Customer Reviews

L.A. Confidential (Widescreen)

5 star:		(189)
4 star:		(36)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

L.A. Confidential was a good movie, but it wasn't great. Kevin Spacey is always good, but you'll see better Spacey roles in K-PAX, American Beauty, The Usual Suspects, Seven, Outbreak, and pretty much ANYTHING else with him! He certainly wasn't bad in L.A. Confidential, he just didn't stand out so much. Russell Crowe was fine in this as well. He has certainly improved his performance though with The Insider, Gladiator, and A Beautiful Mind. Guy Pearce was great in this, and he delivered the finest performance of the film. His better roles are Memento and The Count of Monte Cristo. Danny DeVito was his typical self. He is never a let down, but his better roles range from Matilda to Batman Returns to Hoffa. And then there's Kim Basinger. I LOVE Kim Basinger, but I have absolutely no idea why she won an Academy Award for this. I would have thought that this was one of her worse performances. Watch anything else with her, and her acting will stand out more than this! She was up against Minnie Driver's performance in Good Will Hunting for the award, and Driver was far more deserving of the award. Don't get me wrong, L.A. Confidential was a fine movie with fine performances, it just was not Oscar-worthy in any way. It wasn't amazing. It isn't a kid movie, and its R rating reflects violence, language, and some brief sexual images. This was fine to watch once.

I wanted to watch this movie right from the moment of its release more than six years ago, but for one reason or other I never got around to do it...until now. Luckily I did not continue procrastinating, because this is probably one of the best movies in the film noir category.

The story, based on the novel by James Ellroy, starts with Danny De Vito's narration of the latest events in the city of angels, which include the arrest of Mickey C, head of the organized crime. I have always enjoyed listening to De Vito narrate a story, and as happened in "The War of the Roses", I was enthralled from the beginning. De Vito plays a journalist working for a tabloid called Hush-hush, who has several contacts inside the police department that give him exclusives in exchange for publicity. One of these is Sergeant Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey), a classic "ladies man", interested in fame and in the Hollywood world much more than he is interested in police business. Vincennes works in the same precinct with Sergeant, soon to be Detective Lieutenant, Ed Exley (Guy Pearce) and with Officer Bud White (Russell Crowe). Exley is the typical "go by the book" guy, son of a famous officer murdered years ago in a crime that was never solved. White is a cop whose main interest is helping ladies in distress, playing a typical knight in a shinning armor. After a situation at the police station ends up in disaster, the relationship among the three policemen is turned into a confrontational one when White's partner is forced to quit his job.

Shortly after those events a multiple murder in the Night Owl will have the three policemen desperately trying to solve the same crime and facing a well-oiled criminal organization. At this point the plot and relationship between the characters acquire an amazing depth and keeps the audience guessing right until the end. The performances of Spacey, Pearce and Russell are laudable, and the appearance of Kim Basinger, as a high-class prostitute, adds the missing element to complete an extraordinary cast. The movie has everything one in this genre should have, suspense, action, mystery, thrills, betrayal, love and even humor! I will probably watch this movie again soon because I know I will enjoy it a second time. If you have not seen it yet, I recommend you do it as soon as possible.

"L.A. Confidential" is the story of three Los Angeles police officers who work in a rather corrupt department in 1953. Bud White (Russell Crowe) has a violent temper and is not above beating up a suspect to get answers. Vincennes (Kevin Spacey) loves the spotlight; he's the technical consultant for a TV show and takes bribes from a gossip columnist. Exley (Guy Pearce) is a young, straight-arrow cop who wants to live up to his late father's reputation. Together, they investigate some murders that may involve a high-priced call-girl (Oscar-winner Kim Basinger).

This movie is often described as a "film noir," and that kept me from seeing the movie for a long time. But I do like the movie a lot; the actors are all wonderful and there are several twists to the story. It is an ensemble piece; the four stars give exciting, yet understated performances, and James Cromwell, as the police captain, and Danny De Vito, as the tabloid writer, are also outstanding. This is a trip back to days of "Dragnet," with interesting characters, some violence, and lots of suspense. Heartily recommended.

This is magnificent. A top notch cast throughout, Guy Pearce is a revelation, Russell Crowe (not my favourite) is just brilliant, James Cromwell is great. I could go on, so see this for yourself. The attention to detail is second to none, it's atmospheric, pacy, clever and, well, just brilliant.

Buy this today. You will not regret it.

If not for a film about a ship hitting an iceberg and going down L.A. Confidential would have been a sure-fire Academy Award Best Picture winner. The best parts of the movie are Kim Basinger in an Oscar winning performance for her role as a Veronica Lake lookalike hooker and Russell Crowe as a fearsome cop who finds a surprising capacity for love.

The genius of the film is the three inter-related stories (hookers cut to resemble movie stars, missing heroin and a murder investigation) in LA of the early 1950's. Cops, prostitution, corrupt politicians and gangsters all touch each others lives and in the tabloid press in surprising ways.

The acting is terrific with James Cromwell, Kevin Spacey, Guy Pierce and Danny DeVito all selling their souls for ambition - and the price to be paid; deserved or not. The costumes and set design are first rate. If you like film noir, or just love well-crafted movies you'll have to look hard to find a better film.

L.A Confidential is a great movie.it is very well written and very well
directed.it is an unflinching tale of police corruption and scandal in
the 1950's.this movie boasts a first rate cast,including Russel
Crowe,Kevin Spacey,Danny Devito,Kim Basinger,and James Cromwell,among
many others.all give top notch performances,but as usual Kevin Spacey
stands out,and Russel Crowe is brilliant,as always.The man is a
chameleon,inhabiting every role he plays.i have not seen him give a bad
performance.the writing is inspired,with amazing dialogue,and well
written situations and characters.the ending is explosive and leaves no
loose ends.the film itself is very well paced,with superb editing and
is also very stylish.it also has more depth than say,Cop Land,a similar
though not as good,effort.you can't go wrong with this movie. 5/5

Curtis Hanson's "L.A.Confidential" was the best movie of the year. It had class, acting, story line and macabre plot that was captivating. Though one might find it close to a comic Godfather and a cop-mafia movie, there is more to it. Right from the beginning when they introduce the city of Los Angeles in the "Hush Hush" magazine with Danny DeVito, it starts beautifully. I bet that they can never put together such a set of actors in one movie - Guy Pierce, Kevin Spacey, Kim Basinger and Russell Crowe, perish the thought.

I could not believe that they gave Titanic the Best Picture over this movie, the academy must have had a case of temporary dementia. I have no words for how bad that movie was in comparison. This movie was a masterpiece. Some people might have had problems with the violence. Guy Pierce was fantastic in the way he changes from the budding junior cop to the ambitious detective. This was Russell Crowe's ideal role, the part where he and Pierce go and challenge the DA is hilarious. Kevin Spacey is his usual witty self - his badge of honor role is outstanding. This had excellent screenplay - I was disappointed that it did not get enough oscars.

Murder - Double Cross - Mystery -Double Double Cross - Paradise. Beautiful women. Good cops. Gangsters. Bad cops. Politics. Gun fights. All the ingredients are here for intrigue, passion, conspiracy and murder.

LA Confidential is a finely-acted and filmed murder mystery in the grand-yet-delightfully-tacky style of Hollywood at its best.... or worst. Terrific performances by the leading men (Rusell Crowe, Kevin Spacey, Danny Devito, et. al.) shine very brightly in this murder mystery.

The plot takes some unbelievable twists and turns leaving the audience uncertain whether to root for the bad guy or the good-guy-turned-bad. Or the other way around!

The film dances very close to becoming a parody of its own genre but recovers at the end with a series of right turns which bring all to a proper end.

This movie is entertaining and delightful. Great fun.

The "r" rating is for language and very brief nudity.

Director: Curtis Hanson
Cast: Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, James Cromwell, David Strathairn, Kim Basinger, Danny DeVito.
Running Time: 156 minutes.
Rated R for violence, language, and some sexuality.

A toast and dedication to the fine film noir classics that evolved in the 1940's and 1950's, "L.A. Confidential" is a cop story told the way it should be--intellectually, right in your face, and with a spice of humor. Based on the bestselling novel by James Ellroy, this crime caper is a masterpiece of suspense, sensuality, and straight-up heroism.

After a holiday mishap at the police station in which several officers brutally beat up inmates and a killer maniacally shoots and kills numerous victims at a local bar, detectives Kevin Spacey and Russell Crowe search for answers. Spacey is a high-profile cop who benefits from raunchy tablod writer Danny Devito's busts of movie stars and political figures, while Crowe is wonderul as the straight-laced detective who finds his life in shambles of corruption as he gets closer and closer to the truth, and also as he gets more involved with one of an enigmatic millionare's erotic hookers (Kim Basinger in a knock-out role). Guy Pearce plays the up-and-coming son of a police station legend who will do whatever it takes to get a promotion, including selling out his colleagues and stealing their girls.

Excellent adaptation of the wonderful novel, using the cast to create a rigorous, enveloping story that will keep audience's guessing until the very last second. Bold, telling performances from the entire cast, especially Crowe (which should have been at least Oscar-nomination worthy) and Pearce (who steals the show from Crowe time to time). Action-packed, character driven, and as smart of a crime drama as you will ever find. Certainly one of the best, if not THE best of its kind made in the 1990's. Was very unfortunate to be overshadowed by the juggernaut "Titanic"; could very well of won Best Picture. The DVD has some special behind the scenes documentaries--check out "Off the Record"--which contains interviews from the film's creators, lead actors and novelist James Ellroy.

An updated version of a bad B-movie of the 50s, good sets and makeup, hairdos and acting. It was the story that didn't quite come together and the movie was much much too long. Lots of blood, violence and over-done police brutality and corruption. But then, again, the movie was supposed to be a spoof, an artistic 1990s version of popular style with dark overtones.

The publicity for this film compares it Pulp Fiction. If it was, it was a very lame version. Pulp Fiction moved fast; LA Confidential was slow. Pulp Fiction made me laugh out loud; LA Confidential made me give a wry giggle at some parts. Pulp Fiction had outrageous characters; LA Confidential had exaggerated characters, but nothing outrageous.

I expected (hoped) this film would be better, but it did have some entertainment value.