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L.A. Confidential poster

L.A. Confidential

year 1997decade 90sdirector Curtis Hansongenre Crime / Drama

138 minutes

Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Kevin Spacey Detective Sergeant Jack "Hollywood Jack" Vincennes
Russell Crowe Officer Wendell "Bud" White
Guy Pearce Detective Lieutenant Edmund "Shotgun Ed" Exley
James Cromwell Captain Dudley Smith
Kim Basinger Lynn Bracken
Danny DeVito Sid Hudgens
David Strathairn Pierce Morehouse Patchett
Ron Rifkin District Attorney Ellis Loew
Graham Beckel Detective Sergeant Richard "Dick Stens" Stensland
Amber Smith Susan Lefferts
John Mahon Police Chief
Paul Guilfoyle Meyer "Mickey" Cohen
Matt McCoy Brett Chase
Paolo Seganti Johnny Stompanato
Simon Baker Matt Reynolds
Tomas Arana Detective Sergeant Michael Breuning
Michael McCleery Detective Sergeant William Carlisle
Shawnee Free Jones Tammy Jordan
Darrell Sandeen Leland "Buzz" Meeks
Gwenda Deacon Mrs. Lefferts
Jim Metzler Councilman
Brenda Bakke Lana Turner

L.A. Confidential | The Rewatchables

host Bill Simmonshost Chris Ryanhost Sean Fennesseyhost Andy Greenwaldproducer Craig Horlbeck theme CR Month
Explore episodeClose episode

Most Rewatchable Scene

Bud meeting Lynn, Exley arriving at the Night Owl and removing his glasses for the photo, and Bud visiting Lynn’s house are nominated.

In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 01:03:51Read transcript
  • Bud meeting Lynn, Exley arriving at the Night Owl and removing his glasses for the photo, and Bud visiting Lynn’s house are nominated.
  • The interrogation scene is called a masterpiece, especially Exley moving between rooms, Bud with the chair, and deep-focus observers.
  • Bud killing the rapist, Shotgun Ed, Rollo Tomasi, the Stompanato scenes, Lynn seducing Exley, Jack’s death and the Rollo reveal are nominated.
  • Bud finding the photos, fighting then joining Exley, torturing the DA and the Victory Motel shootout are nominated.
  • The finale feels early to one viewer; its gun work and physical geography prompt comparison with Proof of Life and To Live and Die in LA.
  • The contrasting responses when the three cops are asked to inform are nominated, especially Jack’s face when threatened with losing the show.
  • The interrogation is selected for its live-microphone manipulation and switch sound effects.

What’s Aged the Best?

College boy as an insult is fondly recalled and compared with more recent political taunts.

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:10:53Read transcript
  • College boy as an insult is fondly recalled and compared with more recent political taunts.

Most Rewatchable Scene

The interrogation scene is the shared final choice.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:11:31Read transcript
  • The interrogation is confirmed as the shared choice.
  • Bud’s first visit to Pierce Patchett is another favorite, with praise for David Strathairn.
  • The post-shootout montage efficiently advances everyone’s story, though it skips potentially interesting freeway and party material.

The most "year the movie came out" thing

Young Crowe and Spacey on the poster are offered.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:14:50Read transcript
  • Young Crowe and Spacey on the poster are offered.
  • The existence of this kind of novel adaptation as a theatrical film is proposed; another response argues book adaptations remain viable.

What’s Aged the Best?

Tabloid culture, outsiders’ difficult LA adjustment and interest in morally complex genre stories remain pertinent.

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:17:25Read transcript
  • Tabloid culture, outsiders’ difficult LA adjustment and audiences’ interest in morally complex genre stories remain pertinent.
  • Brief characters who become stars of their own scene are praised, including the coroner and Stensland.
  • Patchett’s blackmail recalls Epstein; Dudley’s instruction about shooting criminals in the back pays off in his own death.
  • Corrupt cops and departments shunning one of their own remain effective dramatic material.
  • Having someone cut to resemble a star and dated slang such as swish and AC/DC are enjoyed.

The Great Shot Gordo Award for Most Cinematic Shot

The layered interrogation reflection with Jack, Dudley, Exley and the waiting suspect is selected.

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:22:56Read transcript
  • The layered interrogation reflection with Jack, Dudley, Exley and the waiting suspect is selected.
  • The split-diopter DA shot, Exley raising his badge in shadow, and police cars cresting the hill are praised.
  • The zoom framing Bud and Exley facing off in the street is nominated.
  • The moving camera contrasts the group comforting Stensland with isolated Exley; Bud above Patchett on the putting green visually divides them.

The Butch’s Girlfriend Award for the Weakest Link in the Film

Basinger is written down reluctantly without a firm argument.

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:31:00Read transcript
  • Basinger is written down reluctantly without a firm argument.
  • DeVito is criticized as an unconvincing Italian actor playing a Jewish character.
  • The unclear passage of years and heroin plot are raised, though the time issue is partly withdrawn.
  • DeVito’s familiar comic persona and broad acting distract, although his opening narration works.

What’s Aged the Worst?

Spacey’s reputation and reported conduct toward Pearce are raised; Ellroy’s shifting opinion of the adaptation is noted.

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:34:55Read transcript
  • Kevin Spacey’s reported behavior on set toward Guy Pierce is discussed alongside James Elroy’s shifting assessments of the film.
  • Patchett’s house is again criticized as insufficiently extravagant.
  • The opening promise of abundant jobs, cheap land and homeownership, plus downtown-to-beach travel in twenty minutes, feels dated.
  • Bud’s beating should have killed Exley or caused more damage.
  • Using photos of Lynn and Exley to provoke Bud seems unnecessarily elaborate when the villains could simply kill Exley.

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

One participant cannot find a hot take.

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:40:14Read transcript
  • One participant cannot find a hot take.
  • The film is called a perfect modern period piece, combining 1950s design with 1990s acting and cutting.
  • It is called the second-best Wizard of Oz adaptation: Bud needs brains, Ed a heart, Jack courage, Lynn home, and Dudley is the wizard.
  • Patchett’s exploitative celebrity-lookalike business is jokingly praised as commercially brilliant and compared with deepfakes.

Apex Mountain

Crowe is rejected; Spacey’s run is accepted, with this film versus American Beauty debated.

In the discussion (7)
Approx. transcript time · 01:54:12Read transcript
  • Crowe is rejected; Spacey’s run is accepted, with this film versus American Beauty debated.
  • Pearce’s Memento period is proposed; another view favors his post-Brutalist standing, with concern about his social-media activity.
  • Chinatown wins for LA noir; Basinger’s Nine and a Half Weeks/Batman era is favored over this film.
  • DeVito is rejected; evil Cromwell is praised, though Star Trek and Succession are other favorites.
  • St. Elmo’s Fire and The Big Lebowski are raised for toilet dunking; dangling a man out a window is also considered.
  • The Aviator’s Howard Hughes home is favored for Hancock Park movie houses.
  • Heart-shot acting is nominated, especially the cartoon-watching victim and Jack; time to death is debated without medical certainty.

Cruise or Hanks?

Cruise as Exley.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 02:00:51Read transcript
  • Hanks as Hollywood Jack is offered, but Cruise as Exley wins the comparison.
  • Later Hanks as Dudley is suggested for a surprise villain turn, with Road to Perdition and Cloud Atlas discussed.

Sequel, Prequel, Limited Series, or All-Black Remake

A 1974-set sequel with Chadwick Boseman, Crowe and Pearce reportedly failed to happen.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 02:07:18Read transcript
  • A 1974-set sequel with Chadwick Boseman, Crowe and Pearce reportedly failed to happen.
  • The 2003 Kiefer Sutherland pilot and Jordan Harper’s later CBS pilot are recalled; the latter had Walton Goggins and the actor transcribed as Shea Wiggum and delayed Night Owl until season two.

Is This Movie Better With…?

A Zane Lowe impression interviews Dudley about his move into crime, followed by a Matt Reynolds variation.

In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 02:09:09Read transcript
  • A Zane Lowe impression interviews Dudley about his move into crime, followed by a Matt Reynolds variation.
  • Adding Shams to the impression category is proposed through Sid’s style of basketball reporting.

Just One Oscar

Cinematographer Dante Spinotti is chosen; the film lost all seven other nominations to Titanic.

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 02:11:18Read transcript
  • Cinematographer Dante Spinotti is chosen; the film lost all seven other nominations to Titanic.

What Piece of Memorabilia Would You Want From This Movie?

The Night Owl mug is favored; Rollo Tomasi is questioned as a tangible object, Victory Motel matches are unconfirmed, and Jack’s tortoiseshell sunglasses are offered.

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 02:17:14Read transcript
  • The Night Owl mug is favored; Rollo Tomasi is questioned as a tangible object, Victory Motel matches are unconfirmed, and Jack’s tortoiseshell sunglasses are offered.

The Coach Finstock Award for Best Life Lesson

The line contrasting men who get the world with an ex-hooker and an Arizona trip is offered as the lesson.

In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 02:18:54Read transcript
  • The line contrasting men who get the world with an ex-hooker and an Arizona trip is offered as the lesson.

Who Won the Movie?

Russell Crowe is the strongest declared choice; the writers are also selected. Opening individual names sound like Hansen and Helgeland but remain ASR-uncertain.

In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 02:20:36Read transcript
  • The opening answer sounds like Curtis Hansen, followed by a name transcribed as Hell, Golland; both identities remain uncertain in this passage.
  • Crowe is declared the winner for the breakout launching a decade of major stardom.
  • The writers are separately favored for shaping the screenplay.
Podcast choices
Speaker not identified
Russell Crowe
Speaker not identified
The writers