Confirmation

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Rick Famuyiwa directs. Rachel Morrison behind the camera. Harry Gregson-Williams scores. Dirk Westervelt cuts. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

• 1Released 10 years ago.
• 2Directed by Rick Famuyiwa, shot by Rachel Morrison. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
• 3Original score by Harry Gregson-Williams. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
• 4Editor Dirk Westervelt shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
• 5Kerry Washington and Wendell Pierce and Greg Kinnear carry the top of the cast.
• 6Marketing tagline: "It Only Takes One Choice To Change History.".
• 7IMDB entry: tt4608402 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography

Rachel Morrison

Original score

Harry Gregson-Williams

Editing

Dirk Westervelt

Production design

Stephen Altman

Costume design

Hope Hanafin

Runtime

110 min · 1h 50m

Status

Released

Original language

EN

IMDB

Confirmation (2016) ↗

Also by

Rick Famuyiwa

• 
  The Mandalorian

  2019 · ★ 8.4
• 
  The Chi

  2018 · ★ 7.9
• 
  Ahsoka

  2023 · ★ 7.4
• 
  They Call Me Magic

  2022 · ★ 7.3
• 
  Dope

  2015 · ★ 7.0
• 
  Brown Sugar

  2002 · ★ 6.7

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

• 

  ▶
  Confirmation Official Trailer (2016) | HBO

  Trailer · Official

Community reviews

What people are saying

• Reno2016-09-09
  ★ 7/10

  Claims and rejects and the stupid enquiry! This is a television film, a political-thriller-drama from the director of 'Dope'. Inspired by the real 1991 event when president Bush nominated the judge Clarence Thomas to the supreme court. Followed by a former employee Anita Hill, came forward claiming Thomas sexually harassed her while working for him back then which brings an enquiry on the issue before any big decision regarding his new post. Both the sides fight, but it's her alone against the president backing team. How the hearing ends and who wins it disclosed in the remaining part. Good cast, but Kerry Washington was reason the film to shine. Her performance reminded me Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin from 'Game Change'. She won the Emmy Awards for that and now I believe Kerry Washington has a chance to do the same. Apart from her, the story did not look good. It opened so well, followed by strong middle part and then the last act last its charm quickly. Because it was all about one alleging against another and he keeps rejecting them, but that twist I expected never came or its powerful dialogues. Even though it was beautifully made. The reason the movie staying neutral is might be the actual result of the trial. So they kept balancing the contents throughout the narration, yet the as the viewers, we can understand the guilty feelings from the suspect's face. That's how the film silently gives its own verdict regarding whatever the real one was. One of the best television film, but due to its weak conclusion, the people are dissatisfied. Still, it is a good watch, if you are interested in politics to learn how ugly and at a same time how silly it is. 7/10

  Read full review ↓

Production companies

Who made it

• 

  Groundswell Productions

  US

• 

  HBO Films

  US

• 

  Simpson Street

  US

• 

  ABC Signature Studios

  US

Key crew

• CastingKerry Barden
• CastingPaul Schnee
• EditorDirk Westervelt
• Production DesignStephen Altman
• Costume DesignHope Hanafin
• Set DecorationKristie Suffield
• ProducerDarren M. Demetre
• Executive ProducerKerry Washington
• Executive ProducerJanice Williams
• Executive ProducerMichael London
• Executive ProducerSusannah Grant
• Music SupervisorEvyen Klean

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

• court
• 1990s

Release history · US

When it landed

• TV2016-04-16· HBO

Also known as

International titles

• ConfirmaciónMX
• Auf Treu und GlaubenDE
• ConfirmaçãoBR