L.A. Confidential (1997)
Cast: Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe,
Guy Pearce, Kim Basinger,
Danny DeVito, James Cromwell,
David Strathairn
Director: Curtis Hanson
Screenwriter: Curtis Hanson, Brian
Helgeland (from a novel by
James Ellroy)
Director of photography:
Dante Spinotti
Music: Jerry Goldsmith
Price: Rs. 499
James Ellroy's “L.A. Confidential” is this incredibly-detailed, gripping crime novel set in Los Angeles of the 1950s. The third of Ellroy's “L.A. Quartet” (the other three being “The Black Dahlia”, “The Big Nowhere” and “White Jazz”), “L.A. Confidential” follows three very different police officers of the L.A.P.D. through a routine murder investigation that explodes into a vast, murky conspiracy involving celebrity, tabloid journalism, drugs, crooked cops, shady deals, prostitution and real estate.
Director Curtis Hanson and writer Brian Helgeland worked on a script for the film version for two years and the resultant film won Hanson and Helgeland the Oscar for Best Screenplay – Adapted. The movie demands active participation from the viewer but is not unnecessarily convoluted. For those who pay attention, the movie plays scrupulously fair and the payoff is suitably satisfying.
And that is just one of the bonuses of the film. The sets evoke 1950s Los Angeles in all its dazzling, over the top, if slightly tawdry, glamour. Like Roman Polanski's “China Town” where L.A of the Thirties was lovingly recreated, in “Confidential” the city is as much a character as the cops, politicians, scandal mongers and stars.
The film starts with a voice-over narration about the wonderfulness of L.A., the land of plenty with all American families living out their wholesome lives and then goes on to peel the cover off, to show the grime of corruption that lies beneath. The voice-over is given by Sid Hudgens, who runs the scandal sheet, “Hush-Hush.” He signs off with “Off the record, on the QT and very Hush-Hush.”
We are introduced to the three protagonists — Bud White, Ed Exely and Jack Vincennes one Christmas Eve. White is an incredibly violent cop with a soft spot for women in distress. Exely is super ambitious while Vincennes is the cynical superstar of the police department, who has an arrangement with Hudgens where he provides information of drug busts involving stars and Hudgens gives Vincennes coverage.
What starts off as a regular investigation into a shooting at a diner, The Nite Owl, quickly unravels to reveal the seamy side of the city of dreams. The three officers come to the Nite Owl from different angles. Even though the Nite Owl turns Exley into a hero, he instinctively knows something is not right about the case. For White, The Nite Owl is personal as his former partner Stensland was killed in the shooting. Vincennes agrees to help Exley with the investigation in return for help in solving a murder he feels responsible for, realising later that the two crimes are connected.
“L.A. Confidential” is that rare genre movie that transcends its boundaries to create fully rounded characters one cares for. There is no black and white — everyone is grey. Vincennes is smooth and corrupt, Exley is straight as an arrow, White will not snitch and protects women but that does not mean you can easily classify these three as good or bad. Lynn Bracken — the femme fatale with a heart of gold is a completely believable person.
The acting is of the highest order. From the two unknown (at the time) Australians — Guy Pierce and Russell Crowe playing Exley and White to that exquisite turn by Kevin Spacey as the smoothly savvy Vincennes, Danny De Vito as Hudgens, James Cromwell as the city police chief Dudley Smith and Kim Bassinger as a chastely sexy Lynn — the cast is superb.
“L.A. Confidential” won nine Academy Award nominations including for best director and picture but unfortunately came up against an iceberg in the form of “Titanic” and could only win two Oscars for best adapted screenplay and actress in a supporting role for Bassinger. The extras are nothing much — just a whole lot of stationary text. “L.A. Confidential” makes a strong case for well-made genre breakers.
