L.A. Confidential (1997) Review

 

L.A. Confidential (1997)

Courtesy of my buddy Josh...

L.A. Confidential follows 3 cops, each with their own morals and motivations, who work to unravel the mystery behind a coffee shop murder in 1950s Los Angeles.

This is one of those movies that it’s vital to pay attention or it will make no sense, as it is a convoluted, conspiracy thriller that just when you think you have it figured out, it twists again. And it’s smart, using our 3 cops who all possess one of the three characteristics of a cops job—making it look good, doing whatever needs to be done, and going by the book—and using them to unravel their own section of the mystery and corruption within the department, on their own terms. Exley in particular, is by the book and honest, wanting to bring justice righteously, only to have to find that his desire for justice isn’t able to coexist with the other 2 factors of the job. While the story is extremely complex, it is also phenomenally well thought out and put together, with each piece of information being vital to the final puzzle.

The cast is also stellar, featuring James Cromwell, Danny DeVito, Kim Basinger, Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, and Guy Pearce, with Cromwell settling into the villainous, corrupt cop in power role excellently. The stark contrasts in character also make the relationships between Spacey, Crowe, and Pearce interesting, with each’s aspirations and morals (or lack thereof) constantly getting in the way. Spacey showcasing his swagger and intellect, Crowe demonstrating he is more then just a brute, and Pearce being the boy scout whose morals are tested through and through.

L.A. Confidential brings us back to the time of Hollywood in the 50s where the cops and criminals are but one in the same, which is where our one righteous cop Exley stands out in his moral goodness, only to learn that you must possess all three qualities to make it in the force, raising the question of what justice really is and if it can even be attained.

A wonderfully thought provoking and complex film that was done almost too well.

9.7/10