Director Curtis Hanson’s gives us so much more than 'just the facts, ma'am' in L.A. Confidential (1997) a taut homage to film noir detective thrillers. Based on James Ellroy's scathing and seductive novel the film concerns a series of brutal murders at the Night Owl Café and tie-ins to police corruption. Oscar nominated, rarely seen, but slowly gaining in reputation, L.A. Confidential follows the exploits of three Los Angeles police officers.
Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey) is all show. He prefers the company of studio moguls and sultry starlets to his fellow officers. Edmund Exley (Guy Pierce), the son of a decorated officer is determined to make detective before thirty-five by any and all means, however cutthroat. Having come from an abusive home, Wendell ‘Bud’ White (Russell Crowe) has pledged himself to the salvation of all women in distress.
Bud’s current fixation is Lynn Bracken (Kim Basinger) – a prostitute cut to look like Veronica Lake. Through an ingenious set of interwoven circumstances, all three officers come to investigate the comings and goings of one Pierce Patchett (David Strathairn); an upscale pimp running a high class brothel where girls have been given plastic surgery to resemble famous movie stars. What is unclear to any of the officers until it is almost too late is how Capt. Dudley Smith (James Cromwell) and district attorney Ellis Loew (Ron Rifkin) fit into their investigation.
James Ellroy’s gritty novel is magnificently realized by Brian Helgeland’s hard-hitting screenplay. This is a classy classic noir thriller (albeit in colour) that sizzles like raw steak thrown over an open flame. The mystery - dappled in seedy mob hits, sunny California mythology and real life circumstances of famous crimes circa the mid-1950s - is one of those 'tabloid' grabbers that rivets the audience to their seats and never lets up.
Casting is inspired with every actor functioning at their peak. Guy Pierce, Russell Crowe and Kevin Spacey have never been better. (Aside: this film was the springboard for Crowe's ascent to superstardom.) Bottom line: L.A. Confidential is a must see/must own movie experience in an era when there are too few to behold.
L.A. Confidential was nominated for Best Picture – but in a year dominated by the overwhelming hype over James Cameron’s Titanic it never stood a chance - a genuine pity, because L.A. Confidential is the Best Picture of 1997!
Warner Home Video’s Blu-ray is a winner through and through. The image is solid, with very robust colours. Contrast levels and fine detail are superbly realized. As they used to say, 'Prepare to be astonished!' Minor edge enhancement on the DVD has been eradicated on the Blu-ray. We get a very sharp visual presentation with just the right amount of film grain that actually looks like grain - not digital grit. Good stuff.
The audio has been remastered in DTS and really delivers the 'wow' factor we've come to expect from Blu-ray. The studio packs this disc with a ton of extras including a comprehensive audio commentary, four informative featurettes, the pilot of a TV series, an interactive map that allows us to visit the haunts in the film and an isolated 5.1 rendering or Jerry Goldsmith's evocative score. Yes! Yes! Yes! L.A. Confidential on Blu-ray comes very highly recommended!
FILM RATING (out of 5 - 5 being the best)
5+
VIDEO/AUDIO
4.5
EXTRAS
3.5
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