Intelligent, well crafted thriller

Rating: 10/10 (3 January 2009)

It is funny how ignored this movie is today. Most of the time it just isn't mentioned. But I feel it is one of the best movies in the film noir genre(not that I am an expert in this genre!). It is not just a thriller. It is in fact a movie which portrays the 1950's effectively in such a way that we are transported to that 1950's era of race relations, gender relations and the general corruption in society. It is a battle of personalities and attitudes.
The story is quite complex and it took me some time to figure it all out. Murders at the Nite Owl, a bar in Los Angeles, are the focus of the story. There are many disparate events that happen in the movie which are somehow connected. They are joined together at the end in an effective manner which doesn't defy logic. That is quite rare in movies today. It moves like a classic whodunit(one of my favourite genres) and is generally the kind of movie I like. The character development is of high priority here and the characters are neatly fleshed out before the actual story begins. Each scene is important here and each little point is important to the resolution of the mystery. I think repeated viewings might bring out some more details that I missed the first time. The story also involves a prostitute who falls in love with one of the characters. She has a very important role in this movie.
The main characters are three detectives named Ed Exley(Guy Pearce), Bud White(Russell Crowe) and Jack Vincennes(Kevin Spacey). Their conflicting ideals and attitude to life are perfectly portrayed. My favourite character in this movie is Ed Exley with his pacifist and intelligent attitude to police work. My favourite line in the movie "Is that how you ran the good cop bad cop" after an intense scene has now become one of my favourite lines. His steadfast devotion to his ideals and standing up to the "system" was pleasing to watch. I personally believe that this performance was better than his Memento performance because of the complexity and likability of his character. Russell Crowe as Bud White gives a sterling performance as the tough cop who is not amused with Exley's approach to law enforcement. It may be a clichéd performance as the tough guy with a softer side but he does a good job. Kevin Spacey, as usual, is great in this role as the cop, Jack Vincennes, who loves publicity and glamour. He is more complex than he initially appears in this movie. Kim Basinger as the prostitute named Lynn Bracken also has a good part where she looks sexy as ever(hard to believe she is 40 in this). She gives a worthy performance and she is one of the pivotal characters in this movie.
The best thing about the movie is the dialogue. It has a clever style reminiscent of 1940's film noir classics. The movie has a relaxed style throughout with flashes of violence which erupt suddenly. Some of the scenes can stun you as they suddenly come out of nowhere. The relaxed style is what makes the violent scenes seem even more violent. The newer filmmakers must learn from this in the new era where they try to shock people with more violence upon violence. The music is another factor that gives it a 1950's feel. The viewer sometimes may feel helpless at the racism and the police officers attitude towards Exley(at least I did). It is not just a cold lifeless murder mystery but instead it is a vibrant look at the dark seedy underbelly of Los Angeles and the helplessness of a man who holds tightly to his ideals. The scene where he tries to hold back the other officers in the police station brawl is a great example.
Overall, highly recommended to people who like detective stories and people who like film noir. But even others who just love good stories with complex characters should enjoy this movie.
10/10