Hollywood at its brightest!

Rating: 9/10 (20 June 2010)

I once rented a pile of movies to watch more than a decade ago maybe when I was in very early teenage. And I am really glad I finally watched that last one from that pile today which at that time I thought was some passable flick. And thankfully more glad because I watched it after Scorsese's masterpiece Departed.
Because that way I have the best of both the times. And no comparisons as such could suffice the praise I have for L A Confidential. Movie starts with regular charm any mega movie holds and carries it to sparkling sea of reactions throughout the movie right from goosebumps to a bit of chuckle, nerve wrecking dialogues and masterful performances.
And Russell crowe comes to the fore again and again and again (sans Maximus, John Nash, Jim braddock, Ef Hoffman, Jeff Wigand the list is endless). And after all those performances I have seen (although not periodically correct) this truly stands out right next to Maximus for a powerful performance that moves the core inside you. Stands next to him is the topsy turvy Guy Pearce with his grey shaded character which actually make you curse and finally like him in the end. Kim basinger deservedly did a supporting actress performance. Rest of the cast and obviously the most brilliant as a character and an actor Spacey couldn't have made this one into a Hollywood Masterpiece.
I wouldn't rewind the story but special mention to the striking dialogues and especially the confessions scene where you can feel yourself breaking the chair Bud is holding and grabbing the goon with his collar thumping him over against the wall and getting the truth outta him. Superb cinema and I wonder what made Curtis Hanson stop right there to continue in the lines of Scorsese who never tends to lose the steam.
Overall compelling drama and a MUST watch for real drama lovers, do watch it with no sense of story line and will surprise you at every corner right till the last statement!!! 9/10