By Michael Colford
Rating: 4.5 cats
Director: Curtis Hanson
Starring: Danny DeVito | David Strathairn | Guy Pearce | James Cromwell | Kevin Spacey | Kim Basinger | Russell Crowe
Year: 1997
Michael says: “This complex, film was based on the novel by James Ellroy. It takes a look at the Los Angeles police department in the 1950’s. Corruption and glitz with a Hollywood backdrop provide the framework for an intense study of two young men. Officers Bud White and Ed Exley couldn’t be more different on the surface, but events link them together to solve a dangerous mystery.
“Australian actor Russell Crowe has certainly made a splash in Hollywood since his first appearance in the Australian film, PROOF. Sharon Stone hand picked him for a role in his first Hollywood film, THE QUICK & THE DEAD. In L. A. CONFIDENTIAL, for which he won the award for Best Actor, Crowe plays the passionate and conflicted Los Angeles police officer who has a hair-trigger temper when it comes to the mistreatment of women. Fellow Australian actor Guy Pearce known mainly as a flamboyant drag queen in the States due to THE ADVENTURES OF PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT, is terrific, as is Kevin Spacey, who won his first Chlotrudis Award for the role of Verbal Kint in THE USUAL SUSPECTS. Spacey takes this year’s Best Supporting Actor award for his complex role as the police consultant to a Dragnet-like television program who uncovers some shady dealings in the Los Angeles police department.
“No one was more surprised than I, that the director of such films as THE RIVER WILD and THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE could create such a complex, engrossing and well-acted film. This is a brilliant screenplay adaptation of a well written James Ellroy novel. Brian Helgeland and director, Hanson maintain the perfect corrupt, 1950’s Hollywood atmosphere while delving into motivations of a myriad of characters. Cinematographer Dante Spinotti should be mentioned as well. There’s not a scene out of place in this gorgeous film whose emphasis is so strongly on appearances. 4 1/2 cats”