gross: None
• Worldwide Gross: None

💥 The Confession Reviews

Personal Review

Wow, this movie really made me think! I went in expecting a standard courtroom drama, but it dug deep into some heavy moral stuff. Ben Kingsley as the grieving father was just incredible; his quiet intensity and commitment to his truth felt so genuine, it was hard not to empathize with him, even after what he did. Alec Baldwin’s character arc was fascinating to watch. Seeing him grapple with his ambition versus his client’s unwavering moral stance was the core of the film for me. There were moments where I felt frustrated by his initial slickness, but his transformation felt earned, if a little slow at times. The pacing is definitely deliberate, and it leans more on dialogue and ideas than action. If you’re looking for explosions, this isn’t it. But if you enjoy a film that makes you ponder ‘what is the right thing to do?’ in messy situations, I think you’ll find this rewarding.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of legal dramas and courtroom thrillers”
  • “Viewers interested in moral and ethical dilemmas”
  • “Those who appreciate character-driven stories focusing on personal transformation”
  • “Audiences who enjoy movies featuring actors like Ben Kingsley and Alec Baldwin”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Rated R”
  • “Language”
  • “Brief strong violence”
  • “Some sexual images”

Professional Reviews

• User Review Synthesis: “Ben Kingsley delivers a masterful performance as the devout father seeking justice, anchoring this moral drama. While Alec Baldwin’s portrayal of the ambitious lawyer is solid and surprisingly nuanced for some, the film’s pace is quite slow, sometimes feeling more like a TV movie. It raises significant questions about morality, law, and conscience, but the execution can be uneven, occasionally bordering on tedious or overly dramatic.
• User Review Synthesis: “This legal thriller attempts to tackle complex moral questions, but the script and direction often fall short. The plot feels predictable and, at times, outright silly, particularly the unnecessary romantic subplot. Despite the strong performances from Kingsley and Irving, the film struggles to maintain tension or believability. It feels like a great idea poorly executed, wasting the potential of its cast and premise.
• User Review Synthesis: “The Confession is a thought-provoking film centered on a man’s quest for truth and the lawyer’s journey toward moral awakening. While the dialogue can be heavy-handed and the pacing deliberate, the core conflict between legal strategy and moral imperative is compelling. Kingsley is phenomenal, and Baldwin gives one of his more memorable dramatic performances. It’s a film that prioritizes ideas over action, which might not appeal to everyone but offers a rewarding experience for those seeking substance.

Audience Reactions

Viewers were deeply moved by Ben Kingsley’s powerful portrayal of a man seeking justice.: Many appreciated the film’s focus on complex moral dilemmas and the battle between legal strategy and personal conscience. Ben Kingsley’s acting was frequently singled out as exceptional, and Alec Baldwin’s performance was seen by some as one of his best dramatic roles.

Overall Consensus: A polarizing but generally appreciated moral drama, elevated by strong performances from Ben Kingsley and Alec Baldwin, that sparks discussion despite its deliberate pace and uneven execution for some.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Actor Alan Rickman was reportedly offered and turned down a role in the film.”
• “The film is based on the 1975 novel of the same name by Sol Yurick, author of ‘The Warriors’.”
• “Some reviews note that the film’s directing style felt similar to a TV movie, which is consistent with director Daniel Hugh Jones’ prolific work in television.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Confession?

To watch ‘The Confession’ (1999), you can typically find it available for digital purchase or rent on major platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and Vudu. Availability on subscription streaming services may vary over time, so checking these platforms is the most reliable way to find the movie.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Confession, you might like these similar films:

• A Time to Kill (1996): Like ‘The Confession’, this film features a legal drama centered around a man who takes vigilante action after a horrific crime against his family, forcing his lawyer to navigate complex moral and legal defenses.
• Michael Clayton (2007): Explores the moral awakening of a corporate lawyer who confronts the unethical and dangerous actions of his own firm, similar to Roy Bleakie’s journey uncovering a wider conspiracy.
• Primal Fear (1996): A legal thriller from the same era featuring a defense attorney taking on a high-profile, morally challenging case with unexpected twists related to the defendant’s state of mind and external manipulation.
• Dark Waters (2019): A modern drama about a lawyer who takes on a powerful corporation responsible for environmental poisoning, echoing the corporate cover-up theme and the struggle for truth against overwhelming odds presented in ‘The Confession’.
• Twelve Angry Men (1957): While different in setting (jury room), this classic is a masterclass in moral debate and the struggle for justice within the legal system, which fans of ‘The Confession’s ethical core might appreciate.

🛒 The Confession Related Products

• The Confession by Sol Yurick (Novel): The original source material for the film, this critically acclaimed novel by Sol Yurick delves deeper into the characters and the complex themes of justice, morality, and societal pressures in New York City.
• Ben Kingsley Film Collection (DVD/Blu-ray): A collection featuring some of the most impactful performances from Academy Award winner Ben Kingsley, showcasing his versatility as an actor across various genres and roles.
• Classic Legal Dramas Film Set: A curated selection of influential and thought-provoking legal drama films known for their compelling courtroom battles, moral quandaries, and powerful acting.
• The Confession (DVD/Blu-ray): Own the film that brings Sol Yurick’s potent story to life, featuring the acclaimed performances of Ben Kingsley and Alec Baldwin. Includes bonus content like director and cast commentaries (on DVD release).

🎧 Soundtrack

The Confession features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Bleakie’s Bounce” – performed by David Feinman

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

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