L.A. Confidential

Starring: Guy Pearce, Russell Crowe, Kevin Spacey, Kim Basinger, Danny DeVito, James Cromwell
Directed by: Curtis Hanson
Released: Warner Brothers, 1997

Film noir isn't the staple of the motion picture industry that it once was, but Curtis Hanson's L.A. Confidential proves beyond a doubt that it isn't a dead art. Adapted by Hanson and Brian Helgeland from James Ellroy's novel, the film is an engaging exercise in suspense and mystery. More than just a simple whodunit, it is also a complex character story, examining the bonds and connections between three different but three very similar detectives on the LAPD. In the leads, Guy Pierce, Russell Crowe, and Kevin Spacey all give admirable turns, while Kim Basinger, Danny DeVito, and James Cromwell are fantastic supports. Set against the glitzy, glamorous backdrop of police corruption in 1950's Los Angeles, this is one of those rare cinematic gems where the viewer gets so involved that a 135-minute runtime seems like half an hour. One of 1997's best.