L.A. Confidential

Name: L.A. Confidential
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime
Released: September 19, 1997
Duration: 138 min
Rating: 90
Cast: Guy Pearce, Kevin Spacey, Kim Basinger, Russell Crowe

1997

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 28 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 529 Ratings

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8.9

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8.9	User Score Universal acclaim based on 529 Ratings

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L.A. Confidential

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Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. Pictures | Release Date: September 19, 1997 | TV-MA

Starring: Guy Pearce, Kevin Spacey, Kim Basinger, Russell Crowe

Summary: Based on James Ellroy's novel about the movie industry, corrupt cops, tabloid journalism, gangsters and sexual obsessions of every stripe, L.A. Confidential is set in 1950's Los Angeles.

Director: Curtis Hanson

Genre(s): Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Crime

Rating: TV-MA

Runtime: 138 min

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Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Mick LaSalle

One of the best crime dramas to come along in years. Read full review

100

Todd McCarthy

An irresistible treat with enough narrative twists and memorable characters for a half-dozen films. Read full review

100

Michael Wilmington

A movie bull's-eye: noir with an attitude, a thriller packing punches. It gives up its evil secrets with a smile. Read full review

Lisa Alspector

This movie restores genre elements to a level of potency that's disturbing, satisfying, and rare as hell. Read full review

Mike Clark

This sleek adaptation of James Ellroy's dauntingly complex novel has the black-and-white tabloid soul of an old "Confidential" magazine. Read full review

David Edelstein

That rare mainstream cop thriller that refuses to telegraph its outcome in the first 15 minutes or, for much of its running time, to tell you how to feel about its protagonists. Read full review

Maitland McDonagh

Director Curtis Hanson keeps the hugely complicated story zooming along the boulevard of broken dreams without losing sight of the details that make the trip worthwhile. Read full review

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User Reviews

hoops2448

Oct 30, 2011

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 toL.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

4 of 4 users found this helpful40

EmmanuelLeon19

Apr 22, 2017

It is not a great police movie IS the police movie. The characters they are very successful. There is not compared with other movie, except Touch of evil. Magnificent!

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Spangle

Jan 10, 2014

Awesome film. Great acting, directing, and wow, I was left guessing all the way until the end. Not many flaws I can think of and certainly worthy of all the praise it has received. Brilliant.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

shiftworker

Aug 29, 2016

Crime thriller. Delicious feast of a movie, beautifully shot, top-notch acting, interesting plot, sharp script. Like a three course meal with your favourite main, you'll want to choose it again, even when you remember the whole thing, it's just better than most of the alternatives so you'llCrime thriller. Delicious feast of a movie, beautifully shot, top-notch acting, interesting plot, sharp script. Like a three course meal with your favourite main, you'll want to choose it again, even when you remember the whole thing, it's just better than most of the alternatives so you'll go back to it over the years and then you'll appreciate those little touches you'd forgotten about. If you haven't seen it for a while it's one of the best to take round the block again.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

denilend

Jul 6, 2012

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.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

imthenoob

Nov 20, 2018

The cast does a fine job but I think the real gem here is the storytelling. There are so many moving pieces and the writers do such a great job at keeping you guessing until the end. It's a very well told story and it managed to capture and keep my interest throughout.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

either-or

Sep 29, 2016

When I saw this movie in 1997, these glowing reviews had preceded it, along with comparisons to the movie Chinatown. After seeing it, I thought that surely these critics and readers must have been on some powerful drug, or were so desperate for a movie that had any kind of a story, theyWhen I saw this movie in 1997, these glowing reviews had preceded it, along with comparisons to the movie Chinatown. After seeing it, I thought that surely these critics and readers must have been on some powerful drug, or were so desperate for a movie that had any kind of a story, they were willing to call it a masterpiece. I recently viewed it again, hoping I might have overlooked something or other. Would that I had. This big sprawling mess of a movie is no better now than it was then. What in the world all the hoopla was about is a mystery. One thing about it was the continued urge of the days directors to have "homages' to other movies and directors, a nitwit idea started in the 60s. The reason this was fairly new is because the directors that preceded them were too busy inventing the movies to indulge in ": homages"… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

SEE ALL 35 REVIEWS

3	#3 Best Movie of 1997
14	#14 Most Discussed Movie of 1997
22	#22 Most Shared Movie of 1997