Everything is suspect Everyone is for sale And nothing is what it seems!

Rating: Null/10 (12 March 2002)

In my opinion, the media has a lot to answer for in the way our world is today. For the first time we see a movie that allows the public to see how manipulative the media really is and we can be shown that things are not always what they seem. LA Confidential is a movie that is in a league of its own.
Three cops, Sergeant Jack Vincennes, Officer Wendell 'Bud' White and Detective Lieutenant Edmund J Exley, a call girl, a mysterious millionaire, a tabloid journalist, and the chief of detectives fuel a labyrinth plot involving a shooting at an all night diner. This is a movie with mystery, ambition, romance and humour.
This is a brilliant piece of movie making. I was totally enthralled by the great story this movie had. Based on the book called `LA Confidential', written by James Ellroy, every character had a sort of feel that you could both hate and yet like. The director Curtis Hanson also did a wonderful job with this movie, bringing all the necessary touches it needed.
Undoubtedly the cast this film has is first class. The standouts for me, just happen to be home town lads, that being Aussie exports Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce. Crowe is a brilliant actor and it is no wonder he has won an academy award, because his role in this film was great and set him up for bigger and better things to come. His character in this movie is unforgettable. Guy Pearce has had a quiet career. I remember him from his role in the Aussie soap Neighbours', but he was also very good in movies like Dating the Enemy, Rules of Engagement and the recent film Memento'. His role as the good cop who gets the job done was terrific. The two roles these men have, while they are different, work together to achieve the same directive, which is to enforce the law.
The other cast members that are worth noting include names such as Kevin Spacey, Danny Devito and the gorgeous Kim Basinger. Basinger won the academy award for best supporting actress in this movie and no wonder, with the great performance she gave. Spacey was very witty in his role as the other police sergeant, also showing that he would do what he had to do to get the truth. I enjoyed Spacey in his roles in the two movies, the Negotiator and of course the great film American Beauty. Danny Devito is a big name in Hollywood, not only onscreen, but offscreen. He was terrific as the nosey journalist, who will stop at no length to get a story, and by any means. His role really makes me look twice at any person in the print media, considering what money can buy.
The way the media is portrayed in this movie makes me all the more suspicious of what they are really like. With all the Photo shots, the story buying and creation of fake' news, was a true depiction of how the media works in real life. I love how the movie allows us to see each person involved with police, would stand and wait to have the nice photo taken, as if to make a point of what they were doing. I'm sure the media makes more of certain people and events for journalistic purposes.
No wonder this film won two academy awards, it was simply brilliant. Our Media is a very seductive and evil thing when you come to think about it. Yes with out it, we would complain that we are not well informed, but I say what is the use of being informed when the story being told is not completely true? This movie just shows how much of a joke the media really is, and that the truth is often the last thing on their minds, instead they will pay create the news. This is a must see movie and one which is going to be added to my collection, but keep that hush hush' would ya! Rating: 5 Stars or 10/10