In common with all great films...

Rating: 9/10 (6 June 2008)

It's distinction is its lack of a bad scene. This is one of those films that is great to watch and familiarise yourself with and then comeback to later on. The film itself is made exceptional by a cast that you the viewer seem unable to take your eyes off as the film progresses.
In this film there are a number of great performances but three in particular are exceptional. Guy Pearce as Lt. Exley is perfectly cast as the ambitious young cop anxious to prove himself better than even his father's fearsome reputation, with Kevin Spacey in equally fine fettle as the movie star of cops, Jack Vincennes, using every ounce of charm to create a Dino-esquire portrayal that's perfect in this period piece. But the tour-De-force of performances comes from a man so chilling in his ability to switch from hostile to psychopathic in seconds is Russell Crowe as Bud White. Before seeing this film I had never seen Crowe in anything and wondered where the hell he had come from and who he was, as his portrayal of White is one of the best I have ever seen, so complete is his immersion in the skin of this viscous detective.
Through the eyes of these cops we see a town where, as the poster says, everything is for sale, everyone has a price and nothing is what it seems.
For anyone thinking of giving this film a try who may have missed it the first time round it is well worthy of a viewing.
Nuff said.
Em