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    L.A. Confidential

    • 19971997
    • RR
    • 2h 18min
    IMDb RATING
    8.2/10
    542K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    901
    122
    • Cast & crew
    • User reviews
    • Trivia
    • IMDbPro
    Kim Basinger, Russell Crowe, Kevin Spacey, Danny DeVito, and Guy Pearce in L.A. Confidential (1997)
    Trailer for L.A. Confidential
    Trailer2:16
    2 Videos
    99+ Photos
    CrimeDramaMystery

    As corruption grows in 1950s Los Angeles, three policemen - one strait-laced, one brutal, and one sleazy - investigate a series of murders with their own brand of justice.As corruption grows in 1950s Los Angeles, three policemen - one strait-laced, one brutal, and one sleazy - investigate a series of murders with their own brand of justice.As corruption grows in 1950s Los Angeles, three policemen - one strait-laced, one brutal, and one sleazy - investigate a series of murders with their own brand of justice.As corruption grows in 1950s Los Angeles, three policemen - one strait-laced, one brutal, and one sleazy - investigate a series of murders with their own brand of justice.As corruption grows in 1950s Los Angeles, three policemen - one strait-laced, one brutal, and one sleazy - investigate a series of murders with their own brand of justice.

    • Director
      • Curtis Hanson
    • Writers
      • James Ellroy(novel "L.A. Confidential")
      • Brian Helgeland(screenplay)
      • Curtis Hanson(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Kevin Spacey
      • Russell Crowe
      • Guy Pearce
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Curtis Hanson
    • Writers
      • James Ellroy(novel "L.A. Confidential")
      • Brian Helgeland(screenplay)
      • Curtis Hanson(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Kevin Spacey
      • Russell Crowe
      • Guy Pearce
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 754User reviews
    • 141Critic reviews
    • 90Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • Top rated movie #125
    • Won 2 Oscars
      • 91 wins & 85 nominations total

    Videos2

    L.A. Confidential
    Trailer 2:16
    L.A. Confidential
    L.A. Confidential
    Trailer 0:31
    L.A. Confidential

    Photos195

    Russell Crowe in L.A. Confidential (1997)
    Kevin Spacey in L.A. Confidential (1997)
    Danny DeVito in L.A. Confidential (1997)
    Russell Crowe and Danny DeVito in L.A. Confidential (1997)
    Kevin Spacey and Symba in L.A. Confidential (1997)
    Russell Crowe, Kevin Spacey, James Cromwell, and Guy Pearce in L.A. Confidential (1997)
    Ron Rifkin in L.A. Confidential (1997)
    Kim Basinger and Guy Pearce in L.A. Confidential (1997)
    Guy Pearce in L.A. Confidential (1997)
    Kevin Spacey in L.A. Confidential (1997)
    Paul Guilfoyle in L.A. Confidential (1997)
    Kim Basinger, Russell Crowe, David Strathairn, and Amber Smith in L.A. Confidential (1997)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Kevin Spacey
    Kevin Spacey
    • Jack Vincennesas Jack Vincennes
    Russell Crowe
    Russell Crowe
    • Bud Whiteas Bud White
    Guy Pearce
    Guy Pearce
    • Ed Exleyas Ed Exley
    Kim Basinger
    Kim Basinger
    • Lynn Brackenas Lynn Bracken
    James Cromwell
    James Cromwell
    • Dudley Smithas Dudley Smith
    Danny DeVito
    Danny DeVito
    • Sid Hudgensas Sid Hudgens
    David Strathairn
    David Strathairn
    • Pierce Patchettas Pierce Patchett
    Ron Rifkin
    Ron Rifkin
    • D.A. Ellis Loewas D.A. Ellis Loew
    Matt McCoy
    Matt McCoy
    • 'Badge of Honor' Star Brett Chaseas 'Badge of Honor' Star Brett Chase
    Paul Guilfoyle
    Paul Guilfoyle
    • Mickey Cohenas Mickey Cohen
    Paolo Seganti
    Paolo Seganti
    • Johnny Stompanatoas Johnny Stompanato
    Elisabeth Granli
    Elisabeth Granli
    • Mickey Cohen's Mambo Partneras Mickey Cohen's Mambo Partner
    Sandra Taylor
    Sandra Taylor
    • Mickey Cohen's Mambo Partneras Mickey Cohen's Mambo Partner
    Steve Rankin
    Steve Rankin
    • Officer Arresting Mickey Cohenas Officer Arresting Mickey Cohen
    Graham Beckel
    Graham Beckel
    • Dick Stenslandas Dick Stensland
    Allan Graf
    Allan Graf
    • Wife Beateras Wife Beater
    Precious Chong
    Precious Chong
    • Wifeas Wife
    Symba
    Symba
    • Jack's Dancing Partneras Jack's Dancing Partner
    • (as Symba Smith)
    • Director
      • Curtis Hanson
    • Writers
      • James Ellroy(novel "L.A. Confidential")
      • Brian Helgeland(screenplay)
      • Curtis Hanson(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    See production, box office, & company info

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    Storyline

    Edit
    1950's Los Angeles is the seedy backdrop for this intricate noir-ish tale of police corruption and Hollywood sleaze. Three very different cops are all after the truth, each in their own style: Ed Exley, the golden boy of the police force, willing to do almost anything to get ahead, except sell out; Bud White, ready to break the rules to seek justice, but barely able to keep his raging violence under control; and Jack Vincennes, always looking for celebrity and a quick buck until his conscience drives him to join Exley and White down the one-way path to find the truth behind the dark world of L.A. crime. —Greg Bole <bole@life.bio.sunysb.edu>
    corruptionmurder1950scall girlneo noir185 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Off the record, on the QT, and very hush-hush...
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Mystery
      • Thriller
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for strong violence and language, and for sexuality
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      At the time the film takes place, no building in Los Angeles was allowed to be taller than City Hall, so the cameras were placed at certain points so that any building taller than City Hall would not be seen.
    • Goofs
      In one shot, when Bud White is dangling the D.A. out the window, the actor's safety cable is visible.
    • Quotes

      Captain Dudley Smith: Have you a valediction, boyo?

      Jack Vincennes: [gasping out a name] ... Rollo Tamasi.

      [laughs, painfully, to himself as he dies]

    • Crazy credits
      At the end of all the credits, there is a brief scene from "Badge of Honor" featuring a onscreen dedication in honor Sgt. who served as an advisor to the film. The scene shows a black-and-white closing moment of "Badge of Honor" with the credits as Badge of Honor actor (Matt McCoy) closes the door on the HOMICIDE office and walks sorrowfully away.
    • Alternate versions
      In the Hong Kong television version, during the scene where Bud breaks into the interrogation room, the part where he removes all the bullets from the gun but one is removed for some reason. So it cuts straight from his coming into the room and then sticking the gun into the rapist's mouth without giving it a Russian roulette feel.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: The Game/The End of Violence/L.A. Confidential/The Disappearance of Garcia Lorca (1997)
    • Soundtracks
      Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Positive
      (1944)

      Music by Harold Arlen

      Lyrics by Johnny Mercer

      Performed by Johnny Mercer

      Courtesy of Capitol Records

      Under license from EMI-Capitol Music Special Markets

    User reviews754

    Review
    Top review
    Simply a wonderful film that respects it's audience
    In the gritty LA of the 1950's, stardom is the boom industry and all is about appearance and visual image. However under the surface drug use is rife, prostitution is rampant and the police officers are violent thugs. In the middle of this are three officers with different aims. Ed Exley is an ambitious young officer who will do anything to climb the ranks, Bud White is a muscle man and gets the job done while Jack Vincennes is only concerned with celebrity busts and getting his face in the paper. When the three come together on a coffee shop killing that brings in elements of cases they are following they solve it together. However each has suspicions that something is not right.

    I'm sorry to say that I didn't pick up on this at the cinema and it wasn't until the Oscars brought it to my attention that I first saw it. Since then I have seen it several times and have enjoyed it every time. The plot is slightly complex (although maybe not by the genre's standards) and it isn't simplified for the audiences sake – it respects the audience enough to trust us to keep up with it's pace. The film is split into three strands dictated by the characters, they are not quite distinct but are mostly intertwined the whole way through – coming together in the final hour to great effect.

    The pace of the telling is great; it has moments of drama, of tension and great action. Hanson has done a great job with the direction, he has a great sense of place and time to his 50's Hollywood – whether it be the stars' lives or the black suburbs – but he directs each scene with a sense of tension and urgency that the material deserves. The final twist is OK if not great but it is more the telling of the story that is enjoyable, not just the denouncement.

    The casting did a great job of getting growth names and established qualities but no one huge star who could dominate the film. It is the Australian stars that stand out here. Pearce is excellent with a subtly changing character but it is Crowe that sticks in the memory with a very strong character and a performance to match. Spacey is as quality as he ever is (or at least, was for a few years either side of this film) and the support cast is as good with De Vito, Basinger, Cromwell, Rifkin, Strathairn and Guilfoyle.

    There is nothing I really dislike about this film. The longer than average running time is not a problem as it easily fills it without dragging at any point. The film oozes class and has a great tough plot from Ellroy where nothing is as simple as right/wrong and everything comes together at the end. A real classy film with brains and brawn which continues to be one of my favourites of recent years.
    helpful•22
    8
    • bob the moo
    • Nov 23, 2003

    FAQ19

    • Is this movie based on a book?
    • Right before Bloody Christmas, Exley says that the two officers who were beaten by the Mexican men sustained minor injuries. How did the other officers come to the conclusion that their injuries were worse?
    • Did Exley actually testify at the beginning?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 19, 1997 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Los Ángeles al desnudo
    • Filming locations
      • Frolic Room - 6245 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • New Regency Productions
      • The Wolper Organization
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $35,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $64,616,940
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $5,211,198
      • Sep 21, 1997
    • Gross worldwide
      • $126,216,940
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h 18min
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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