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Summary: If you could only see one movie ever---here it is!
Review: I cannot write anything that would compare with the magnitude of this movie. I have seen it over 30 times and never get bored with it. It has the essentials of a great movie: love, sex, murder, betrayal, sexy cops in suits and of course a plot that you never lose interest in. The only thing I can say is that you will love it and if you do not, send me your copy because I know my tape is going to wear out any day now. As someone else put it, this may be the reason to buy a DVD player. I also agree with them when they said they could not believe Titanic beat this movie out for awards. I saw Titanic and could not see what all the fuss was about. L.A. Confidential is something that will chill you and make you want more.
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Summary: The Best Movie of the 90's!
Review: This movie is the reason that I bought my DVD player. This was the best movie of the 90's. I still can't believe that TITANIC beat it. What I get to be the message of this movie is "perception." No one is who you think they are. Bud White is not just a thug with a badge. He actually has a brain. Exely is not as straight laced as he first appeared. Jack works for a television show, which is all lies played to be the truth. The idea of perception is best shown in the hookers who are "cut" to look like movie stars. They may look real, but they are not. Watch this movie and see how a movie is supposed to be made.
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Summary: Who says the movie is never as good as the book?
Review: Without suggesting that Elroy's novel isn't itself very good, I believe that in LA Confidential we have the rather rare instance of a movie not only doing justice to the source material but even exceeding it in excelence of its type. If reading this to evaluate whether to rent the film, the answer is "yes." Unless, of course, you are looking for a "family" film or are made uncomforatble by depictions of violence or profane language (appropriate to profane characters), in which case you probably have heard enough to know this isn't your cup of tea already. Otherwise, even if you aren't one of those who is blown away by it, you will find it to be a well made, engaging piece of moviemaking and a heck of a fun ride while it lasts. To return to the relation of the film to the book, the novel less well focused than the film. It is far longer, of course and rightfully includes a wealth of detail and depth that no film could encompass in a reasonable running time, but more than that, the sweep of the novel is much broader and while the elements are indeed brought into conjunction with almost ruthless efficiency, the connections sometimes seem forced. What the screenwriters have done is extract a coherent, dynamic, engaging, and essentially complete story from a sprawling, misanthropic, and often abstruse novel. To be sure the surgery was effected at some cost to the Vincennes character generally and the depth of Exley (sp?) who survive in the movie, but on the whole the decision to focus on one melody in the swirling symphony that is the book was a sound one. I should note that in so commenting I am not suggesting the book is bad, for a novel can handle more diverse themes, subplots and detail than a movie, but I must say that while the film instantly engaged me and merited multiple viewings, reading the novel was, while enjoyable, not an experience of comparable joy. In part this may be because, even setting aside the oft-criticized "happy" ride off into the sunset for a few characters, the film, while sufficiently dark in its outlook on human nature to well warrant the lable noir, is more or less within the normal bounds in its take on human nature, the will to power, and venality. The world of the book, by contrast is one that seems as if it would self destruct in an orgy of revenge and ever-spreading destruction. In both book and film there is serious question as to whether anyone is innocent, but in the book one begins to believe that everyone is guility not just of something, but of something capital. A prior reviewer has noted that s/he regards the high body count of the film as disqualifying it as an heir to the noir classics. I happen to disagree, but I suppose that my own tolerance for mayhem is reached not by the specific acts of violence, but in the entire universe of the novel. The filmmakers have left the corruption of the featured players and events intact, but leave room for a "Mr. and Mrs. Middle America," the DeVito character's readers, who can live their lives titilated, but otherwise generally untouched, by the events of the plotline. See the film, read the book.
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Summary: Best movie in a long time
Review: I'm amazed. Hollywood can still produce a quality movie! There is little to dislike here. The screenplay, directing, dialogue, cinematography and acting are all superb. I have never been a Kim Basinger fan, but I even liked her in this movie. The only negatives I can think of is that the bad guy's identity is revealed a little to soon, and I was sorry to see one of the characters that I liked killed off early (both occur in the same scene). Still, this movie is can't-miss.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best movies of the 90's
Review: L.A. Confidential is truly one of the most amazing film accomplishments of this decade. The plot was intricate and believable, the cinematography was right on, and the soundtrack/score was exceptional. All of these elements made me feel immersed in the world that these characters lived in. Speaking of the characters, none were formulaic or boring and their different personalities shined through. I have to give credit to Hanson and Helgeland on adapting a detailed yet brilliant novel by James Ellroy. As far as performances go, I felt that everyone in the movie did a superb job. However, the one actor that seemed to stand out to me was Russell Crowe. He gave depth and feeling to a character that could have been portrayed as brutish and one-dimensional. I believe that L. A. Confidential will be remembered as one of the best noir movies ever made, and as far as I am concerned, it ranks among my top ten of all-time.
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Summary: A GREAT MOVIE
Review: This Movie has all the charm of The Usual Suspects but has its own originality. It has action, suspence, suprises (a bunch), and romance. If you're sick of shallow action, repetitive comedy and soppy romance, rent (later on probably buy) this movie. You'll not be sorry.
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Summary: Good movie.....great DVD
Review: Good movie. Intelligent. Superb acting (but come on...Kim Basinger with an Oscar???? What about James Cromwell?) Very, very stylish. But the ONLY way to see this is on DVD. This disc is packed with extras which range from cool (interactive L.A. map and making-of featurette) to useless (three television ads and the movie trailer). And it's also one of the cheapest, so for someone looking to build their DVD collection, even if you HATE the movie (which hardly seems possible), you're getting your money's worth....unlike with those greedy buggers who make the Criterion Collection.
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Summary: Robbed by Titanic
Review: SUCH a good movie. Suberb cast backed with a fantastic script and excellent direction makes for one of the best films of the decade. Achieves a sensational post-modern film noir atmosphere.
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Summary: A Masterpiece that was 1997's Best Film!
Review: L.A. Confidential was easily the best film released in 1997. Stylish, exciting, unpredictable, complex, and EXTREMELY entertaining. In other words, everything a movie should be. This film was robbed. It should have swept the Oscars, it was exciting, classical Hollywood filmmaking, the kind of film Oscars should go to. Unfortunately, money talks, and a certain big bloated budgeted boat sank this great film's chances. I recommened this film as a definite purchase for any good collection. GREAT!
Rating:
Summary: Shame on Hollywood
Review: Poor Hollywood. The only reason this grand cinematic masterpiece didn't win best picture was because Hollywood couldn't bear admitting acceptance of its portrayal in the movie. Or even worse, that two spectacular up-and-coming Aussies could steal the pic away from any of the more established players. My only regret is that I knew about the talents of Russell Crowe coming into the movie, even though I was still blown away by his performance.
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