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L.A. Confidential (1997)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Release Date:
19 September 1997 (USA)
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Tagline:
Off the record, on the QT, and very hush-hush... more
Plot:
A shooting at an all night diner is investigated by three LA policemen in their own unique ways. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Won 2 Oscars.
Another 69 wins
&
43 nominations
more
NewsDesk:
(71 articles)
Lambs Named Best Thriller
(From WENN. 3 June 2009, 12:00 PM, PDT)
Actor Sandeen Dies
(From WENN. 11 February 2009, 3:55 AM, PST)
(From WENN. 3 June 2009, 12:00 PM, PDT)
Actor Sandeen Dies
(From WENN. 11 February 2009, 3:55 AM, PST)
User Comments:
Three Phenomenal Actors Give The Performances Of A Life Time
more (533 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Kevin Spacey | ... | Jack Vincennes |
 | Russell Crowe | ... | Bud White |
 | Guy Pearce | ... | Ed Exley |
 | James Cromwell | ... | Dudley Smith |
 | Kim Basinger | ... | Lynn Bracken |
 | Danny DeVito | ... | Sid Hudgens |
 | David Strathairn | ... | Pierce Patchett |
 | Ron Rifkin | ... | D.A. Ellis Loew |
 | Matt McCoy | ... | 'Badge of Honor' Star Brett Chase |
 | Paul Guilfoyle | ... | Mickey Cohen |
| Paolo Seganti | ... | Johnny Stompanato |
 | Elisabeth Granli | ... | Mickey Cohen's Mambo Partner |
 | Sandra Taylor | ... | Mickey Cohen's Mambo Partner |
| Steve Rankin | ... | Officer Arresting Mickey Cohen |
| Graham Beckel | ... | Dick Stensland |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated R for strong violence and language, and for sexuality.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
138 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Iceland:16 |
South Korea:18 |
USA:R (certificate #35218) |
Philippines:R-18 |
Brazil:18 |
USA:TV-MA (TV rating) |
Argentina:16 |
Australia:MA |
Belgium:KT |
Canada:18A |
Chile:14 |
Finland:K-16 |
France:U |
Germany:16 (w) |
Hong Kong:IIB |
Netherlands:12 (original rating) |
Netherlands:16 (DVD rating) |
New Zealand:R18 |
Norway:15 |
Peru:14 |
Portugal:M/12 |
Singapore:M18 (DVD rating) |
Singapore:R(A) (original rating) |
Spain:18 |
Sweden:15 |
UK:18
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
James Ellroy describes the character of Bud White as the biggest cop on the L.A. force. Noting that he wasn't even 6 foot, Russell Crowe decided to move into an apartment so small that he had to duck to get into the doorways and could barely stand up in. Crowe said this worked in making him feel like a "giant" by the time he came to the set to shoot.
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Goofs:
Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Dudley breaks up a fight between White and Exley, he tells Exley not to bother White when his blood is up, although he is mouthing something else.
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Quotes:
[first lines]
Sid Hudgens: [voiceover] Come to Los Angeles! The sun shines bright, the beaches are wide and inviting, and the orange groves stretch as far as the eye can see. There are jobs aplenty, and land is cheap. Every working man can have his own house, and inside every house, a happy, all-American family. You can have all this, and who knows... you could even be discovered, become a movie star... or at least see one. Life is good in Los Angeles... it's paradise on Earth." Ha ha ha ha. That's what they tell you, anyway.
more
Sid Hudgens: [voiceover] Come to Los Angeles! The sun shines bright, the beaches are wide and inviting, and the orange groves stretch as far as the eye can see. There are jobs aplenty, and land is cheap. Every working man can have his own house, and inside every house, a happy, all-American family. You can have all this, and who knows... you could even be discovered, become a movie star... or at least see one. Life is good in Los Angeles... it's paradise on Earth." Ha ha ha ha. That's what they tell you, anyway.
more
Movie Connections:
References The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)
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Soundtrack:
Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Positive
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FAQ
How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?What photos did Dudley and Patchett have on the D.A.?
Did Exley actually testify at the beginning?
more
more (533 total)
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Six years ago, a director by the name of Curtis Hansen came out with a small time film named L.A. Confidential. Though the movie garnered several big nominations at the 1997 Academy Awards, the nation had been swept up by the gigantic and romantic blockbuster, Titanic, thus shrinking the chances of this brilliant movie from garnering any real awards. 1997 completely screwed this phenomenal film, in which three brilliant actors gave the performances of their careers.
Russell Crowe plays Detective Bud White, a tough L.A. cop who bends the rules in order to bring justice to the city. He is ruthless, and unforgiving of anyone, which brings him into direct conflict with Detective Lieutenant Ed Exley, played by Guy Pearce. Russell Crowe became with this role a full pledged character actor,: the cop with a steel physique, and a vulnerable heart. He becomes so believable and real to the audience, you can not help but sympathize for his character under the circumstances. From this role, Crowe went on to garner three best actor nominations, winning for his role in Gladiator.
Guy Pearce, the little known Australian body builder, became the character known as Ed Exley, a straight, uptight detective trying to live up to the legend his father created before him. Exley has so much to prove to the LAPD, trying to show them that he is just as good, maybe even better, than his father. He plays the politics in a corrupted police department very well, and is able to use these skills in solving the corrupt and mysterious case of the Night Owl murders. This film officially put Guy Pearce in the big leagues of film, making his next appearances in Memento and The Count of Monte Cristo. He is a severely underrated actor who deserves better than what he has been getting.
Finally, the ever wonderful Kevin Spacey. Spacey plays Lieutenant Jack Vincenes, a cop who gives a popular LA police show, Badge of Honor, real solved cases in return for money. Jack sees his life as an ever going soap opera, until he comes across a case that somehow has a connection to the Night Owl murders. Kevin Spacey has proved time and again his abilities as an actor, and he continues with this performance.
Curtis Hansen does a wonderful job bringing this story to the big screen. His talents, although recognized, have not been awarded as of yet. I can only hope that someday, someone will give this amazing director something worthy of his talents.
Highly Recommended.
MJR