| A polished policier in the tradition of Chinatown (1974), with a plot as convoluted as film noir chestnut The Big Sleep (1946), L.A. Confidential (1997) proved that it was still possible to fashion an actor-driven detective yarn in 1990s Hollywood. Adapting the story from James Ellroy's novel, director Curtis Hanson deftly captures the glamour and sleaze of post-war Los Angeles, where hookers look like movie stars and movie stars are mistaken for hookers, as an antagonistic trio of police detectives discovers how deeply ingrained the city's corruption has become. Russell Crowe's pugnacious White, Guy Pearce's smug Exley, and Kevin Spacey's smooth, celeb-struck Vincennes are all somewhat tainted, but even they cannot quite believe the rot they uncover; the accompanying gallery of rogues and innocents, including scandal mongers, prostitutes, and other cops, constantly shifts the moral order. Dante Spinotti's cinematography and Jeannine Oppewall's detailed production design lend a period sheen while richly alluding to the shadowy truth hidden by symbols of law and order. Opening to raves, particularly for the lead trio and Kim Basinger's Veronica Lake-esque pro, L.A. Confidential swept the critics' awards for Best Film and received nine Academy Award nominations. In the wake of Titanic, though, only Basinger and co-screenwriters Hanson and Brian Helgeland won statuettes. |
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