L.A. Confidential

UK Release Date. 31 October 1997
Certification. 18

Running Time. 2 hours 18 mins
Director. Curtis Hanson
Cast. Kim Basinger, James Cromwell, Russell Crowe, Danny DeVito, Guy Pearce, Kevin Spacey, David Strathairn.
Rating. 83%

Review.

Curtis Hanson's L.A. Confidential is a slick, stylish, razor-sharp crime drama based on a James Ellroy novel of the same name. L.A. Confidential is actually the third instalment in Ellroy's 'L.A. Quartet' [The Black Dahlia, The Big Nowhere, L.A. Confidential and White Jazz]. Many of the reference points are genuine, or at least loosely based on some semblance of truth. Hush-Hush magazine was based on the celebrity scandal magazine of the 1950s, Confidential. The actress, Lana Turner did have a relationship with mobster Johnny Stompanato. There were persistent rumours of an exclusive Hollywood-themed brothel in Los Angeles at the time. Indeed, one of the films seminal lines is based on a quote from Rita Hayworth, "Men go to bed with Gilda, and wake up with me."

The storyline centres around three main characters - Bud White (Russell Crowe), Ed Exley (Guy Pearce) and Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey) - three Los Angeles police officers investigating a series of murders. Guy Pearce and Kevin Spacey deliver stellar performances, but it is Kim Basinger that steals the show as the sultry Veronica Lake lookalike, Lynn Bracken. Basinger was rightly awarded the 1998 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her standout performance.