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—— After Earth May 31
—— Now You See Me May 31
100% The Kings of Summer May 31
89% The East May 31

L.A. Confidential (1997)

tomatometer

99

Average Rating: 8.6/10
Reviews Counted: 85
Fresh: 84 | Rotten: 1

Taut pacing, brilliantly dense writing and Oscar-worthy acting combine to produce a smart, popcorn-friendly thrill ride.

95

Average Rating: 8/10
Critic Reviews: 22
Fresh: 21 | Rotten: 1

Taut pacing, brilliantly dense writing and Oscar-worthy acting combine to produce a smart, popcorn-friendly thrill ride.

audience

90

liked it
Average Rating: 3.7/5
User Ratings: 121,308

My Rating

Movie Info

Based on the best-selling novel by James Ellroy and directed by Curtis Hanson, this award-winning crime drama explores both the dark side of the Los Angeles police force and Southern California's criminal underbelly in the early '50s, when Hollywood was still seen as America's capital of sophistication, glitter, and glamour. Dudley Smith (James Cromwell) is the head of the LAPD and is loyal to his officers and eager to turn a blind eye to violence or corruption within his department, as long as

Apr 22, 1998

Warner Bros. Pictures

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Cast

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All Critics (85) | Top Critics (22) | Fresh (92) | Rotten (1) | DVD (30)

With its plot that zigs and zags like knife slashes, its cynicism stoked to the melting point, the movie brings the thrill of corruption crackingly to life.

September 7, 2011 Full Review Source: Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Top Critic IconTop Critic

You have to pay close attention to follow the double-crossing intricacies of the plot, but the reward for your work is dark and dirty fun.

April 9, 2008 Full Review Source: Newsweek
Newsweek
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Stop reading. Put this review on hold until after you've seen L.A. Confidential.

April 9, 2008 Full Review Source: Slate
Slate
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An irresistible treat with enough narrative twists and memorable characters for a half-dozen films.

April 9, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety
Variety
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This movie restores genre elements to a level of potency that's disturbing, satisfying, and rare as hell.

April 9, 2008 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader
Chicago Reader
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A parlor game has already begun as to whether the supreme acting revelation in L.A. Confidential is provided by Mr. Crowe, Mr. Spacey or Mr. Pearce.

April 27, 2007 Full Review Source: New York Observer
New York Observer
Top Critic IconTop Critic

This is a movie that both deconstructs what it means to be a noir film and is a film noir itself in the best ways possible.

May 10, 2011 Full Review Source: Flixist.com
Flixist.com

Dense, tangled period cop drama for adults.

December 8, 2009 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media

It's an elaborate, morose, and brutally intelligent display of respective talents and truly keen storytelling that gets better with every single viewing.

April 29, 2009 Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed
Cinema Crazed

Writer-director Curtis Hanson's adaptation of the James Ellroy novel wasn't merely one of the two or three greatest movies of the 1990s; it stands as a masterpiece for the ages.

November 26, 2008 Full Review Source: Creative Loafing
Creative Loafing

Curtis Hanson's best movie may not be the American masterpiece many think, but it remains one of the best neo-noirs of the '90s and a fine example of classical Hollywood storytelling.

October 24, 2008 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine

L.A. Confidential understands that men don't always respond to evil with good and that the question of whom society regards as heroes isn't always a clear cut as it seems.

October 24, 2008 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine
Slant Magazine

Everything Angelinos love and hate about their city is here, as well as anything a movie fan could possibly wish for.

October 14, 2008 Full Review Source: Flipside Movie Emporium
Flipside Movie Emporium

A modern cinematic classic...the alchemical reaction of a director and a charmed collaboration of actors, writers, and design artists...[Blu-ray]

October 4, 2008 Full Review Source: Groucho Reviews
Groucho Reviews

...riveting entertainment for those who enjoy good detective stories, good character dramas, good thrillers, and plain-old good filmmaking. (Blu-ray Edition)

September 29, 2008 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis
Movie Metropolis

...one of the most absorbing, compelling, most thoroughly enjoyable crime thrillers to have come along in the past decade.

September 29, 2008 Full Review Source: Movie Metropolis
Movie Metropolis

A neo-noir masterpiece in the league of "Double Indemnity"...

September 26, 2008 Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed
Cinema Crazed

Taut, atmospheric, acted with confident ease -- this is one of the greatest American movies of the 1990s.

April 9, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4
Film4

Spacey's Vincennes is the standout in a just about flawless ensemble, and director Curtis Hanson keeps the hugely complicated story zooming along the boulevard of broken dreams without losing sight of the details that make the trip worthwhile.

April 9, 2008 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Audience Reviews for L.A. Confidential

Three detectives with very different agenda and motives unite to investigate the shooting death of an off duty cop, uncovering corruption and a conspiracy to take over organized crime. L.A. Confidential is set within the dichotomy that is Hollywood's surface glamour and underlying seediness, all of which is lapped up by the salacious media in the form of sleazy paparazzi Danny DeVito. Russell Crowe was the perfect casting choice for Bud White, a strong armed "detective" who is used as a mindless battering ram by his superiors but wants to become something more and Guy Pearce is similarly excellent as the straight arrow cop who is despised by his peers but consumed with ambition. The happy ending feels a little tacked on, but otherwise the entire cast is pretty much flawless and as the multi-layered plot unfolds it grabs you by the throat and refuses to let go. Throw in a wonderful sense of period, brilliantly oppressive soundtrack and smart, hard boiled dialogue it's a superb re-visitation of the classic Noirs of the 40s and 50s and ranks as one of the very best films of the 90s.
October 29, 2006
garyX
xGary Xx

Super Reviewer

'L.A. Confidential'. The corruption and dreams of Hollywood wrapped up in the perfect crime drama. The ensemble cast shines, but no one comes out clean in a screenplay filled with richness that twists and turns until the very end.
December 24, 2012
c0up
c0up  

Super Reviewer

    1. Bud White: What do I get if I give you your balls back, you wop cocksucker?
    – Submitted by Amy W (5 months ago)
    1. Dudley Smith: It's best to stay away from a man when his blood's up.
    2. Ed Exley: His blood's always up!
    – Submitted by Jack P (12 months ago)
    1. Bud White: LAPD, shitbird. Get the fuck outta here or I'll call your wife to come get you!
    – Submitted by Jared B (13 months ago)
    1. Police Chief: 'Bloody Christmas' The press love to label.
    – Submitted by Michael P (14 months ago)
    1. Sid Hudgeons: Off the record, on the QT, and very hush-hush.
    – Submitted by Briain d (23 months ago)
    1. Bud White: Now, I know you think you're the A-number one hotshot. Well, here's the juice: if I take you out, there'll be ten more lawyers to take your place tomorrow. They just won't come on the bus, that's all!
    – Submitted by Tex S (23 months ago)

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Foreign Titles

  • Los Ángeles al desnudo (ES)
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