Runtime: 137 minutes
Directed by: Curtis Hanson
Starring: Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, Kevin Spacey, Kim Basinger, James Cromwell
From: Warner Bros.
This is a time where I am glad Netflix allowed me to revisit a picture last seen eons ago. At the time I recall enjoying Confidential; now, it is far more appreciated by me. This is despite recently stumbling across several quotes from James Ellroy, the novelist who wrote the story this was based on. Frankly, he gave off the vibe of being an asshat I don’t like personally—that bears no influence on my rating.
In 1952-1953 Los Angeles, the façade is one of glamor due to the sheen of Hollywood. However, it hides an incredibly seedy world, full of real-life characters like Mickey Cohen (who is barely seen but his presence is a key plot point) and unfortunately, an actual incident-Bloody Christmas in 1951 where multiple Mexican-Americans were severely beaten by drunken officers due to misunderstandings-were dramatized here. Confidential follows three police officers who you probably won’t like in the beginning (one who is hyper-focused on his career, another looking for fame, and a violent brute) yet you’ll eventually care about.
The case is complex-not convoluted-which involves a massacre at a coffee shop which exposes the viewer to such aspects as homosexuality, tabloid journalism, a prostitution ring, and heroin. The movie is dark without becoming overly caustic or overwhelmingly grim. What a main cast this has, all of whom delivered in performances… Crowe, Pearce, Basinger, Cromwell, and yeah, Kevin Spacey. I’m able to separate the art from the artist here. The world was brought to life expertly with the buildings, clothing, vehicles, etc.; The jazzy period songs combined with a great Jerry Goldsmith score that matches those songs was another key asset.
It's not the best neo-noir I’ve seen and as I’ve seen someone note, was not the best L.A. movie of 1997 (there’s Boogie Nights and other contenders like Lost Highway & Jackie Brown) but if you’re a fan of the genre & pulpy stylings, the movie is a must if you haven’t crossed its path yet.
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