"L.A. Confidential" Talkback (spoilers)

[Lord Dalek]

Off the record, on the QT, and very hush-hush.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v92/lorddalek/la_confidential_ver2.jpg

Bud White: "The Nite Owl case made you, do you want to tear that all down?"
Ed Exley: "With a wrecking ball, you want to help me swing it?"


Release Date: September 19, 1997
Studio: Warner Bros., New Regency
Director: Curtis Hanson
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1 (Super 35)
Starring: Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, Kim Bassinger, Danny DeVito

Plot Summary: 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.

COMMENTS?

The two-disc special edition dvd arrives today

[Hanshotfirst113]

Fantastic. Hanson and Helgeland compress Ellroy's lengthy hard-boiled prose into a tough power punch that recalls the best of old-school noir. Fantastic performances, rich cinematography, a tight script, and dynamite direction all add up to make this one of the best films of recent years.

[Michael24]

Sadly, I didn't care for this movie at all. It had some strong points. The recreation of 1950s Los Angeles was fantastic. Set design, costume design; all top notch. Great atmosphere, fantastic cinematography. Superb Jerry Goldsmith score as well. Kevin Spacey was terrific, and I became a Guy Pearce fan thanks to this, too. But otherwise, I just didn't care for it or see the big deal. I especially thought Kim Basigner's Oscar was undeserved after seeing it. I preferred the previous year's Mulholland Falls.

[Harvey Two Face]

I thought this movie was pretty awesome, kinda inspired me a little to become a cop. But it also did reinforce the idea that many with police forces can be corrupt which isn't a good thing, but still a highly entertaining movie in my opinion.

[Toddman]

Sadly, I didn't care for this movie at all.

Really? At all? Not even the recreation of 1950s Los Angeles? Or the set and costume design? What about the great atmosphere and the fantastic cinematography? And the superb Jerry Goldsmith score as well. How about Kevin Spacey or the breakthrough performances of Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce?


It had some strong points. The recreation of 1950s Los Angeles was fantastic. Set design, costume design; all top notch. Great atmosphere, fantastic cinematography. Superb Jerry Goldsmith score as well. Kevin Spacey was terrific, and I became a Guy Pearce fan thanks to this, too.

*pause added for effect*


But otherwise, I just didn't care for it or see the big deal.


......:confused:





T:pddman

[Lord Dalek]

^Don't even try man, Michael24 is a noted enthusiast of shlock.

[Michael24]

:confused:

[DarkAngel]

COMMENTS?
One of my favorites. Love this movie. Funny thing is, I saw it for the first time just a couple years ago. I'd heard of it, but other than its title, didn't really know what it was about. When I saw it, it blew me away.

Of all Crowe's characters/performances, this is probably my favorite. Basinger is someone who, often, I find to be useless. Like in Batman. But wow, she surprised me with a solid turn here.

Truly a great cast. To have Pearce, Crowe, Spacey, De Vito, and Cromwell here.

Also, yeah, I loved how Michael didn't like it at all, and then rattled off all kinds of strong points. :)

[Michael24]

Also, yeah, I loved how Michael didn't like it at all, and then rattled off all kinds of strong points. :)

That's because those were elements of the film I liked. As a movie, I watched it and thought it was mostly disappointing and uninteresting (perhaps James Ellroy is just not for me?), but there were aspects of it I liked. I'm sure you guys have seen movies where you said something like, "Eh, I didn't like it, but so-and-so was pretty good" or "Not really my kind of movie, but that scene in the diner was pretty eerie." Jeez.

[dark knight acolyte]

I don't know how it's possible not to like this movie at all, but clearly Michael24 doesn't like it but appreciates certain elements. I think any of us can respect that.

It's no different than thoroughly enjoying a movie but being able to see and admit its flaws, a capability that is a necessity for any conscientious viewer. (A capacity wasted on many viewers of TDK, which was a solid 9, but not perfect...but that's for a different thread...)

A brief overview of my thoughts re: the film........

Unique characters, edge-of-the-seat and well-devised plot twists, fantastic atmosphere. I never felt anything short of completely encapsulated and ensnared in the movie at any point of its running.

Eh, too lazy to really elucidate, so I'll just say, "so on and so forth." One of the more underappreciated movies of the 1990's, and I personally remember feeling that it deserved to win the Academy Award for Best Picture (if I recall, it ran up against Titanic, which to it's credit, also deserved the award).

[Hanshotfirst113]

I don't agree with M24 (for a change :p), but it easy to see what he's saying. I've seen plenty of films where many elements are very good, but they simply don't gel together as a whole.

[DarkAngel]

That's because those were elements of the film I liked. As a movie, I watched it and thought it was mostly disappointing and uninteresting (perhaps James Ellroy is just not for me?), but there were aspects of it I liked. I'm sure you guys have seen movies where you said something like, "Eh, I didn't like it, but so-and-so was pretty good" or "Not really my kind of movie, but that scene in the diner was pretty eerie." Jeez.
My turn to say "Jeez." :)

Just having fun with ya, man. I found it a bit humorous that you didn't like it at all (your words), which I honestly usually take to mean, well, just about nothing was good, elements or not. But I was just jokin' around.