A groundbreaking crime drama featuring an impressive A-list ensemble and a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes rating drew inspiration from a relatively obscure novel sharing its title. Written by James Ellroy, the book forms the third instalment in his LA quartet series and explores the sordid undercurrents of Los Angeles life, and was considered unfilmable for cinema.
LA Confidential has established itself as a cult classic since its release in 1997. The neo-noir crime thriller boasts a cast roster resembling a directory of Hollywood elite, featuring Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, Kim Basinger and Danny DeVito, and has received universal praise from critics and viewers alike ever since.
Plot and Cast
The picture tracks three police officers - Detective Lieutenant Exley, played by Guy Pearce, the son of a murdered detective fuelled by an intense thirst for retribution; Officer Wendell 'Bud' White, played by Russell Crowe, whose former colleague becomes entangled in a controversy exposed by Exley; and Detective Sergeant Jack 'Hollywood Jack' Vincennes, played by Kevin Spacey, who is supplying sensitive information to tabloid editor Sid Hudgens, played by Danny DeVito. The three officers join forces to solve an unresolved murder at a downtown Los Angeles coffee shop against the setting of the early 1950s.
Critical Acclaim
Helmed by Curtis Hanson, LA Confidential emerged as a resounding success both critically and at the box office, securing nine Academy Award nominations and clinching the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for Kim Basinger in her portrayal of high-class sex worker Lynn Bracken, alongside Best Screenplay. The film also garnered nominations for 12 BAFTAs and five Golden Globes, with Basinger again securing the Best Supporting Actress honour.
On the film review aggregator platform Rotten Tomatoes, LA Confidential commands a rare near-perfect rating of 99 percent. One reviewer said: "The flawless ensemble..., the masterfully written story, the vibrant yet gritty vision of 1950s LA - most everything clicks in this fittingly cynical and undeniably seductive period crime thriller that still maintains its style and sizzle." Another noted: "Adapted from a novel said to be unadaptable and set in a genre that has seemed increasingly played out, it brings clarity and life to its art and to life. That's a pretty good definition of a masterpiece, isn't it?" While a third added: "L.A. Confidential glistens like a new car, but has the darkened soul of the best film noir in which good men are tempted by bad ideas. This is one of the year's best films, the thinking person's detective story."
Audience Reactions
Viewers were similarly captivated by the film, proclaiming it "an instant classic." One viewer said: "L.A. Confidential is, without a doubt, the best film of the '90s, and one of the best films ever made. Curtis Hanson was a much better director than Spielberg or Tarantino. Great script, the story is riveting, the dialogue is smart and funny, and the characters are written in three if not four dimensions. One can almost forgive the casting of DeVito, who did a good job. There should have been several sequels." Another added: "L.A. Confidential is an incredibly well-acted crime thriller film. It's rare for a movie to be this well cast, acted, and directed. Director Curtis Hanson plays the audience like a piano with the story and every single frame of the movie, leaving the audience engaged and wanting to know what happens next." While a third wrote: "This cast couldn't be more perfectly cast as Guy Pearce plays the straight man Exley exceptionally well as we see how his penchant for doing the right thing makes him a target for the rest of the cops even as he begins to uncover how far the corruption in this town goes, but Russell Crowe as Bud White is amazing and definitely should've gotten a nomination for Best Supporting Actor as he is a rage-fueled cop who has some very shady ways about him but at heart is a good cop with a disdain for men who abuse women. This makes him a perfect counter to Kim Basinger's Lynn Brackens who ended up winning a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for this film as the classic femme fatale character."
LA Confidential is available to stream on Amazon Prime now.
