Confidentially: Could have been MUCH Better

Rating: 8/10 (23 July 2000)

Watching L. A. CONFIDENTIAL at home, about a third of the way through the movie, I turned to my sister (a MAJOR Russell Crowe fan) and said, if this movie maintains the quality it has so far, I'll have to eat my words and admit it should have won best picture. Heck, had it maintained the quality and momentum, it would have been the best picture of the DECADE. However, the last third of the movie degenerates into succession of
contrivances and coincidences, and climaxes with one of the silliest shootouts in movie history.
However, I'd rather talk about the pluses of this film. This is quite simply the GREATEST recreation of an era I've ever
seen. From production design to set decoration to costume design to makeup, this movie is perfect. It's all topped off like a cherry on top with absolutely beautiful cinematography (some of the best I've ever seen) Those elements alone make TITANIC's seem like cheap artifices by comparison. I lived
through those years and this simply WAS the fifties. My only quibble (and one representative of the entire movie; that is, soft around the edges)is that NOBODY smokes. Excuse me...this is the fifties, EVERYBODY smoked. The character Ed Exley is
the best written, most complex character I've ever seen in ANY form of fiction, and Guy Pearce (quite possibly our best living actor) captures every nuance of this complex man. Russell Crowe is terrific, alternately frightening and lovable). Kevin Spacey is, well, Kevin Spacey...a sly cross between Humphrey Bogart and Gene Hackman, with charm to burn. Kim Basinger is radiant; she's never looked more beautiful or desirable. Sadly, she's underused, and doesn't have enough scenes to create new sides to the cliche "whore with a heart of gold." Late in the film, when she "seduces" Guy Pearce, she has all the "jiggles" right (NOBODY, not even Liz Taylor or Monroe looked THAT good in those 50s dresses), but isn't allowed the sluttiness to convince us the seduction is genuine (Kim, I know you won the Oscar; but you should really watch Michelle Pfeiffer in WOLF or WHAT LIES BENEATH to see how it's done). The scene seems weak and hollow and undercuts her otherwise fine performance. The is certainly the BEST ensemble acting of 1997. The only false note here is Danny DeVito (see, that softness around the edges again) once again playing Louie DePalma, this time moonlighting as the editor/publisher of HUSH HUSH (the thinly disguised CONFIDENTIAL magazine). What this part needed was the oiliness of Jay Mohr (JERRY MCGUIRE) Terry Kyser (WEEKEND AT BERNIES) or even David Strathairn (who plays Pierce Patchett). In other words, better olive oil than lard...
If you want a better constructed, less convoluted and better paced movie about police corruption, see THE BIG EASY. However, if you want to enjoy a sumptuousness feast of artistry, Kim Basinger's almost majestic beauty, Guy Pearce's and Russell Crowe's incredible performances, see L.A. CONFIDENTIAL. You'll have a REALLY good time.