L.A. Confidential (1997)

Producer/Director Curtis Hanson has everything but a visual style. His work behind the camera here rarely does anything to draw you into the film. This may be called a film noir, but it isn't really. There is very little of interest in the way the scenes are shot or the way the film is edited. The film is set in 1940's Hollywood, but it looks kind of phony. This film might really suck if it weren't for the script's ability to emulated a great novel and for the wonderful cast.

But this great cast can't overcome Hanson's fatal error in casting look-alikes Kevin Spacey and Russell Crowe in the film. I was almost two hours into the movie before I snapped that Crowe wasn't Spacey. No amount of exposition or well- crafted scripting can help one from making this mistake. I even thought, "Wow, Kevin Spacey sure looks young with that toupee." By the time I realized my mistake, I had to rethink the entire film and try to figure out what the hell is going on in the plot.

That being said, the actors do work their ass off here to make the film come alive. While Spacey is subjugated to a role that is minor, his double Crowe is awesome in every scene in which he appears. His brooding tough guy may have a typical (for films, anyway) story which finally reveals his motivation, but it doesn't matter. We like him and want to know all we can about him by the time he reveals what is supposed to be a surprise about his past. Guy Pearce almost steals the film away from Crowe as an egg head do-gooder whose father was a cop before him. When the two finally join forces in the film, it explodes from their chemistry.

Also in the piece and adding to the overall success of the acting are James Cromwell, who appears in a crucial role and pulls it off with subtle aplomb; Danny DeVito, who is good enough to make you forget he's Danny DeVito; Kim Basinger, who redeems herself somewhat in a role that could have been poorly mishandled by many actresses; Matt McCoy exuding a believable innocence; as well as David Straithairn, Ron Rifkin and a plethora of mainly unknowns, each one working a little more magic into the ensemble production.

The script, by Hanson and Brian Helgeland (also a Producer) based on the James Ellroy novel is able to make the film work. Here is where Hanson seems to know what he's doing. In bringing what must be a multi-layered novel full of sub-plot and much layering of characters to the screen, Hanson and Helgeland are able to jam pack much of the source work into the script. There is a lot going on here and it can be hard to keep up with, but it isn't the fault of the script if we get confused.

"L.A. Confidential" succeeds in spite of it's lackadaisical director. But the film isn't really worthy of all of the accolades which were heaped upon it. Garnering several Academy Award nominations, including Best Director, the film possible deserved only one, for Basinger's work. It might even be a shame that Pearce and Crowe were overlooked.

Note:

Music by Jerry Goldsmith with many period songs used as well.

The film has Spacey's character working as a Technical Advisor on a film called "Badge of Honor." This is a rip-off of "Dragnet." Hollywood theater marquees in the film show them to be playing films such as "When Worlds Collide and "The Bad and The Beautiful," two titles which relate to the theme of the film in certain ways.

Actors in the film are incorporated into stock footage in the end credits, and then folks are shown watching the TV show "Badge of Honor" with it's credits mentioning Spacey's character's name.

Filmed in Los Angeles.

Review written in 1998

Report Card

Script: A

Acting: A+

Cinematography\Lighting: C

Special Effects\Make Up: F

Music: D

Final Grade: B+