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ID #115496 |
Amazon's Price: $ 17.87
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Summary of this DVD... | ||
It's 1950's L.A, where Life is nothing more than a golden opportunity. There's lovely sunshine most of the year, breathtaking beaches, land is cheap, raising the perfect all-American family is feasible, and of course, we cannot forget Hollywood with all its' glitz and glamour. Its where the stars shine the brightest. Or is it? For beneath this facade of paradise lies dark secrets that revolve within and around the LAPD and the tangled web it weaves around Hollywood and Politics. L.A. Confidential falls within the Film Noir category, and with a jam-packed cast of brilliant actors (most of them still in the early stages of their careers), this is a movie that does its best to showcase the brilliance of yesteryear mysteries and thrillers. | ||
This type of DVD is good for... | ||
Fans of Film Noir; thriller, mystery, action, with just a hint of romance. If you want edge of your seat, movie-that-makes-you-think, and gasp in all the right places, then this is for you. | ||
I especially liked... | ||
All the actors brought their A game to the set. It's difficult to accurately translate established novels to the screen, but the screenwriters were able to accomplish that feat just fine; being able to condense such a somewhat complicated story into something more palatable for the screen and within a two-hour time limit. Not an easy feat. The plot - though seemingly simple (aka bad cops taking out the bad mafia guys) - the way it unravels, including the big 'reveal' in the third act, makes for masterful story telling and acting all in one. | ||
I didn't like... | ||
There's not much to complain about with this movie. Although, if you read the book first and came into this expecting it to be the exact same thing, you'd be woefully disappointed. | ||
When I finished viewing this DVD I wanted to... | ||
Search for the source material - aka the novel - to dig deeper into the story and learn more about the characters and the plot itself. | ||
The cast of this DVD... | ||
Kevin Spacey - who, at this time (1997), was considered the most sought-after actor for dramatic roles. Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce - Both Australians (hah!) in their first major motion picture for American audiences. It's easy to see how eager and determined to play their role to their best, and while Crowe had moments where his Aussie accent would slip in, he, as well as Guy, both aced their respective roles. James Cromwell - Ah, Mr. Cromwell; who can ever forget this veteran actor with such memorable roles in Babe and The Green Mile for example. His looming presence and ability to convey emotions is top notch. Kim Basinger - and of course, let's not forget our femme fatale. She played the typical 50s movie style siren perfectly, which in turn earned her a best supporting actress Oscar. Danny Devito - a standing ovation for another veteran of the screen (both T.V and movies) for playing his role as the sleazy reporter perfectly! | ||
I recommend this DVD because... | ||
For all the reasons already aforementioned. If you're looking for the perfect homage to Film Noir and all its elements, this movie is for you. | ||
Further Comments... | ||
I am not well versed with all the movie terms/technicalities, but I can give my layman's view of what was observed while watching: 1. The cinematography, overall, was quite well done. It gave you the feeling of actually watching a movie that was made in that era, with the opening grainy shots of 1950s L.A. to the faithful settings and props of that era. 2. The costuming and makeup was also very well done. The camera loves Kim Basinger, for obvious reasons, but the clothes made for her character were created to make her stand out in every scene and that was quite effective. For each of our three main police officers, attention to detail was also paid to match their characters. Bud White (Crowe) is considered a 'brute', so he's clad in dark browns and with his hulking - almost hunched - figure as he stalks around from scene to scene, fits well with his persona. Ed Exeley (Pearce) - considered 'the idealist' - is the perfect police officer from his impeccable coiffed hair to the well-made and tailored suits and a running joke within the movie - his horn-rimmed glasses. And last but not least, is Jack Vincennes (Spacey), the cop who loves the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. It's represented with his white jacket and overall polished movie-star look. 3. Kudos to every supporting cast, in general, for their performances. As mentioned earlier, everyone seemed to bring their A game to the set, and no one slacked off with their scenes. Last but not least, though some scenes were uncomfortable to watch at the beginning (lots of violence in case you were wondering), it is, again, staying true to the era and what was happening between the LAPD and the minority races. The thick stench of racism is in the air, and its almost suffocating getting through it all without wanting to punch something. But that's not all, domestic and sexual abuse is also a prominent feature in this movie, and through the eyes of Bud White, we get to see his brand of justice (hate it or love it) carried out. Overall, just a brilliant film, and I'm glad I got to revisit it again. Should have won more Oscars, in my humble opinion, but then again, there was a certain movie (about a sinking ship) that got all the attention instead. | ||
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Created Sep 19, 2024 at 2:39am •
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