Thanks for this. This was a fascinating revelation about the process of screen story telling. It shows the single stroke of narrative genius that makes us fall in love with the two leading characters who solve the case, despite their very prominent flaws. Just after they talk about how different Bud Wight and Ed Exley are, they mention how they created Rollo Thomasi for narrative necessity, yet it’s the twist that makes the film. And not just because it’s the brilliant giveaway moment of realisation for Ed when he realises who the villain he’s hunting is, but because it’s the one uniting force that makes Ed and Bud the same! Despite everything that makes them so completely opposite in so many ways, their lives are motivated by the exact same thing. They have both been hunting for the man who gets away with murder their whole lives. They’re both chasing the ghosts of the killers who took their parents from them. And it’s that clever little nudge of plot necessity, the creation of Thomasi, just so they can join the narrative dots and keep the story making sense to their audience, that underlines who both Exley and Wight are and why it is that they are so authentically able to become brothers, united in a cause for which both would willingly risk everything. Even despite all they’ve been through and their life threatening rivalry, it is the fact that they are actually the same at their core that makes them brothers, whether they choose to be or not. Just brilliant writing and a gem of film making documentary moments that should be shown in film schools after a screening of the main feature itself. I think this would offer a lot of budding screen writers and directors an, “Aha!” moment of realisation, about how to write brilliant plots.
12:36 When this moment came in the theatre, I literally jumped out of the seat. Scared the hell out of people around me. :) It was that startling and that good. Wow.
1997 had two great films and one really good one. None won the best picture Oscar. _Titanic,_ the winner wasn't even number four. _L.A. Confidential, Boogie Nights_ and _As Good as it Gets_ were all better. So was _Good Will Hunting_ for that matter. Spacey should have gotten Best Supporting Actor and Mark Wahlberg should have won for best Actor. _As Good As It Gets_ is a good movie._L.A. Confidential_ and _ Boogie Nights_ are great movies that did not get the the acclaim they deserve. My opinion. Based mostly on my the truth. I think some films are underrated and _L.A. Confidential_ certainly is. 🙂👍🏻☮️ 🎥 🎬 🇺🇸
I love this film. A lot of great performances, but Kevin Spacey was absolutely brilliant. Spacey tells the story with his face multiple times. I have never seen another actor do the stuff he does in this movie. This is a film I have watched dozens of times. And I never get tired of it. The acting, photography and editing are masterful. The Bloody Christmas seen and the shootout with the Nite Owl suspects are edited so tighly there are shots that you don't even see the happen so quickly. It should have won an Oscar for Spacey. It should have won an Oscar for Curtis Hansen as director, it should have won best editing and it should have won best picture.
All that talk about the importance of color makes me feel bad that I have recommended to others to turn your TV/monitor to black & white next time you watch this film, if you are doing a re-watch. (I usually have to do brightness and contrast adjustments.) It adds a really interesting visual twist to the film, and really takes you into 1953. Sorry Curtis (RIP).
I read an interview of Ellroy in 1998, a few months after the movie was released. He said that approximately 20 minutes into the movie, he realized he was witnessing a work of art. He thought it was a fantastic movie. Did he revise his opinion later?
I just watched this movie again yesterday. I could sit down and watch it again right now. It’s so well done all the way around. There are only a handful of movies like this for me. Godfathers 1 and 2, Patton and a couple others. It’s just that mesmerizing.
I remember Dante Spinotti, I spoke to him because I got to work on this movie back in the summer of 96. I was new to LA and I could tell this was going to be a good movie
2 separate juries, in 2 different countries, found him Not Guilty, and found his accusers Not Believable. So: I guess you know more than them, even though they were provided with all the evidence and testimony. One of The Accusers in America repeatedly lied and lied and lied. For instance: There were text messages on his phone PROVING he was lying. He tried to DELETE THE MESSAGES, but they were able to recover the messages. In that particular case, the prosecutors dropped the case because The Accuser provably lied.
I love police thrillers based in LA in the 40s, 50s and 60s. This is one of the best along with Mulholland Falls. China Town, Harper, and The Two Jakes are also great.
Great justice was done to the feel. It doesn't lay style on top of nothing, it's class. So many great actors got to shine, and we do get a depth to their characters, which is some achievement with a talent sandwich like this.
"one small part of the police department" ummmm, wasn't the investigation shut down and not allowed to investigate further? None of the other crash divisions were looked into. Heck policies were put in place to discourage lower ranked officers from coming forward. Well over 100 were involved in some form or fashion. That isn't small.
The music in the exterior shots of LA make me think of a lonely Sunday afternoon. Very mood evoking, the music. The streets were so quiet. The lonely trumpet.
Brilliant film in every way. Excellent story, excellent direction, excellent performances, excellent editing, music, costuming, everything. *The* "film noir" to beat (even though it's not)!
A brilliant adaptation of Ellroy's sprawling novel. Every professional eye was beautifully focused on the story...cinematography, set design, costumes, editing, lighting, screenplay. Hanson's direction and handling of the actors was sublime. In a perfect world, this movie should have sunk the Titanic at the Oscars. Spacey's best work. In different films, Spacey named two iconic imaginary villains. Rollo Tomasi and Keyser Söze. A cinephile's treat all around.
Not sure. But the unique light is one tell for me when other cities/countries double for L.A.. It just is unique and apparently can't be created elsewhere. Or they don't even try, because so few of us will notice, lol.
😊
👌 awesome movie 🎬 😮
"Titanic," may have won the sprint. But "L.A. Confidential," won the marathon.
Thanks for this. This was a fascinating revelation about the process of screen story telling. It shows the single stroke of narrative genius that makes us fall in love with the two leading characters who solve the case, despite their very prominent flaws. Just after they talk about how different Bud Wight and Ed Exley are, they mention how they created Rollo Thomasi for narrative necessity, yet it’s the twist that makes the film. And not just because it’s the brilliant giveaway moment of realisation for Ed when he realises who the villain he’s hunting is, but because it’s the one uniting force that makes Ed and Bud the same! Despite everything that makes them so completely opposite in so many ways, their lives are motivated by the exact same thing. They have both been hunting for the man who gets away with murder their whole lives. They’re both chasing the ghosts of the killers who took their parents from them. And it’s that clever little nudge of plot necessity, the creation of Thomasi, just so they can join the narrative dots and keep the story making sense to their audience, that underlines who both Exley and Wight are and why it is that they are so authentically able to become brothers, united in a cause for which both would willingly risk everything. Even despite all they’ve been through and their life threatening rivalry, it is the fact that they are actually the same at their core that makes them brothers, whether they choose to be or not. Just brilliant writing and a gem of film making documentary moments that should be shown in film schools after a screening of the main feature itself. I think this would offer a lot of budding screen writers and directors an, “Aha!” moment of realisation, about how to write brilliant plots.
12:36 When this moment came in the theatre, I literally jumped out of the seat. Scared the hell out of people around me. :) It was that startling and that good. Wow.
It was the first thing I saw Guy Pearce and Russell Crowe in, and I thought they were American actors. Was stunned when I found out they weren't. :)
Fabulous movie, one of my all time favourites. Lost count of how many times I've watched it :)
1997 had two great films and one really good one. None won the best picture Oscar. _Titanic,_ the winner wasn't even number four. _L.A. Confidential, Boogie Nights_ and _As Good as it Gets_ were all better. So was _Good Will Hunting_ for that matter. Spacey should have gotten Best Supporting Actor and Mark Wahlberg should have won for best Actor. _As Good As It Gets_ is a good movie._L.A. Confidential_ and _ Boogie Nights_ are great movies that did not get the the acclaim they deserve. My opinion. Based mostly on my the truth. I think some films are underrated and _L.A. Confidential_ certainly is. 🙂👍🏻☮️ 🎥 🎬 🇺🇸
I love this film. A lot of great performances, but Kevin Spacey was absolutely brilliant. Spacey tells the story with his face multiple times. I have never seen another actor do the stuff he does in this movie. This is a film I have watched dozens of times. And I never get tired of it. The acting, photography and editing are masterful. The Bloody Christmas seen and the shootout with the Nite Owl suspects are edited so tighly there are shots that you don't even see the happen so quickly. It should have won an Oscar for Spacey. It should have won an Oscar for Curtis Hansen as director, it should have won best editing and it should have won best picture.
met Jerry Goldsmith in LA he drove his MB❤
ROLLO TOMASI isi n the book. He kills Jack's father (a cop) in a store (?) holdup.
I still wonder if Exley called the D.A. to get the boxer/snitches brother a "ten year reduction" in his sentence.
handcuff bud white to a radiator and go to town ..?
TRES Cool/Heavy Tribute to the Film Noir of the Late 40s! .SVP Black N White!!!
All that talk about the importance of color makes me feel bad that I have recommended to others to turn your TV/monitor to black & white next time you watch this film, if you are doing a re-watch. (I usually have to do brightness and contrast adjustments.) It adds a really interesting visual twist to the film, and really takes you into 1953. Sorry Curtis (RIP).
Coffee glitches? Otherwise, cool. 😎
It'll never be as good as the movie!
One of the best movies, I ever saw! Russell Crowe, Kevin Spacey and Guy Pearce made this movie! I just want to watch it over and over again!
It's like watching the story in an alternate universe!
Lmao this is some kind of joke, right? 😅
No one goes to america for architecture.
Maybe not, but there are a lot of iconic, beautiful examples here
First time hearing Guy Pierce with his real accent.
5 STARS movie. Can watch free on TH-cam.
The Freemake ads are disastrous. But thanks for uploading, I guess 9 years ago you had to work with what was available.
Hollywood whores got lucky. Get the fuck out of LA. You’re all targets now. What a bunch of bullshit. Whores.
Great movie! 👍 Too bad James Ellroy disagrees.
I read an interview of Ellroy in 1998, a few months after the movie was released. He said that approximately 20 minutes into the movie, he realized he was witnessing a work of art. He thought it was a fantastic movie. Did he revise his opinion later?
I just watched this movie again yesterday. I could sit down and watch it again right now. It’s so well done all the way around. There are only a handful of movies like this for me. Godfathers 1 and 2, Patton and a couple others. It’s just that mesmerizing.
I remember Dante Spinotti, I spoke to him because I got to work on this movie back in the summer of 96. I was new to LA and I could tell this was going to be a good movie
Spacey is such a great actor but such a bad person.
2 separate juries, in 2 different countries, found him Not Guilty, and found his accusers Not Believable. So: I guess you know more than them, even though they were provided with all the evidence and testimony. One of The Accusers in America repeatedly lied and lied and lied. For instance: There were text messages on his phone PROVING he was lying. He tried to DELETE THE MESSAGES, but they were able to recover the messages. In that particular case, the prosecutors dropped the case because The Accuser provably lied.
I know and I know! 😓
I love police thrillers based in LA in the 40s, 50s and 60s. This is one of the best along with Mulholland Falls. China Town, Harper, and The Two Jakes are also great.
Never do a remake of a classic!
Great justice was done to the feel. It doesn't lay style on top of nothing, it's class. So many great actors got to shine, and we do get a depth to their characters, which is some achievement with a talent sandwich like this.
Excellent acting, pacing, and story telling. One of my favorite films and should have won the best picture award.
Look all these dumb dumb making excuses for bad guys, and now look what the society has turned into now
"one small part of the police department" ummmm, wasn't the investigation shut down and not allowed to investigate further? None of the other crash divisions were looked into. Heck policies were put in place to discourage lower ranked officers from coming forward. Well over 100 were involved in some form or fashion. That isn't small.
I hope so much that Kevin Spacey didn't do what he's accused of doing so we can get him back on screen! He's such an incredible talent.
He is a great actor, but I doubt anyone will hire him
The music in the exterior shots of LA make me think of a lonely Sunday afternoon. Very mood evoking, the music. The streets were so quiet. The lonely trumpet.
This movie is phenomenal! It should have won some awards
i am a book over movie guy most times..... the movie beats the book like Tyson boxing in the 80s.
Really liked the Original La Confidential, This lame remake stinks on ice.
Thanks , Enjoyed, First saw the movie around 2010 and realized it was a winer.
Brilliant film in every way. Excellent story, excellent direction, excellent performances, excellent editing, music, costuming, everything. *The* "film noir" to beat (even though it's not)!
Titanic is bubblegum trash. This movie is a masterpiece for any era.
After seeing the movie.... this is horrendously bad....
Awesome changes from book form to film form, with nothing lost and meaning and clarity added. Fabulous film. One of the best.
A brilliant adaptation of Ellroy's sprawling novel. Every professional eye was beautifully focused on the story...cinematography, set design, costumes, editing, lighting, screenplay. Hanson's direction and handling of the actors was sublime. In a perfect world, this movie should have sunk the Titanic at the Oscars. Spacey's best work. In different films, Spacey named two iconic imaginary villains. Rollo Tomasi and Keyser Söze. A cinephile's treat all around.
I love when the dirty cop looks at the black hole in the floor then gets blasted.
The warm light of Southern California. Could this light be because of the ocean? For thousands of miles the sun reflects off the ocean, directly.
Not sure. But the unique light is one tell for me when other cities/countries double for L.A.. It just is unique and apparently can't be created elsewhere. Or they don't even try, because so few of us will notice, lol.
Ed is ALWAYS thinking. Nothing wrong with that as opposed to popular opinion.
Gotta be incredibly satisfying to have been a part of creating this brilliant movie.
I got to work on this movie back in 1996. Curtis Hansen did it justice, Hansen also did a great job with the wonder boys. May he Rest In Peace