Review of L.A. Confidential (1997) by Rated N — 07 May 2017

This film has a complex and at times mystifying plot involving organized crime's decline in Los Angeles and the dirty cops who fill the power vacuum thus created. Each cop and detective gets their own distinct personality and character which drives the story.

It also makes for a rich portrait of a workplace in that the culture of the LAPD is exposed and shown to be a product of the identities of the officers who make it up and the decisions they make when confronted with conflicts and roadblocks to their ambitions.

There's suspense, wonderful ensemble acting, a great soundtrack, and well-chosen settings that make a great portrait of postwar Los Angeles. This film is a loving tribute to the worlds and the styles of Film Noir and Raymond Chandler garnished with more contemporary attitudes towards the police.