Absolution

Absolution_1080P_480P

Absolution_1080P

Absolution_360P

Father Goddard (Richard Burton) is a priest at a Catholic academy for boys. One day, during Latin class, he tells his students about the sanctity of confession, and that the priest who hears it is bound to never reveal the confession to anyone. This is true no matter what the confessor has done. Regrettably, this gives some of the lads the idea to use this against Father Gaddard himself. What follows is a tale of lies, psychopathy, and murder, with Goddard pitted against his own students as well as his sacred vows. ABSOLUTION is a surprisingly good thriller with several unexpected twists and even some creepy moments. Burton is outstanding in his tormented, humiliated, yet unbowed role. Recommended for fans of dark dramas with a difference...

Father Goddard (Richard Burton) teaches Latin at St. Anthony's boys school. Benjei Stanfield (Dominic Guard) is among his favorite students. However, he has failed to connect with Arthur Dyson in a positive way. Dyson wears a leg brace. He is picked on because he is bothersome. He looks to Father Goddard and Benjei for close friendship, but gets rejected. Meanwhile Blakely, a hippie biker (Billy Connolly) camps out in the woods nearby and has befriend Benjei who sneaks out at night to see him. Blakely's basic life philosophy contradicts the church and he places the idea in Benjei's head of feeding Father Goddard a false confession of a serious nature, one that would cause him to go crazy because he has to keep the secret: "A priest may not break the seal of confession" for any reason. Oh let the head games begin. This is an older film I had not seen before. I loved the twist. Part of a 70's fifty film DVD pact. Guide: No swearing, sex, or nudity.

In the last decade of his life Richard Burton was doing just about anything put in front of him for money. He felt, probably rightly so, that he had nothing to prove as an actor. So why not build up a nest egg, especially with all the heavy duty alimony he was laying out. It's the only reason I could think of he did Absolution. Burton plays a priest at a British Catholic school where he's got some really sadistic kids on his hands. After a class in which he carefully explains the religious implications of the confessional and the restrictions it places upon a priest hearing confession, Father Burton hears some confessions that positively drive him to the brink and he singles out one youth as responsible for it all. Drives Father Dick quite bonkers. It's pretty bad, it's the sort of stuff that the producers of American slasher films would do with a little more gore. It didn't enhance Burton's reputation and I wouldn't waste my time.

The beginning is slightly boring but as you get into the film it twists and turns many times giving a great ending. Burton being one of the best actors of all time, gave a brilliant performance. From the tag line and the description of the film, I didn't think it was going to be a good as it was. The ending was unexpected, so i believe it to be very well written, very well cast and very well directed. This is a must for any Burton fan. I give it a rating of 3 out of 5

By this time in Richard Burton's career, his level of acting wildly varied from film to film. Fortunately, in "Absolution" he gives a good performance. He is very believable as a humorless figure who sometimes acts very cruelly in the so-called belief that it is doing his students good. But he is not the only good thing about the movie. The script has a story that doesn't contain any slow spots, and slowly raises the tension as things progress. There is also a twist near the very end that will surprise some viewers, though I must admit I had a little idea that not only were things not quite what they seemed, but also that a character who appeared sporadically up to that point would have to have some play in the end since otherwise he didn't seem to have any purpose in the movie. But despite this glaring clue, the movie is well worth a look.

I got this film in the 50-pack Drive-in Collection. I had forgotten all about this movie.. I popped it in and about 1/3 of the way into the film I remembered seeing this one a few years ago. WOW what a pleasant blast from the past. So glad they included this forgotten gem in the collection! Yes this film is good - it's my kind of a mystery-thriller. Although the film is not a horror film, it does get creepy - very creepy. Fans of classic horror movies should enjoy this film along with fans of mystery thrillers. Just an excellent film! The film does start slow... but it is worth it in the end. There is a reason for this seemingly slow start - it will make sense in the end. Great late night flick. One that you will not want to miss anything so have your drink and food ready! 9.5/10

It's a gripping thriller, and Richard Burton is utterly convincing in the kind of role he was born to play (a rigid priest/teacher, but with traces of humanity underneath). But the constant flow of twists results in constant shifts in the characterizations, until the whole thing becomes too far-fetched for its own good. Nonetheless, it certainly didn't deserve its gross mistreatment by the American distributors, who released it ten years after it was made. (**1/2)