The ultimate old-fashioned crime story

Rating: Null/10 (9 June 2000)

A great film from start to finish, "L.A. Confidential" is a
film-noir fan's utopia. It's got all the trimmings for a flashy
cops-and-robbers movie: cops (good and bad), gangsters, pretty
women, suspenseful tactics, and exciting action scenes. All of
the players were great, especially by the leads. Kevin Spacey
was charming as ever as Jack Vincennes, the brash vice cop,
while Russel Crowe makes a good career move as he portrays Bud
White, the maverick detective who hates wife-beaters with a
passion. Guy Pearce is also good as the by-the-book, butt-kissing lieutenant Ed Exeley, and Kim Basinger is great as
Lynn, the prostitute who wins Bud's heart. Basinger garnered a
best supporting actress award for her role here (I bet her
hubbie Alec Baldwin was extremely proud!).
With a breakneck pace and a smooth screenplay to top off with
the rest of the good signs this movie displays, "L.A. Confidential" is the epitome of films that are action-packed and
smart at