Not as good as I expected. I had a fairly good time though. Kevin Spacey as always nailed it. The others did good too, especially Basinger. Crowe's character provided some amusing scenes. The characters were better done than the plot.

Strongly written and acted, this film is an instant classic.

This film is the true definition of a blockbuster, that met and exceeded every expectation. L.A. Confidential is loaded with star power and filmed in a style of films thirty years it's senior. Based on a true story, Three L.A. Detectives, with different reputations and personalities, team up to solve a brutal murder that involves one of their own. The film is loaded with twists and turns that will lead you down many different paths and thanks to the quality of the acting, it's all believable. Just how good was this movie? In 1998, it received NINE Academy nominations, one of the highest number of nominations ever. L.A. Confidential also put Russell Crowe on the map. This film is an extremely exciting 'who done it' mystery that will leave you on the edge of your seat and begging for more. The story is top notch, the acting is just about as good as it gets, and you will be hard pressed to find a better mystery. I can't possibly recommend this film enough!… Expand

L.A. Confidential is a startling, beautiful police drama that is flawless except for one aspect. Its characters escape tragedy far too often and easily, but that is a small flaw, and it is overshadowed by the power of the performances the actors give.

The best thing about this film is the plot. But because it's just a film adaption of James Ellroy's novel I won't give bonus points for that. A bit too slow sometimes but they've got a good cast and a nice 50's feeling. Story is still the best, however.

This is the best movie all the time! I don't kidding. I saw this movie about ten times and I always enjoy it. If you don't see it, you must watch it! I hope you like too.

"L.A Confidential" is not JUST a gangster movie. It's one that's cheerfully paced yet cynically written, where the three main characters compete against each other with beautiful state-of-art cinematography.

L.A. Confidential may be one of the few book adaptations that holds up (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo does too) and despite its very loose adaptation it is flawlessly executed with standout performances from the likes of Kevin Spacey and James Cromwell. However the film really belongs to Guy Pearce's Ed Exley who is the by the book character everyone loves to hate. This may be an oversimplification on my part but his performance is flawless, invoking all the emotions, especially as he reminisces about the death of his father in a gripping scene between him and Spacey's Jack Vincennes (whose answer to why he became a cop is brilliant). At its best LA Confidential is a film of two halves but each episode is cleverly put together with each character shining. The film embraces the period, including the obsession with noir and pulp to great effect with Kim Basinger bringing to life the role of the Femme Fatale as she effortlessly manipulates those she sees while also showing her vulnerable side during her scenes with Russell Crowe's Bud White (A career highlight). The story follows the brutal murders of the staff and customers of a late night coffee shop called the Nite Owl. However a plot that starts out simple frays off into multiple sub plots that are equally intriguing and cleverly put together providing one of the most intelligent look at the inner workings of a police station and the people we trust to solve our crime (The game L.A. Noire tries to do the same but falls flat). The film is a exhilarating tale of corruption, murder, sex and general wrong-doing that shows that there is no black and white, only shades of grey. Its everything a perfect noir should be and more. A timeless classic.… Expand

L.A. Confidential perfectly captures the dark and dirty world of a 1950s pulp-noir. The film, as is often the case with noir, is all about contrast - whether it's the contrast between sun-kissed villas and dingy slum interiors, or the contrast between a cop following the law to the letter and another bending the rules to get the job done, or even the contrast between steamy romance and brutal violence. The various plot-lines that run parallel to each other feel episodic, but all are engaging and build to an immensely satisfying conclusion.The performances across the board are strong,but of particular note are Guy Pearce's by-the-book lead protagonist, Kevin Spacey's celebrity super-cop and James Cromwell's formidable police chief - they cast make the already excellent script shine. You have all the usual noir hallmarks - the femme-fatale (Basinger), the quick-talking, smart-ass reporter (DeVito), dirty criminals and even dirtier cops, yet L.A. Confidential still manages to be creative. For instance, few films that I can think of put such a focus on the public face of a police force - the maintenance of a media machine that is required to keep the authorities looking like the good guys. The film is nigh-on flawless, and a joy to watch.… Expand

A masterpiece, combining a complex storyline with an amazing cast. A must see for all movie fans. The twist at the end will definetly make you want to watch it again to see what you missed. Remains one of my favorite films.

Although Kim Basinger's performance was good, it was not Oscar worthy. The film, on the other hand was worthy of its nomination. Kudos to the casting director for hitting the "actor to character" spot on. This film holds your attention until the end and leaves you with a feeling that you might have misjudged the characters.

Best plot, best acting, especially Russell Crowe and Kevin Spacey.

I go look on other film databases, especially IMDb, L.A Confidential is underrated. It kind of reminded me of Pulp Fiction because of its billboard, but really, this is better than Tarantino's piece. Pulp Fiction was an amazing movie, the third greatest movie of the decade, but LA is the second best because of how well Guy Hamilton portrays the story. And obviously Goodfellas is in first, this crime epic is must see.… Expand

Popcorn flick done right; though regrettably with some of the sentimentality intact.

Not alot of movies deserve a 10. Chinatown (this movie is compared to LA several times) does.It doesn't have the same mood and technical/directing brilliance that Chinatown has, but it comes very close..The book by Ellroy is brilliant very suitable for moviescripting. Now please make a movie of his magnum opus: the cold six thousand!! And can't give a bigger complement to the director... you're the man for the job.… Expand

One of the best films of the 1990's and one of the very few I would allow a score of 10. This bleak, blackly humourous neo-noir may not be everyone's cup of tea (especially the dim-witted and easily distracted) but if you're willing to give yourself over to its hero-less, serpentine world, the rewards are stunning if you stick with it. The acting, writing, and directing are unimpeachable on all levels, and the movie is exceptionally crafted, with several awesome plot twists and developments. A near-classic. Years after the fact, it still stings that Titanic won Best Picture over this. It's an incredible achievement, not to be missed.… Expand

Too long. good if you like this genre.

It's OK. Nice job by Basinger - she's a cutie and keeps things interesting until the plot is developed enough to follow. However, the movie coveys the impression that L.A. has a corrupt soul when in fact it has no soul at all. This is not a movie for the ages, but should be required viewing for crime film buffs and L.A. mythology mavens.

Great Film ! Not to be missed, Great storyline and acting by a great cast. Keeps you glued to the screen and delivers a real punch.

Fine directing, acting, writing, cinematography, and whatever else. However, unlike Chinatown, this is noir encased behind thick glass-plate window and luxuriously lit for museum purposes. It's noir as a mummy exhibition. No matter how gold varnished the coffin the thing inside is dead.

One of the best films I have seen.

The last good movie Danny DeVito ever made. And actually, I thought it got BETTER with every viewing. Watch it at Christmas for best effect. Best movie ever? "Top ten, anyway."

Very engaging, especially the Crowe character. Upon 2nd viewing, it didn't hold up so well. Mostly just archetypal characters in a big budget hollywood flic, Slightly more imagination/humor than average, though, make it stand out. Ending did stink.

Great plot, great direction and an outstanding cast make this film 1 of the best in recent years and even of the decade. Spacey and basinger were great. Really lost faith in the oscars when that crappy "TITANIC" won best picture instead of this film.

The greatest movie ever made, with a great plot, great sets and scenery, great music, great acting especially from Kevin Spacey, just great movie!

Excellent.

Tremendous! Movies this good come along once every five years. Complex, dense and engrossing.

The highly overrated L.A. Confidential is more like a Hollywood costume party than a true noir. The busy plot can't conceal the lack of any real tension, and the elaborate sets and costumes belie the pulpy, bare-bones quality of the original noirs. The final shoot-out goes way over the top. A great performance by Kevin Spacey and fine scenery, but not much else.