#laconfident

[sudhirramakrishnan-blog]

In Love with L.A. Confidential...

There’s no need for elaborate metaphors or complicated narratives - the simple truth is that Curtis Hanson’s 1997 film “L.A. Confidential” is a masterpiece and i simply love it. Here's my spoiler free tribute to this underrated masterpiece.

Adapted from James Ellroy’s third novel from his “L.A. Quartet” series of books - the movie manages to masterfully bring alive the essence of noir; which is quite rightly one of the hardest genres to portray on screen.

The film sinks deep into the glamorous yet seedy underbelly of 1950s Los Angeles - not afraid to throw light on the darker side of the fortunate & the famous.

The tone is set by a wickedly rushed introduction to the fake facade that L.A. tries very hard to project by Sid Hudgens (Danny Devito in a deliciously mischievous performance!) who is the publisher of a shamelessly deviant tabloid magazine called “Hush-Hush”.

He collaborates regularly with Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey) - a cop who loves the glitz & glamour of being a “celebrity cop”; and is also the technical advisor for a popular TV Cop show. Together they plant, hustle & bust celebrities for the double purpose - of selling more copies & making sure Vincennes stays in the limelight.

The LAPD is ably headed by Capt. Dudley Smith (James Cromwell) a decorated cop who has been part of the system for a long while, who manages all the diverse characters in his department with stern authority.

His new recruits are two cops as different as chalk & cheese - Edmund Exley (Guy Pearce) a by the books police officer who wants to emulate (if not surpass) the legacy of his father, the legendary Preston Exley. Ed’s boorish behaviour & penchant for the rulebook instantly makes him unpopular to the rest of the department who are largely lethargic, with flexible morals not out of place in a college fraternity. The other new entrant Wendell “Bud” White (Russell Crowe) is an emotionally charged giant who comes from tragedy, lives life by his own primal rules and follows authority like a prized foot soldier.

Against the backdrop of real life instances of “Bloody Christmas” & the capture of gangster Mickey Cohen - the narration weaves through a wide range of characters who add their flavour to the heady mix already brewing. Chief among them are Lynn Bracken (the absolutely gorgeous Kim Basinger) who is employed by the powerful, charming yet sinister Pierce Patchett.

Crimes across the city are responsible for the lives of all these characters intertwining in a complex web of corruption, lies, deceit & chaos.

As the movie progresses, the plot escalates at a breathless pace and ultimately arrives at a smart, perhaps unexpected climax.

The film boasts of a stellar star cast, and they have churned out some of their best performances, which in turns means a brilliant ensemble looks to be effortlessly in sync.

Kevin Spacey is billed as the star of the show & he delivers a sublime performance as Vincennes, a man torn between what is right & what is easy. His nuanced expressions at key scenes make a character who is hard to dislike, highly memorable.

Russell Crowe manages to give off a feeling of being constantly on edge as he bottles a myriad of emotions under his volatile persona. His introduction to American audience could not have been better than the tortured Bud.

i reserve special praise for James Cromwell, watch the movie and you’ll know why.

Kim Basinger channels vulnerability, glamour & substance in a role the director literally wrote with her in mind. Basinger initially turned him down multiple times, but Hanson’s insistence paid off handsomely as Basinger went on to sweep awards that season - culminating in an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Finally i have to acknowledge my absolute appreciation for Guy Pearce. His Edmund Exley is character hard to root for. One cannot help but be put off by his academic approach to police work. Loathed by those around him, he has flaws & a unhealthy thirst for ambition & integrity. I can’t help but applaud his fantastic character arc & his equally sincere performance.

Curtis Hanson & writing partner Brian Helgeland won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for their cracking take on Ellroy’s crime saga by trimming the long winding novel to the right size - maintaining a tight balance on thrills, politics & characters’ motives.

Los Angeles is a crucial player in the film - and a very smart move by Hanson was to accurately replicate the era & ethos of the city, pack it with utmost detail - only to purposely relegate this in the background. This allows the human characters to marinate in the rich gravy of the essence of L.A.

Perhaps the most unfortunate twist is that this movie was released in 1997 - when the monster that was James Cameron’s Titanic was ruling the screens. A wave of popularity & misplaced affection meant Titanic managed to win Best Film & Best Director while Hanson ended up empty handed.

Years later, many have hailed this film as a lost gem which was harshly neglected in the juggernaut of popularity that was the global phenomenon of Titanic. i thoroughly agree with the sentiment.

A seductive jazz fueled soundtrack adds the right amount of gold dust to the sheer brilliance that is the cinematic experience of L.A. Confidential.

Highly, highly recommended by your truly, the movie is a must watch. A seductive and (un)subtle tale which simply shouldn’t be missed.