LA Confidential (1997, Curtis Hanson)

Based on one ofJames Ellroy’s novels

Welcome to Los Angeles, a place a lot of people dream to live in. Coming to the City of Angels, the once ordinary people get fame, wealth and recognition. But behind the promised land’s sun, beach, beautiful landscapes and film industry hide dirty businesses.

LA, the 1950s: a garden where movie stars, cops and the mob meet and mix. LA Confidential starts with a beautiful music sung by Johnny Mercer (Ac-cent-tchu-ate the positive) and Mickey Cohen’s arrest before introducing the main characters, three cops with different working methods and personalities.

Officer Wendell 'Bud White' (Russell Crowe)

Upright and loyal, Bud is also impulsive that makes him vulnerable and easy to manipulate, especially when it comes to women. Bud is THE muscle, used to collect confessions.

Sergent Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey)

Jack is a showman. He likes to visit studios, works as technical advisor on the show Badge of Honour. He often gives tips to his journalist buddy Sid (Danny DeVito) for money. Once, when a young actor got killed because of one of their schemes, Vincennes came back to reason and investigates.

Sergent Edmund ‘Ed’ Exley (Guy Pearce)

Smart and ambitious, Exley follows the path of his father, Preston, a very respectable detective. The other cops don’t like Exley because of his being too strict about the rules. Later, he reveals his motivation to join the police force.

Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce in LA Confidential

One night, Detective Exley received a call reporting a shooting in a restaurant called the Nite Owl. Dudley Smith and Exley lead the case, Bud White gets involved to avenge his friend, one of the victims. 

Bud White's lead: Lynn Bracken, a prostitute working for an influential businessman.  

Ed Exley's lead: Three black men driving mercury coupe and shooting dogs.

Jack Vincennes' lead: Fleur de Lys, a call-girl service running prostitutes cut to look like movie stars.

The three men's path crosses as they enter the deep world of prostitution, dope and corruption at the highest level of the Police Department.

The writing is terrific, the characters are likable with all their qualities and flaws so for this film, one of my favourites of all time. This is also the right film to watch for those who want to know the debut of Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce.

Quotes

Hush hush magazine: Off the record. On the QT. And very hush hush

Fleur de Lys, whatever you desire