• Release Date: 2008-09-23
• Genre: Crime
• Artist Name: Kim Basinger, James Cromwell, Russell Crowe, Danny DeVito, Kevin Spacey, David Strathairn, Guy Pearce
• Director: Curtis Hanson
• AMG Rating:
• MPAA Rating: R
• Category: Feature Films
• Cautions: Not For Children, Sexual Situations, Violence
• Year: 1997
• Running Time: 136
• Movie Country of Origin: USA
• Available Language: English
• Subtitles: Eng/Fre/Spa/FI/Ger
  

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, Rovi

Mystery, Crime

Scandals and Cover-Ups, Prostitutes, Rookie Cops, Fighting the System, Murder Investigations, Police Corruption

Melancholy, Ominous, Moody, Stylized, Cynical, Talky

DVD Features

• Commentary by critic/historian Andrew Sarris, James Ellroy, Russell Crowe, Kevin Spacey, Guy Pearce, James Cromwell, Ruth Myers, David Stathairn, Kim Basinger, Brian Helgeland, Jeannine Oppewall, Dante Spinotti and Danny DeVito
• All-new featurette gallery uncovering the case of a contemporary cinema classic:
• Whatever You Desire - Making L.A. Confidential
• Sunlight and Shadow - The Visual Style of L.A. Confidential
• A True Ensemble - The Cast of L.A. Confidential
• L.A. Confidential - From Book to Screen
• L.A. Confidential: TV series pilot
• Off the Record: Vintage cast/creator interviews
• Director Curtis Hanson's photo pitch
• The L.A. of L.A. Confidential interactive map tour
• Music-only track (5.1) showcasing Jerry Goldsmith's score
• Trailer gallery

• 1997--Los Angeles Film Critics Association, Brian Helgeland-Winner
• 1997--Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Curtis Hanson-Nominee
• 1997--Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Jeannine Oppewall-Nominee
• 1997--Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Jay R. Hart-Nominee
• 1997--Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Dante Spinotti-Nominee
• 1997--Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Curtis Hanson-Nominee

Review

A polished policier in the tradition of Chinatown (1974), with a plot as convoluted as film noir chestnut The Big Sleep (1946), L.A. Confidential (1997) proved that it was still possible to fashion an actor-driven detective yarn in 1990s Hollywood. Adapting the story from James Ellroy's novel, director Curtis Hanson deftly captures the glamour and sleaze of post-war Los Angeles, where hookers look like movie stars and movie stars are mistaken for hookers, as an antagonistic trio of police detectives discovers how deeply ingrained the city's corruption has become. Russell Crowe's pugnacious White, Guy Pearce's smug Exley, and Kevin Spacey's smooth, celeb-struck Vincennes are all somewhat tainted, but even they cannot quite believe the rot they uncover; the accompanying gallery of rogues and innocents, including scandal mongers, prostitutes, and other cops, constantly shifts the moral order. Dante Spinotti's cinematography and Jeannine Oppewall's detailed production design lend a period sheen while richly alluding to the shadowy truth hidden by symbols of law and order. Opening to raves, particularly for the lead trio and Kim Basinger's Veronica Lake-esque pro, L.A. Confidential swept the critics' awards for Best Film and received nine Academy Award nominations. In the wake of Titanic, though, only Basinger and co-screenwriters Hanson and Brian Helgeland won statuettes. ~ Lucia Bozzola, Rovi