A fitting tribute to a classic genre.

Rating: 8/10 (11 May 2014)

There is so much to be said about 'L.A Confidential' the majority of which I must say is positive. Based on a novel from 1990, this suspenseful, dramatic and compelling homage to the film noire era of the 1940s and 50s was expertly brought to life by director Curtis Hanson, who gave his characteristically edgy vibe to the movie.
Above all the acting was superb. With headliners like Russel Crowe, Kevin Spacey and Guy Pearce the film's casting director needs a serious pack on the back. Russel Crowe's character Wendell White grew from a violent one dimension-ed character to something far more complex. Like wise Guy Pearce's Edmund Exley learned that to achieve justice sometimes laws have to be broken. Though I am a huge fan of Spacey and I cannot fault his acting here or elsewhere for that matter, it was his character that I saw as the most simple. When the other characters were seemingly growing as the story of the Nite Owl killings unraveled Kevin's Jack Vincennes seemingly went along for the ride as his ambitious semi- corrupt nature did not change at all.
One of the few other qualms I had with this film was the ending. Without going into too many of the specifics I disliked the fact that Exley became even more ambitious, the confusing fact that White survived and even worst that he ended up with Kim Basinger's Lynn Bracken. Not to say that I disliked Lynn or Basinger's acting, both were complex and provocative, but I felt that the film was screaming, SCREAMING, for a 'femme fatale'. A 'femme fatale' is a staple of the film noire genre and his french for deadly female. Simply it is a seductive attractive woman who is ultimately evil. I felt the way we were drawn into her personal story, whilst seeing her give in to the mob boss's wants and needs set the audience (myself included) up perfectly to fall for, and subsequently be shocked by, the betrayal of a 'femme fatale' so when this did not deliver I was left slightly disappointed. That said it is more of a personal nit pick than a critical issue.
Is it worth watching? Yes. Definitely yes. This film is not just an expertly crafted crime thriller, it is seriously entertaining. Its shocking and absorbing. One of the best films of my life time.