L.A. Confidential

Starring: Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, James Cromwell, Kim Basinger, Danny DeVito
Directed by: Curtis Hanson
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Thriller
1997

Times Seen:
Tim: 2

Summary:A true film noir, L.A. Confidential tells the story of corruption and intrigue in the Los Angeles Police Department in the 1940s.

Review:

Tim: This is one of the most entertaining and best films I've ever reviewed. If you know anything about me, I reserve the coveted "10" rating for very few films- ones that perfectly fit the type of film that I love, and are excellent in my own opinion. This film comes about as close to reaching that "10" plateau as you possibly can get without actually achieving it.

L.A. Confidential is a gritty, powerful film that pulls absolutely no punches. It has a cast that any director would drool and dream about, each member cast in the perfect role. Russell Crowe plays a tough, no-bullshit police officer who is willing to shoot first and ask questions later. Guy Pearce is the straight-laced, do-it-by-the-books cop, but is very brave and honorable. Kevin Spacey is a cop that sold out long ago, and does what he does in order to make a profit for himself. James Cromwell is the police chief, experienced, and realizes that you can't always do the job legally if you want to put the worst of the worst away.

This is such a great movie on so many different levels. It's exciting, intriguing, has a number of plot twists, and by the end of the film, connects you so closely to the characters that you live and die with them. It is so excellent a film, that I cannot recommend it enough.

This film won two Academy Awards, one for Best Screenplay, the other for Best Supporting Actress for Kim Basinger. Sadly, the film probably would have captured a Best Actor or Best Supporting Actor, but the performances of Spacey, Crowe, Pearce, and Cromwell are all so excellent that it is difficult to seperate any one of them out- honestly, all four performances were worthy of Oscar gold.

With a film like this, sometimes no matter what you say, you cannot capture what a powerful film it really is. All I can say is, see this film soon, you will not regret it.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 9.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Gladiator, The Time Machine, The Usual Suspects, Babe, 8 Mile, Chinatown, Proof of Life