Review of L.A. Confidential (1997) by Dominic B — 21 Feb 2011
Curtis Hanson's "L.A. Confidential" is a scorcher. Hanson delivers a masterful juggling act. The writing is dense, twisty and rewarding. The acting is powerful, complex and emotionally challenging.
The cinematography is clear, meticulous and reflective. The production design is detailed and natural- something rare for a period film. With all of these filmic aspects in perfect unison, it's also shocking to see how Hanson deftly handles the pictures juxtapositions.
"L.A. Confidential" is deeply rooted in 1950s film noir but it is also intensely contemporary. It's a loving tribute to the city of Los Angeles but also fully embraces it's dirty underbelly without judgement.
It's as much about emotion and the way others perceive us as it is about the gruesome violence and action demanded from a cop film. "L.A. Confidential" is one of those wholly memorable and unforgettable experiences and one of the defining films of the 1990s- perfectly blending old and new Hollywood in a very important way.
This review of L.A. Confidential (1997) was written by Dominic B on 21 Feb 2011.
L.A. Confidential has generally received very positive reviews.
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