L.A. Confidential [Blu-ray]

Director: Curtis Hanson Curtis Hanson

Overview

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 it's the "bad guys" who are getting hurt. Bud White (Russell Crowe) is a police detective whose violent and cynical nature is often at war with his basic sense of decency and justice. Ed Exley (Guy Pearce) is a beat cop-turned-detective whose strict by-the-book philosophy and willingness to blow the whistle on other officers is balanced by a shrewd and opportunistic understanding of the internal politics of the department. And Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey) is a flashy "Hollywood" detective who serves as technical advisor for the TV series Badge of Honor. He is also in cahoots with Sid Hudgeons (Danny DeVito), publisher of the scandal sheet Hush Hush, who throws kickbacks to Vincennes in exchange for being brought along when showbiz figures get busted. White, Exley, and Vincennes find themselves drawn into a tangled and sticky web of violence and betrayal following a multiple murder at a coffee shop that is believed to be part of an effort by Mickey Cohen (Paul Guilfoyle) to consolidate his hold on organized crime in L.A. This lead appears to be connected to the discovery of a bizarre pornography and call-girl ring operated by Pierce Patchett (David Strathairn), whose women are given plastic surgery so that they more closely resemble well-known movie stars. White's role in the investigation is complicated when he falls for Lynn Bracken (Kim Basinger), one of Patchett's prostitutes, who is the spitting image of Veronica Lake. L.A. Confidential was nominated for nine Academy Awards and netted two, with Brian Helgeland honored for Best Adapted Screenplay, and Kim Basinger taking home a statuette as Best Supporting Actress.

Product Details

Release Date:	08/11/2015
UPC:	0024543215431
Original Release:	1997
Rating:	R
Source:	New Regency
Region Code:	A
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	2:18:00
Sales rank:	10,236

Special Features

Commentary by critic/historian Andrew Sarris, James Ellroy, Russell Crowe, Kevin Spacey, Guy Pearce, James Cromwell, Ruth Myers, David Strathairn, Kim Basinger, Brian Helgeland, Jeannine Oppewall, Dante Spinotti and Danny DeVito; Featurette gallery uncovering the case of a contemporary cinema classic: ; Whatever you desire: making L.A. Confidential; Sunlight and shadow: the visual style of L.A. Confidential; A true ensemble: the cast of L.A. Confidential; L.A. Confidential: from book to screen; L.A. Confidential TV series pilot; Off the record: vintage cast/creator interviews; Director Curtis Hanson's photo pitch; The L.A. of L.A. Confidential interactive map tour; Music-only track (5.1) showcasing Jerry Goldsmith's score; Trailer gallery

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Russell Crowe	Bud White,Actor
Kevin Spacey	Jack Vincennes
Guy Pearce	Ed Exley
James Cromwell	Dudley Smith
David Strathairn	Pierce Patchett
Kim Basinger	Lynn Bracken
Danny DeVito	Sid Hudgeons
Graham Beckel	Dick Stensland
Simon Baker-Denny	Matt Reynolds
Matt McCoy	Brett Chase
John Mahon	Police Chief
Paul Guilfoyle	Mickey Cohen
Ron Rifkin	D.A. Ellis Loew
Paolo Seganti	Johnny Stompanato
Amber Smith	Susan Lefferts,Jack's Dancing Partner
Elisabeth Granli	Mickey Cohen's Mambo Partner
Steve Rankin	Officer Arresting Mickey Cohen
Sandra Taylor	Mickey Cohen's Mambo Partner
Allan Graf	Wife Beater
Precious Chong	Wife
Bob Clendenin	Reporter at Hollywood Station
Lennie Loftin	Photographer at Hollywood Station
Will Zahrn	Liquor Store Owner
Darrell Sandeen	Buzz Meeks
Michael Warwick	Sid's Assistant
Shawnee Free Jones	Tammy Jordan
Matthew Allen Bretz	Officer Escorting Mexicans
Thomas Rosales Jr.	1st Mexican
Shane Dixon	Detective at Hollywood Station
Norman Howell	Detective at Hollywood Station
Brian Lally	Detective at Hollywood Station
Don Pulford	Detective at Hollywood Station
Chris Short	Detective at Hollywood Station
Tomas Arana	Breuning, Dudley's Guy
Michael McCleery	Carlisle, Dudley's Guy
George Yager	Gangster at Victory Motel
Jack Conley	Vice Captain
Ginger Slaughter	Secretary in Vice
Jack Knight	Detective at Detective Bureau
John H. Evans	Patrolman at Nite Owl Cafe
Gene Wolande	Forensic Chief
Brian Bossetta	Forensic Officer
Michael Chieffo	Coroner
Gwenda Deacon	Mrs. Lefferts
Mike Kennedy	Bud's Rejected Partner
Ingo Neuhaus	Jack's Rejected Partner
Robert Harrison	Pierce Patchett's Bodyguard
Jim Metzler	City Councilman
Robert Barry Fleming	Boxer
Jeremiah Birkett	Ray Collins, Nite Owl Suspect
Salim Grant	Louis Fontaine, Nite Owl Suspect
Karreem Washington	Ty Jones, Nite Owl Suspect
Noel Evangelisti	Stenographer
Marisol Padilla Sánchez	Inez Soto--Rape Victim
Jeff Sanders	Sylvester Fitch
Steve Lambert	Roland Navarette
Jordan Marder	Officer at Detective Bureau,Detective
Gregory White	Mayor
April Breneman	Look-Alike Dancer
Lisa Worthy	Look-Alike Dancer
Beverly Sharpe	Witness on `Badge of Honor'
Colin Mitchell	Reporter at Hospital
John Slade	Photographer at Hospital
Brenda Bakke	Lana Turner
Kevin Maloney	Frolic Room Bartender
Patrice Walters	Police File Clerk
Rebecca Jane Klingler	Police File Clerk,Police File Clerk
Irene Roseen	District Attorney Ellis Loew's Secretary
Scott Eberlein	West Hollywood Sheriff's Deputy
Bodie Newcomb	Officer at `Hush-Hush' Office
Jeff Austin	Detective
Henry Meyers	Detective
Robert Foster	Detective
Michael Ossman	Detective
Kevin Kelly	Detective
Dick Stilwell	Detective
Jess Thomas	Detective
Monty McKee	Detective
Samuel Thompson	Detective
Jody Wood	Detective
Curtis Hanson	Actor
David St. James	Detective at Hush-Hush Office
Sally Insul	Actor
Fred Scialla	Stand-In (Danny DeVito)
Jerry Goldsmith	Composer

Technical Credits

Curtis Hanson

Brian Helgeland

James Ellroy

Curtis Hanson	Director,Screenwriter,Producer
Brian Helgeland	Screenwriter,Producer
Mali Finn	Casting
Jeff Imada	Stunts
Dan Kolsrud	Executive Producer,Producer
Arnon Milchan	Producer
Michael Nathanson	Producer,Producer
Eric Rylander	Special Effects
Terry Rodman	Sound/Sound Designer
Roland N. Thai	Sound/Sound Designer
Richard Stutsman	Special Effects
David L. Wolper	Executive Producer,Producer
Boyd Lacosse	Special Effects
James Ellroy	Screenwriter
Peter Donen	Special Effects
Bob Beher	Sound Effects
Anna Behlmer	Sound Effects
Brian Best	Sound Effects
Gary Blufer	Sound Effects
Kay Colvin	Sound Effects
Kirk Francis	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

A polished policier in the tradition of Chinatown (1974), with a plot as convoluted as film noir chestnut The Big Sleep (1946), L.A. Confidential (1997) proved that it was still possible to fashion an actor-driven detective yarn in 1990s Hollywood. Adapting the story from James Ellroy's novel, director Curtis Hanson deftly captures the glamour and sleaze of post-war Los Angeles, where hookers look like movie stars and movie stars are mistaken for hookers, as an antagonistic trio of police detectives discovers how deeply ingrained the city's corruption has become. Russell Crowe's pugnacious White, Guy Pearce's smug Exley, and Kevin Spacey's smooth, celeb-struck Vincennes are all somewhat tainted, but even they cannot quite believe the rot they uncover; the accompanying gallery of rogues and innocents, including scandal mongers, prostitutes, and other cops, constantly shifts the moral order. Dante Spinotti's cinematography and Jeannine Oppewall's detailed production design lend a period sheen while richly alluding to the shadowy truth hidden by symbols of law and order. Opening to raves, particularly for the lead trio and Kim Basinger's Veronica Lake-esque pro, L.A. Confidential swept the critics' awards for Best Film and received nine Academy Award nominations. In the wake of Titanic, though, only Basinger and co-screenwriters Hanson and Brian Helgeland won statuettes.

All Movie Guide - Lucia Bozzola