Rating: 
Summary: One of the best movies I have ever seen
Review: After I finally rented and watched this movie, I couldn't believe when I thought of the many times I had picked up and put it down at the video store. I was engrossed from moment one. Everyone in it is incredible, the story is amazing. Forget Leo and Kate, let's here it for Russell Crowe and Kim Basinger. 5 stars and standing ovations over and over again.
Rating: 
Summary: Good movie
Review: I bought this movie for .33 in that 3 for a buck deal at 800.com (what a steal). I thought the story line, acting, music, color and dvd extras were all excellent. But I couldn't understand why Kim Bassinger was chosen best supporting actress. What made her role so great? All the other actors were superb.
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Summary: One of the best movies in the past 10 years
Review: From the first shot to the ending credits this movie has everything in it.The DVD edition has some dynamite special features.
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Summary: This one will be on people's
Review: Film Noir - I am beginning to suspect that this term is alienating casual moviegoers who think this is an artsy-fartsy term for some type of (grit your teeth!) art film. This is the only way I can accept the lukewarm box office numbers for L.A.Confidential, easily one of the best pictures of the year. Well, folks, that four-letter French word just means "dark," and, whatever its origins, film noir is a most American form of movie. Humphrey Bogart in "Maltese Falcon," Robert Mitchum in "Night of the Hunter," Orson Welles in "Touch of Evil," Jack Nicholson in "Chinatown".. have I got any takers yet? The darkness is the menace, or evil that threatens to overtake our protagonists, who frequently have a darkness all their own to justify their plight. Coupled with many dark night scenes, such movies portray seamy lives, on the edge. The main character is usually a private detective or criminal, but the heavy drama works just as well for cops, and so it is in L.A. Confidential. Captain Dudley Smith (James Cromwell) is father figure to three officers: Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey) loves the media attention from his technical adviser role on Dragnet, and his pot bust of Robert Mitchum. All his celebrity arrests are written up (and staged) by a sleazeball reporter played by Danny DeVito. Bud White (Russel Crowe, Virtuosity) is your basic thug with a badge. He only roughs up real criminals, so the captain appreciates his `adherence to violence as an adjunct to the job.' With 50 pounds less muscle, we have Ed Exley (Guy Pearce), a Dudley-Doright with wire-rimmed glasses. He's due for promotion to lieutenant, but Smith cautions him against his ambition to become a detective. "Are you willing to create evidence to convict a man you know is guilty? Will you give false testimony to put him away?" he asks. "If not, you haven't got what it takes for detective work, boy-o." Early on, Exley breaks the code of silence and testifies against White's partner, throwing him off the force. These two who had nothing in common now have a grudge. Exley survives the snub of his peers by displaying a political savvy that exceeds that of his admiring captain. When a botched holdup leaves an all-night diner stacked with bodies, things get interesting. One of the victims was White's disgraced partner, and another was a high-class hooker he had encountered. Exley becomes a hero when he finds the suspects, gets their confessions, and, after they escape, hunts them down and wins the shootout. Even though he's accepted again, Exley has doubts about the whole case, and so does White, for different reasons. Vincennes finds his own tie-in, and the improbable trio independently do some digging. They all find puzzling resistance, but they keep their resolve by re-examining their motives for joining the force in the first place. The truth that comes out lays bare the corrupt underbelly of LA, much as Chinatown did. Although L.A. Confidential doesn't borrow from that script, the cinematography owes it something. Many brilliant sunwashed scenes contrast not only with the night, but also to the dark reality that awaits. Director Curtis Hanson keeps things moving right along, and just when it promises to get heavy, he throws in a small mistaken identity scene to give everybody a good chuckle. Kevin Spacey is as smarmy and watchable as ever, being interesting without really stealing any scenes. James Cromwell was ready to quit acting a couple of years back, but Babe and First Contact have him back on the short list, and he delivers again here. Kim Basinger has one of her best roles, as a hooker with dubious connections to the investigation. The always-underappreciated David Strathairn plays her boss, running a stable of celebrity lookalike escorts. The breakout stars, however, are Australians Guy Pearce and Russel Crowe. Our unfamiliarity with them makes it easier to get involved in their plight, in a way we couldn't with, say, Tom Cruise and Bruce Willis. Both give compelling performances that should stick in your memory. Another thing I should mention about film noir -- no computer graphics, no big explosions. The producers fall back on that old dodge of good actors and a good script. No wonder we don't see more film noir.
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Summary: THIS Was the Best
Review: Forget "Titanic," this movie should have won the Oscar in 1997. Excellent acting all around, a complex and engrossing plot, and a great "noir" feel. I savored every moment of this movie and came out of the theatre raving about how good it was. My wife thought "As Good As It Gets" was better, but she's wrong. What can I say? "LA Confidential" is close to being as good as it gets.
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Summary: The only way to see 1997's best movie!!!!
Review: Considering how it was undeservedly drowned in the 1997 Academy Awards by "Titanic's" tidal wave of wins, it's most fitting that "L.A. Confidential" is a story about Hollywood's lack of justice and decency. Set on the early years of television, "Confidential" tells the story of three character-flawed LAPD detectives (played by Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce) as each of them strives to fulfill their very particular wants. In fact all of the characters on this film are personifications of sins and human shortcomings. Beneath the glitz and glamour of Movieland, they let us see the dark heart of the City of Angels. It is a place of corruption, greed, shallowness and backstabbing. The irony is that we end up loving each and everyone of the players for his or her scummy ways. The only character that seems to rise above all the others is Veronica Lake lookalike Lynn Bracken, played by Academy Award winner Kim Bassinger. From her initial entrance as a black robed beauty, it is clear that the movie is hers to steal. High class prostitute or not, Ms. Bracken is the emotional glue that makes us care about this film. The widescreen format preserves the visual majesty of the film. In fact, viewing it in any other format would diminish the overall expereience. This is a story about L.A. and the widescreen format permits the viewer to see as much of the city as can be shown in this medium. As an added bonus, after the feature there is a short documentary on how the movie was conceived and made. It has the participation of all of the major players, from novelist James Elroy and director and co-screeenwriter Curtis Hanson to the stars of the movie. "L. A. Confidential" is well worth a second, and third, and fourth, and fifth look. And the best way to do so is in its natural state: the widescreen format. I strongly recommend that you buy this movie. Afterwards, compare it with "Titanic" and watch as the mammoth boat truly sinks never to resurface again WINNER OF TWO ACADEMY AWARDS FOR BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY AND BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent DVD for an excellent movie!
Review: This is one of the best movies made in the 90's. It is an absolute delight, especially on DVD. There are so many "DVD bonuses" in addition to the show that it is a "must-buy" for any film/DVD collector. I give it a 10 out of 10!
Rating:
Summary: It's a Great, great movie
Review: Curtis Hanson (the director) really get it this time. L.A. Confidential it's a great movie. Why?, it's simple, it has a great story, great characters, great performances, resuming, it's great in all the sides you want to see it. I have just buy it and i have see it about 6 times, i guess i will buy the book, if youu are reading this and u havent seen it, just do it! (pretty nikie, yeah)but see it, pronto!
Rating:
Summary: Worth the bread...
Review: This is one of the best "bargain" DVDs yet released. Not only are you getting the wonderful film which is both technically and aesthetically pleasing in every way, but also all the wonderful little perks, most notably the isolated music score. The documentary and LA tour are also great. It's the disc I use to show off how wonderful the DVD movement is to disbelieving friends -- they're impressed to say the least. If you don't have any DVDs yet, this is the FIRST one you should buy. If you have volumes of DVDs, but not this one, shame on you.
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Summary: Off the record and hush-hush this is the best DVD yet!
Review: What a wonderful under-rated picture. Not only is this a great keep you on the edge of your seat story, but the cast is exceptional and the extra features this disc delivers are uncomparable to any other on the market today. This is the type of story that just when you think you have it all figured out, you don't. The screen writers Brian Helgeland and Curtis Hanson out did themselves adapting the novels from which it came. Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce are excellent as adverseries and then as partners in this dark tale of sex, drugs and corruption. Kevin Spacey once again pulls off a great performance as does Danny DeVito. Kim Basinger was good but I felt that she was there more for adding a pretty face to a dark movie. There were others I felt more worthy of the Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 1997. For that to be the only Oscar won for this picture was dissapointing. Unfortunately this film got caught in the undertow of Titanic-They were robbed. Director Curtis Hanson is so proud of this film and it is evident in the documenary and the excellent array of extras he has made available on this DVD. The interactive map that takes you to the real locations where filming occurred makes you want to visit these places on your next trip to L.A. It really blew my mind hearing Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce speaking in their thick Australian accents in their screen tests. I work in the retail video business and when DVD customers come in this is the first one I recommend. It is the best example of what the original vision was for the DVD format.
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