L.A. Confidential (1997)
Curtis Hanson's neo-noir masterpiece plunges into the glamour and rot of 1950s Los Angeles, where three detectives collide over a conspiracy that cuts to the city's corrupt core.
L.A. Confidential - Movie Information
- Original Title: L.A. Confidential
- Release Year: 1997
- Directed by: Curtis Hanson
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Crime, Mystery, Thriller, Drama
- Age Rating (US): R
- Runtime: 2h 18m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): September 19, 1997 (United States - R), October 31, 1997 (United Kingdom - 18), December 4, 1997 (Germany - 16), October 8, 1997 (France - U), November 13, 1997 (New Zealand - 18), October 30, 1997 (Australia - MA 15+), November 7, 1997 (Brazil - 18), November 7, 1997 (Italy), November 7, 1997 (Spain - 18), March 7, 1998 (South Korea - 19)
- Alternative Titles: L.A. Confidential - Jeder hat seinen Preis (DE), Секрети Лос-Анджелеса (UA), 洛城机密 (CN), Poverljivo iz L.A. (RS), L.A. Konfidensielt (NO), Los angeles: Empisteftiko (GR), Mahramane los angeles (IR), LA 컨피덴셜 (KR)
- Production Companies: Regency Enterprises, Wolper Organization
- Production Countries: United States of America
L.A. Confidential - Plot
Three detectives in the corrupt and brutal L.A. police force of the 1950s use differing methods to uncover a conspiracy behind the shotgun slayings of the patrons at an all-night diner.
L.A. Confidential - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the intrigue of 1950s Los Angeles unfold:
Everything is suspect... Everyone is for sale... And nothing is what it seems.
L.A. Confidential - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Curtis Hanson
Main Cast
- Kevin Spacey
- Russell Crowe
- Guy Pearce
- James Cromwell
- Kim Basinger
- Danny DeVito
- David Strathairn
- Ron Rifkin
- Graham Beckel
- Amber Smith
Writers
- Brian Helgeland
- Curtis Hanson
Producers
- Curtis Hanson
- Michael G. Nathanson
- Arnon Milchan
L.A. Confidential - FAQs
What is L.A. Confidential about?
L.A. Confidential follows three morally complex LAPD detectives in 1950s Los Angeles who investigate a mass murder at an all-night diner. Their separate inquiries converge on a vast web of corruption, prostitution, and conspiracy reaching deep into the police department and city power structures.
Is L.A. Confidential based on a true story?
L.A. Confidential is based on James Ellroy's 1990 novel of the same name. While fictional, the story draws heavily on real LAPD corruption scandals of the 1950s, including the Bloody Christmas incident of 1951, lending the film an authentic historical atmosphere.
Who are the main actors in L.A. Confidential?
The film stars Kevin Spacey as charming detective Jack Vincennes, Russell Crowe as the volatile Bud White, and Guy Pearce as the ambitious Ed Exley. Kim Basinger won an Academy Award for her role as Lynn Bracken, with James Cromwell and Danny DeVito rounding out the ensemble.
Did L.A. Confidential win any Academy Awards?
L.A. Confidential won two Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actress for Kim Basinger and Best Adapted Screenplay for Brian Helgeland and Curtis Hanson. The film received nine Oscar nominations in total, including Best Picture, though it lost that award to Titanic at the 1998 ceremony.
What is the age rating for L.A. Confidential?
L.A. Confidential is rated R in the United States. The rating reflects the film's strong violence, sexual content, and language. It carries an 18 certificate in the United Kingdom and New Zealand, and an MA 15+ rating in Australia.
How long is L.A. Confidential?
L.A. Confidential has a runtime of 2 hours and 18 minutes (138 minutes). Despite its length, the film is widely praised for its tight pacing, with critics noting that director Curtis Hanson masterfully condenses James Ellroy's sprawling novel into a propulsive, densely plotted thriller.
What genre is L.A. Confidential?
L.A. Confidential is a neo-noir crime thriller and drama. It revives the classic film noir tradition of 1940s and 1950s Hollywood, blending hard-boiled detective fiction with sharp social commentary on corruption, identity, and moral compromise in postwar Los Angeles.
What are similar movies to L.A. Confidential?
Fans of L.A. Confidential often enjoy Chinatown (1974), another Los Angeles noir classic, as well as The Usual Suspects (1995) and Fargo (1996) for their intricate plotting. Unforgiven (1992) shares the film's moral complexity, while Trainspotting (1996) and The Lives of Others (2006) offer similarly intense character studies.
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