Russell Crowe Movie:

				Salesrank:
		MPAA Rating: R (Restricted) Media: DVD

Editorial Review:
In a time when it seems that every other movie makes some claim to being a film noir, L.A. Confidential is the real thing--a gritty, sordid tale of sex, scandal, betrayal, and corruption of all sorts (police, political, press--and, of course, very personal) in 1940s Hollywood. The Oscar-winning screenplay is actually based on several titles in James Ellroy's series of chronological thriller novels (including the title volume, The Big Nowhere, and White Jazz)--a compelling blend of L.A. history and pulp fiction that has earned it comparisons to the greatest of all Technicolor noir films, Chinatown. Kim Basinger richly deserved her Supporting Actress Oscar for her portrayal of a conflicted femme fatale; unfortunately, her male costars are so uniformly fine that they may have canceled each other out with the Academy voters: Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, Kevin Spacey, and James Cromwell play LAPD officers of varying stripes. Pearce's character is a particularly intriguing study in Hollywood amorality and ambition, a strait-laced "hero" (and son of a departmental legend) whose career goals outweigh all other moral, ethical, and legal considerations. If he's a good guy, it's only because he sees it as the quickest route to a promotion. --Jim Emerson

L.A. Confidential [Region 2] Reviews:
Too Much Violence Against Women
2009-12-05 - How much violence against women is too much? Rita Hayworth lookalike Susan Lefferts (Amber Smith) gets murdered. Veronica Lake lookalike Lynn Bracken (Kim Basinger) gets knocked around. A young girl gets raped and you have to watch her emotional pain afterwards as she's lying in a bed, bound and gagged, in silent agony, and a black man in another room is laughing.

But all this is forgiven because the cops hate women-beaters and they're out to get the bad guys?

Old Hollywood Revealed
2009-10-22 - This movie is a fascinating look into old Hollywood and yellow journalism. Danny Devito was at his best, playing a tabloid journalist that was willing to "get the scoop" at all cost. A classic!!!

Reviewed by Kardia Williams

Review: L.A. Confidential (1997)
2009-10-11 - Director: Curtis Hanson
Writer: James Ellroy, Brian Helgeland, Curtis Hanson
Starring: Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, Kim Basinger, Danny DeVito, James Cromwell

This is a fantastic movie featuring great performances from everyone involved. And not only great performances, but some of the best work in the whole careers of many of the actors. Basinger won an Oscar for best supporting actress, and the movie also took home the Academy Award for best adapted screenplay. It was nominated in seven other categories, not the least of which were best director and best picture.

It is the mid 1950's. In the wake of a violent multiple homicide at a local diner, three L.A. cops investigate the truth in their own, very different ways. Their quest for justice requires them to rethink their morals and motivations as it leads them into the darkest and highest levels of corruption in the city.

This is one of my favorite movies. It doesn't quite crack my top ten, but it's up there. It's a very intriguing story told through masterful performances from the whole cast. Everything about this movie keeps you engaged in the evolution of the three main cops involved. The ensemble works together so well to draw you in and keep you on the edge of your seat until the thrilling conclusion. The stark contrast in their characters is perfectly complimented by the all-too believable portrayal of 1950's Los Angeles. Set design and art direction are spot on (another Oscar nomination), and the original music by Jerry Goldsmith evokes the classic gritty detective story without becoming stereotypical or cliche.

This is neo-film noir at its absolute finest.

Final Score: 10/10

DVD
2009-10-08 - This DVD arrived in a very short time. It was in very good condition. Very Pleased. Thanks.

Very Hush-Hush!
2009-09-20 - L.A. CONFIDENTIAL(1997)---Russell Crowe, Kevin Spacey, Guy Pearce, Kim Basinger, James Cromwell, Danny DeVito, David Strathairn

Based on the 3rd novel of James Ellroy's, "L.A. Quartet"("The Black Dahlia"; "The Big Nowhere"; "L.A. Confidential"; and "White Jazz") this movie is---IMO---one of the two best "modern/color" noirs out there(the other being, of course, CHINATOWN). The plot has many tangents that, for once, are all neatly brought together by the film's end. The central plot involves the brutal murder of several people in an all-night diner. The film unfolds primarily through the attempts of 3 very different cops, with very different motives, to solve the case. Bud White(Russell Crowe) is an old-fashioned cop who is quite willing to not only "bend" a few rules, but to outright stomp on them in his pursuit of "justice". Ed Exley(Guy Pearce) is a by-the-book son of a legendary cop who was killed in the line of duty---Exley is driven by his need to live up to/exceed his old man's reputation. Jack Vincennes(Kevin Spacey) is a venal, celebrity-loving cop who is more concerned with his role as "technical adviser" for a "Dragnet" type TV show than with his duties as a police officer. Vincennes gradually begins to regret his behavior and gets involved in trying to solve the diner murders. These 3 cops are inexorably drawn together in their pursuit of a solution to the crime. Along the way, they must deal with the machinations of a corrupt Chief of Detectives(James Cromwell), a shadowy figure named Pierce Patchett(David Strathairn) who runs a stable of high-priced hookers cut to look like movie stars---Kim Basinger plays Patchett's, "Veronica Lake", with whom the Russell Crowe character is smitten---and is involved in other nefarious activities, and the sleazy publisher of a "Confidential" type "tell all" magazine(Danny DeVito). As noted, the plot takes more twists and turns than a sidewinder wriggling across the desert but, in the end, everything is all neatly tied up. This is just a terrific film---I've seen it several times and it never grows stale.