:
Kevin Spacey,
Kevin Spacey,
Russell Crowe,
more...
:
Curtis Hanson,
Curtis Hanson
see all cast/crew...
: 
: Warner Home Video
: Neo Noir, Cops, Neo Noir
: 138 min.
: English, French
: English, Spanish, French
see additional details...
|
|
Based on the best-selling novel by James Ellroy and directed by Curtis Hanson, this award-winning crime drama explores both the dark side of the Los Angeles police force and Southern California's criminal underbelly in the early '50s, when Hollywood was still seen as America's capital of sophistication, glitter, and glamour. Dudley Smith (James Cromwell) is the head of the LAPD and is loyal to his officers and eager to turn a blind eye to violence or corruption within his department, as long as it's the "bad guys" who are getting hurt. Bud White (Russell Crowe) is a police detective whose violent and cynical nature is often at war with his basic sense of decency and justice. Ed Exley (Guy Pearce) is a beat cop-turned-detective whose strict by-the-book philosophy and willingness to blow the whistle on other officers is balanced by a shrewd and opportunistic understanding of the internal politics of the department. And Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey) is a flashy "Hollywood" detective who serves as technical advisor for the TV series Badge of Honor. He is also in cahoots with Sid Hudgeons (Danny DeVito), publisher of the scandal sheet Hush Hush, who throws kickbacks to Vincennes in exchange for being brought along when showbiz figures get busted. White, Exley, and Vincennes find themselves drawn into a tangled and sticky web of violence and betrayal following a multiple murder at a coffee shop that is believed to be part of an effort by Mickey Cohen (Paul Guilfoyle) to consolidate his hold on organized crime in L.A. This lead appears to be connected to the discovery of a bizarre pornography and call-girl ring operated by Pierce Patchett (David Strathairn), whose women are given plastic surgery so that they more closely resemble well-known movie stars. White's role in the investigation is complicated when he falls for Lynn Bracken (Kim Basinger), one of Patchett's prostitutes, who is the spitting image of Veronica Lake. L.A. Confidential was nominated for nine Academy Awards and netted two, with Brian Helgeland honored for Best Adapted Screenplay, and Kim Basinger taking home a statuette as Best Supporting Actress. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Special Features:
- 3 Behind-the-scenes Documentary features: Off the Record, including Cast/Creator Interviews; Director Curtis Hanson's Photo Pitch; and The L.A. of L.A. Confidential Interactive Map Tour
- Music-only track
- Production Notes
- Theatrical Trailer
- TV Spots
|
| Great pot-boiler
by Texan99
September 4, 2010 - 12:15 PM PDT
|
|
| Not only are the characters in this beautifully written and shot film not who we think they are, they're not even who they think they are. Guy Pearce thinks he's a color-between-the-lines careerist prig; Russell Crowe thinks he's a brutal enforcer with no talent for penetrating the ugly schemes around him, and Kevin Spacey thinks he's a heartless smoothie. They all take ownership of their own souls as they work themselves through a plot made up of intricate lies. This is my favorite kind of story: where it's more important what the characters do than what happens to them, even though what happens to them is awfully interesting too. When you add to that a tight, economical script, a fine cast (including the wonderful James Cromwell), and sumptuous period sets, you've got a real winner of a movie. Some viewers complain that they saw some of the plot twists coming, but I've watched this more than once, and complete knowledge of the plot didn't detract from my enjoyment. |
|
|
GreenCine Member Rating
(Average 7.20)
2124 Votes
add to list 
|
|
|
Your cart
goodyerin
morpheme
© 2006 All Media Guide, LLC. Portions of content provided by All Movie Guide®,
a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC.