L.A. Confidential

R

Released Sep 19, 1997

2h 16m

Crime

Drama

List

99%

165 Reviews

Tomatometer

94%

100,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Three policemen, each with his own motives and obsessions, tackle the corruption surrounding an unsolved murder at a downtown Los Angeles coffee shop in the early 1950s. Detective Lieutenant Exley (Guy Pearce), the son of a murdered detective, is out to avenge his father's killing. The ex-partner of Officer White (Russell Crowe), implicated in a scandal rooted out by Exley, was one of the victims. Sergeant Vincennes (Kevin Spacey) feeds classified information to a tabloid magnate (Danny DeVito).

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Critics Consensus

Taut pacing, brilliantly dense writing and Oscar-worthy acting combine to produce a smart, popcorn-friendly thrill ride.

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Michael L

Horrible, super slow burn of a film that lacks any kind of feeling. Not once did I care about a single character. Who is the studio head green lighting this garbage of a screenplay? They’ve continued this bad habit well into 2024. Everyone is droning on about stellar cast, beautiful cinematography, etc. Those aren’t hard things to come up with. I’m sure this was shot on film, but this day and age most are using the Alexa, with Panavision C lenses and just plopping it on a dolly or a steadicam and we’re off. Lots of tools to help cinematographers so please stop droning about this. The main qualm is that there is no story, no character development. None of this is interesting. And news flash, acting is not hard! All I see after watching a film like this, is a giant waste of money and time!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

05/03/24

Full Review

Wendy S

Brilliant writing, acting, surprises and satisfying conclusion.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/10/24

Full Review

Andrew Y

Grossly underrated. Amazing in every way; script, acting, sets. Should be in everyone's top ten of all time….

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/27/24

Full Review

Benjamin H

Though one part of the story isn't as interesting as the rest, L.A. Confidential is a tense, layered and stunningly detailed film that balances engaging moments of suspense with intelligent drama in a finished product that also benefits from its airtight script and masterful performances.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/16/24

Full Review

Thirdi A

made me appreciate the 50's aesthetic and character development this movie aced without being corny like so many copy cats

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/15/24

Full Review

Georgan G

Not only a great crime drama, but beautiful cinematography. Excellent acting and a good story.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/02/24

Full Review

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Curtis Hanson

Director

Kevin Spacey

Jack Vincennes

Russell Crowe

Officer Wendell 'Bud' White

Guy Pearce

Det. Lt. Edmund Jennings Exley

James Cromwell

Capt. Dudley Liam Smith

David Strathairn

Pierce Morehouse Patchett

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83%

94%

Heat

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Q & A

24%

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Ella Taylor

L.A. Weekly

A masterfully smart and soulful film that bows low before genre even as it betrays it.

Oct 20, 2021

Full Review

Henry Sheehan

Orange County Register

Adapted from a novel said to be unadaptable and set in a genre that has seemed increasingly played out, it brings clarity and life to its art and to life. That's a pretty good definition of a masterpiece, isn't it?

Rated: A+

Oct 20, 2021

Full Review

Jay Carr

Boston Globe

One of the things the film conveys, in addition to institutionalized corruption, is the energy and excitement of a city that knows it's on the move. L.A. Confidential is juicy dynamite.

Rated: 4/4

Oct 20, 2021

Full Review

Dimitris Passas

PopMatters

L.A. Confidential‘s representation of a long-gone era in Los Angeles is exemplary, and the 1950s are enlivened on screen in an accurate and opulent manner.

Nov 28, 2023

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

The flawless ensemble..., the masterfully written story, the vibrant yet gritty vision of 1950s LA - most everything clicks in this fittingly cynical and undeniably seductive period crime thriller that still maintains its style and sizzle.

Rated: 4.5/5

Mar 8, 2023

Full Review

Dan DiNicola

The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY)

The best and richest crime-cop drama in decades... This is an instant classic.

Rated: A+

Jan 10, 2023

Full Review

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Synopsis

Three policemen, each with his own motives and obsessions, tackle the corruption surrounding an unsolved murder at a downtown Los Angeles coffee shop in the early 1950s. Detective Lieutenant Exley (Guy Pearce), the son of a murdered detective, is out to avenge his father's killing. The ex-partner of Officer White (Russell Crowe), implicated in a scandal rooted out by Exley, was one of the victims. Sergeant Vincennes (Kevin Spacey) feeds classified information to a tabloid magnate (Danny DeVito).

Director: Curtis Hanson
Producer: Dan Kolsrud, David L. Wolper
Screenwriter: Curtis Hanson, James Ellroy, Brian Helgeland
Distributor: Warner Home Vídeo, Warner Bros.
Production Co: Warner Brothers, Regency Enterprises
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 19, 1997, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 12, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $64.6M
Runtime: 2h 16m
Sound Mix: Surround, DTS, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Scope (2.35:1)

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