Rating: 
Summary: Five stars (even with continuity glitches)....
Review: Three minutes into viewing this movie, I said to a companion, "Who is THAT?" He answered, "Some guy from Australia." Of course, now we know who...Russell Crowe. I was in my twenties in the 50s and vacationed in L.A. a lot...I remember the orange groves and the street cars...and when movie stars were "bigger than life" and this movie depicts the essence of that time. Can you image hookers being "cut" to look like Julia Roberts today? Who would care? I have watched this movie at least 30 times. Well, two scenes disturb me..things that you never see in European films (although I'd like to be proven wrong)...continuity glitches. Where did the punch cups go at the beginning when Dudley and Ed were talking about what department Ed should work in? Where did Bud's scotch glass go during his first visit with Lynn? Things like this drive me nuts..especially in such a great film. I believe Kim Bassinger DID deserve the Oscar...her lines were delivered perfectly. So there! Im buying a DVD player tomorrow!
Rating:
Summary: A shining light of hope for Hollywood
Review: Maybe a strong title, but it definitely rings true.People who think Hollywood is only producing big budget, special efx-laden action films need to see this. An adaptation of James Ellroy's brilliant novel, this is a film that will please fans of drama, mystery/suspense or thriller films. Everybody puts on a great performance, and the story/dialogue is some of the best for any movie in ages. Now, however this film lost Best Picture to Titanic is anybody's guess. I guess that is now one of the great, unanswered mysteries of life.
Rating:
Summary: How I wish there were more movies like this
Review: How often does a movie come along that is this gorgeous, tough, smart, and entertaining? Not nearly often enough. This movie is easily one of the best films in recent years and it holds up to repeated viewing more than just about any film I can think of. The ensemble cast is perfect, the dialogue is sharp and nasty, and the story is compelling throughout. The "cynicism" in the film feels more like "realism" with wit and venom sprinkled on top. A true masterpiece of noir and a must-own for any movie fan.
Rating:
Summary: "You have the right to remain silent..."
Review: And WATCH L.A. Confidential! Or any other Russell Crowe film. It's not the quality of the film that counts, but the fact that Russell Crowe is hot. But really this movie was awesome. The characters were well played by all the actors. Kevin Spacey's and Russell Crowe's acting were superb. Though this movie was hard to follow, the shooting scenes were fantastic. As were the close-ups of Russell Crowe. He is a great actor. In every scene I believed he was really this all-brawn cop, who thought with his fists. At moments I would hate him for what he was doing and at others I would cheer him on for all his bravery. That's the power of his acting, he can make you hate him or he can make you love him. I, for instance, love him any way he acts. Guy Pearce is also a good actor, his portrayel of Lt. Ed Exley was fantastic. Being a foil to Russell Crowe's character his all-brain personality has caused him to forget why he started this line of work. This movie shows a gradual rediscovery of his initial motivation. James Cromwell also played superbly. His ability to play the contrasting roles of a respected position and one who abuses his power in the force really shows a great deal of talent. But let me stop jabbering and tell the four words that I'm sure everyone wants to hear, RUSSELL CROWE IS VERY HOT! So it's five words, eat me. One just can't approach the last word without stressing how much.
Rating:
Summary: This film is on my top ten list.
Review: I remember the first time I saw L.A.Confidential. It was in a fifty year old renovated theater and it was a perfect setting for this period piece. I remember sitting through the credits unwilling to let go of the characters, they had gotten inside my head to a degree that I could not fully grasp at the time. Since then, I have read the book, bought the audio tape and watched the video many times. Originally all the performances seemed to stand out but after about ten viewings none stand out more than Russell Crowe's Bud White. I find it interesting that Mr. Crowe has brought up Bud White several times while he was being interviewed about other films. He even said in one interview that he wished he could do Bud as a older man, that he would like to see where he goes with his life. This tough, complex character seems to be one of those film personas that take on a life of it's own. L.A.Confidential is one of those films that are not financial successes at the time of release but that people will be talking about for many years in the future.
Rating:
Summary: The Best DVD I have ever seen
Review: A DVD should offer more than just a nice copy of the film. The better ones have behind the scenes stuff, interviews, bloopers, on location info. LA Confidential is an outstanding film, and for people who love it, the DVD is a must see. It has tons of extra material and answered all the questions I had like: how they end up with two Australian actors, what they really sound like, what kind of research went into the film, where I would find the real locations in LA-- It was all there, and well done.
Rating:
Summary: One of my All-Time Greats
Review: This is one of the greatest movies I have ever seen. A superb script is backed up by excellent acting. Aussie stars Guy Pearce and Russel Crowe give unbelieveable performances as two cops, Ed Eksley and Bud White, respectively. Eksley wants to do things how they are supposed to be done: by the book, while White is capable of rewriting that book slightly. Both characters had exceptional depth and believeability. Spacey gives a great show, as always, as Jack Vincennes, a cop more interested in the Hollywood lifestyle than in being a good cop, that is until too many coincidences having to do with the murder that is the main storyline start showing up. He then becomes a cop again, and remembers why he became a cop. I happen to be a huge Kevin Spacey fan, and this ranks up with his roles in Usual Suspects and American Beauty as far as quality. All the other characters are excellent in supporting roles, from Kin Bassinger to James Cromwell to all the other cops and criminals. In addition to being a great drama, the movie climaxes with one of the greatest gunfights I have ever seen. It isn't the type where the bad guys can't hit a thing and the good guys kill everyone with a single shot; the good guys get hit and the bad guys sometimes don't die. This adds an beneficial element of action to an already great drama. I would recommend this film to anyone who enjoys classic film noirs, or to anyone who doesn't know what a film noir is. Anyone would enjoy this film.
Rating:
Summary: A well written, finely directed mystery
Review: I must admit that I tend to enjoy movies where the hero or heroine is not all "good". Such is the case with L.A. Confidential. No film was hurt more by the popularity of "Titanic" in 1997 than this one. Lost in the wake of the doomed ocean liner were fine performances across the board. The sets and costumes, along with a terrific screenplay draw you into 1950's Hollywood, a place filled with murder, greed and lust. The story is that of three Police detectives all working different angles of the same case, all for very different reasons. Bud White (Russell Crowe) for revenge, Ed Exley (Guy Pearce) for self-promotion, and Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey) for the sake of ego. Kim Bassinger proves worthy of her Oscar winning performance as Lynn Bracken, the high priced prostitute caught in the middle. Rounding out the cast are two of the best character actors around. James Cromwell (probably the best actor who's name you don't know) is perfect as the street hardened Captain Dudley Smith. Danny Devito also stars as the sleazy tabloid reporter who will do anything to get a story. Spacey and Crowe are excellent as the veteran cops well at ease with the corruption that seems to fill every corner of the city. Pearce is just as good as the brash young detective determined to get ahead no matter what it takes. The writing, direction and acting are all superb in "L.A. Confidential", and it will keep you guessing though each and every turn, and will also keep you entertained.
Rating:
Summary: Best Movie of the Decade
Review: I'm not going to ramble on for volumes like some of the other reviews I've read. Let me simply say that this movie does everything right. The story is excellent and full of surprises, the characters are fascinating and complex, the acting is superb (especially Russel Crowe and Guy Pierce), the mood is just right. I could go on and on because I love this movie so much, but I won't. If you like intelligent and well-made films, you have arrived at one of the best ever made, period. Let me also say that those people who gave bad reviews to this film are simply clueless. I can think of no other explanation. They must have been watching a different movie. Movies of this quality come along once in a blue moon. Do yourself a huge favour and pick it up. You will see what an incredible movie L.A. Confidential is. The best movie of the 1990's!
Rating:
Summary: HAS IT ALL
Review: An intriguing mix of film-noir, brutal romance and the underbelly of crime in a stylishly dated L.A., this movie got robbed of the best pic Oscar. Virtually all of the performances are excellent, lead by the smoldering and heartbreaking Russell Crowe, who came out of nowhere and made a huge splash in this role. Kim Basinger is all you could ever want as a femme fatale with more than a few secrets. If you love twisty thrillers that care about the characters, you will love this often over-looked classic movie. Like The Usual Suspects in its byzantine, twisted plot, this movie requires you to pay attention, and features the alwasy magnetic Kevin Spacey in another wildly entertaining role.
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