L.A. Confidential (1997)

The cop movie is one of the most popular genres in Hollywood. Inevitably there is always a crime (usually a murder) to be investigated, however one major difference in such police-centred films is how the policemen that feature in them are portrayed. Some (probably the majority) of movies show the policeman as the hero, even if some of his colleagues might be irritated about his unconventional methods. However, there is a significant minority of cop movies where it can sometimes be difficult to tell apart the police and the villains. L.A. Confidential is a movie that is a perfect example of the second category.

The setting is 1950s Los Angeles, more specifically the area around Hollywood. After the area's pre-eminent organised crime boss is locked up on tax charges, a power vacuum develops in his absence, with several of his former minions being gunned down by mysterious assailants. After newly retired police officer Dick Stensland (Graham Beckel) is gunned down along with several other people in an apparently motiveless massacre in a cafeteria, three very different police officers investigate their crime, each in their unique way. Ed Exley (Guy Pearce) is an ambitious by-the-book officer who will do just about anything to get promoted, but has a hatred of police corruption. Stensland’s former partner Bud White (Russel Crowe) is a man with good intentions but violent inclinations who believes that a bit of police brutality might be necessary to catch criminals. Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey) is Hollywood's favourite cop, as well as being a consultant for wholesome TV show 'Badge of Honor' he also specialises in arresting wayward movie stars – who have usually been set up by Vincennes' accomplice Sid Hugens (Danny DeVito), a tabloid publisher. They all have their own motivation for solving the crime, but soon find that some of their colleagues might be happy if the crime was never solved.

Brian Helgeland's script is a superb piece of script writing with some vivid characters, memorable dialogue and a cleverly convoluted plot. There are some highly effective scenes, including some shockingly abrupt violence and White and Exley's uncompromising interrogation of a suspicious DA (Ron Rifkin). The period detail is convincing and Curtis Hanson's direction is excellent.

Possibly the best feature of the movie is the superb cast – Crowe, Pearce and Spacey are all brilliant actors who manage to convincingly portray their characters. The supporting actors are equally as good, particularly DeVito, Rifkin, David Strathairn's sleazy businessman and James Cromwell's police chief. Bafflingly, the only performance to get an Oscar nod was Kim Basinger's competent but rather bland performance as a prostitute who falls for Crowe's policeman.

There's not really much to criticise in the film, although the start is possibly a bit too slow and the explanation for all the killing is possibly a bit prosaic and slightly too predictable.

In summary, an excellent cop movie with some brilliant acting performances.

Rating : 8 / 10

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All content ©2003 William Marnoch.

Comments? Agree/Disagree with the Reviews? Suggestions? Random Ramblings? Whatever you might want to say, feel free to e-mail me at william@wmarnoch.freeserve.co.uk .