great adaptation

Rating: 9/10 (27 February 2003)

the film is astutely streamlined interpretation of the incredibly complex but brilliant James Ellroy novel. Curtis Hanson is excels as director and the cast itself are all perfectly cast (apart from sid hudgens played by de vito).
concentration on the nite owl killings is the films objective, for cinematic quality and to keep audience attention this was understandable. the many many subplots, and an almost perverse violence in leonards novel are absent but the flow of the movie would have been greatly hindered.
a great film in its own right, comparison with the book is slightly unfair due to its size (approx 500pgs)but the core of the story is still there although astute social critique of 1950's L.A(however, still very relevant to today also-e.g Elmore Leonards 'Get Shorty'-on a much lighter note) are clearly absent.