L.A. Confidential (1997)
A movie review by Michael J. Legeros
Copyright 1997 by Michael J. Legeros
(WB)
Directed by Curtis Hanson
Written by Curtis Hanson and Brian Helgeland, based on the novel
by James Ellroy
Cast Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, James Cromwell,
David Strathairn, Kim Basinger, Danny DeVito
MPAA Rating "R" (presumably for violence and profanity)
Running Time 138 minutes
Reviewed at General Cinemas at Pleasant Valley, Raleigh, NC
(19SEP97)
==
This one left me a bit cold. Director Curtis Hanson's acclaimed adaptation of James Ellroy's neo-noir novel is overripe with all sorts of wonderfully sordid stuff: dirty cops, corrupt politicians, drug smuggling, sex scandals, sleazy journalists, racism, murder, and, last but not least, high-priced hookers surgically altered to look like movie stars. Fabulous art direction, a handsome cast, and a level of violence that actually shocks (for a change) are the stronger selling points. The overly-complicated script, however, ultimately short changes the characters. Nearly every incident relates, in some way, to the bigger mystery. And, with precious few asides-- chances for the characters to simply *be*-- individual scenes become difficult to appreciate as anything other than pieces to the larger puzzle. (As in THE GAME, your brain is busy working ahead. And even *then* some things don't add up. Such as a sudden outburst of sexual aggression from one of the main characters.) Admittedly, part of the problem is in front of the camera. Two of the three leads are non-stars: Guy Pearce (PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT) and Russell Crowe (VIRTUOSITY, THE QUICK AND THE DEAD). They're very good, but neither commands the screen to the extent that you can't take your eyes off of them. Same goes for Kevin Spacey, who we *know* can muster more dramatic weight than he does here.
Grade: B+
-- Mike Legeros - Movie Hell http://www.nonvirtual.com/hell/
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