The characters and Los Angeles that is shown in L.A.
Confidential is so interesting that it does leave you wanting more.
Because it’s a period piece and so well directed, it also holds up remarkably well.
The cast doesn’t hurt either.
Kim Basinger is so good in this movie that she won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar.
Much of the credit needs to go to Brian Helgeland who wrote the script along with director Curtis Hanson.
It’s a screenplay filled with so much depth both in character and plot.
Helgeland went on to have an odd career after this.
Confidential is, it’s pretty incredible that director Curtis Hanson was able to make it seem so fresh.
This is the second Hanson movie on the top 100 (#78 The River Wild).
He had a very nice run here with River Wild, this, Wonder Boys and 8 Mile.
Sadly, Hanson died in 2016 from a rare from of dementia.
In some ways, I find Hanson to be the victim of bad timing.
Confidential had no chance to beat out James Cameron and Titanic for the best picture race.
But what if L.A.
Confidential came out a year earlier?
Does it beat The English Patient?
At the end of the day, it doesn’t change how good the movies are obviously.
I’m just trying to show that he deserves more credit then he gets.
The only thing that doesn’t age well in this movie is having Kevin Spacey in it.
He’s a fantastic actor and he’s good in this but it’s so distracting.
However, this character is more complicated.
He’s not a good person at all but he’s not a total scumbag.
I believe you’re supposed to like his portrayal of Hollywood Jack Vincennes.
Spacey’s presence is so huge in these 90’s movies.
It’s great that this was a time when character actors could have such a huge presence in movies.
I just wish they could have picked a different guy.
Both Chinatown and L.A. We’re due for another great one.
Wayne’s World
45.
Back To The Future Part III
47.
A Bronx Tale
48.
The People Vs. Larry Flynt
49.
Eyes Wide Shut
50.
The Green Mile
54.
Man On The Moon
55.
Boyz N The Hood
56.
Grosse Pointe Blank
57.
The Talented Mr. Ripley
63.
The Usual Suspects
65.
In The Line Of Fire
66.
My Cousin Vinny
67.
The River Wild
79.
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?
Stir Of Echoes
82.
Mission: Impossible
83.
For Love Of The Game
86.
Being John Malkovich
87.
Men In Black
88.
Glengarry Glen Ross
92.
Die Hard With A Vengeance
93.
The Blair Witch Project
94.
Any Given Sunday
99.
The Wedding Singer
100.
