"The best crime drama made since Chinatown?'" I don't think so.

Rating: Null/10 (23 August 1999)

I hadn't seen this film when it had come out in the cinemas, but telling from the general reception that the picture received, I assumed that this was going to something special. Its premise seemed good enough; a violent, entertaining and cleverly plotted crime thriller based on a novel by acclaimed writer James Ellroy. Its large amount of Oscar nominations, especially considering the fact that it was contending against the enormously successful film of that year, "Titanic," which may not have been awful but was too greatly rewarded. However, this is not a great movie, and it certainly does not deserve a firm position in so many lists of the Top 100 films made of all time.
It must be said that the film is a reasonably well made, quite watchable and an often entertaining movie. I just want to clear up any suspicion saying that I believe this is absolute trash, in fact I must admit that the film is at least as good as the more successful "Titanic." It's just that in the wake of the Cameron-directed box-office smash, this film was much too highly regarded by many of the rightful rebels of mainstream Hollywood cinema. People were then drawn into believing that this was a superb film due more to the film's making and background, rather than actually analysing the quality of the film itself.
"LA Confidential" is a very complicated and clearly adapted film set in the darker aspects of Los Angeles in the 1950's, the huge amounts of violent crimes, trading narcotics and police corruption contrasting against the city's then-glamorous image. The story deals with a mass homicide at an all-night diner, into which Police Lt. Ed Exley (Guy Pearce) investigates. He finds that one the murder's victims is the former suspended partner of policeman Bud White (Russel Crowe). The police force then investigates into the case, soon resulting into a complicated plot involving the false arrest and killings of three negro suspects, richman Pierce Patchett (David Straithairn), his high class pornography trade and Officer White's involvement with one of his prostitutes (Veronica Lake lookalike Kim Basinger), the partnership of detective Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey) and crime-news writer Sid Hudgeons (Danny DeVito) and their involvement in the investigation of trading in narcotics and the movies, Police Captain Dudley Smith (James Cromwell) and young officer Ed Exley's problems with his popularity in the police force.
Seems like a bit of a mouthful? Let me assure you, it is. I had to see it three times before I could fully understand the plot, and I don't think the exposition of the storyline is handled all that well. Some of the lines (especially Basinger's) are as pretentious and detestable as in any crappy Hollywood movie, and most of the film is quite uninvolving in both characterisation and storyline. Acting is fine, considering the lines the actors have, and some performances are a whole lot better than others. Also, the film's adaptation from a modern crime novel is often too obvious.
I'm that there are some who absolutely despise this movie, and I can understand them. I, myself don't hate the film, nor do I think it very poor, I just think that these so-called experienced critics should not be so blind, ignorant and have such a "go-with-the-flow" attitude as they have clearly had with this film. Don't go seeing this expecting an absolutely brilliant film, for I assure you, it is not.