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L.A Confidential (1997)
And on my fourth viewing of this neo-noir classic, I realise I like it more and more on each viewing. On my first viewing, I thought it was meh and it didn't do much for me. The second viewing was better, and the third viewing cemented it as a true classic of the thriller genre. My fourth viewing of the film is possibly the best so far, as I watched it as a double feature with another favourite, Zodiac. L.A Confidential boasts some fine lead performances and a well-written screenplay, as a group of characters are explored against a 1950's Los Angeles backdrop.
The intriguing story is performed by actors at the top of their games, Guy Pearce especially. Pearce plays the prude detective very well, and could have easily won an Oscar in 1997, if the Academy had the sense to nominate a deserving talent, but I won't delve into that. The rest of the cast is extraordianry, as Kevin Spacey continued his remarkable '90s streak and Russell Crowe delivered what essentially was his breakout performance.
The wonderfully written screenplay explores what is behind the glamour of Hollywood and different ways of dealing justice. The script is pretty complex, with a few twists along the way of a fabulous filmic experience. It's no surprise that this won the 1997 Best Screenplay Oscar.
This, along with Chinatown, are my favourites of the noir genre, as both showcase great performances and incredible screenplays that make for indelible films.
And on my fourth viewing of this neo-noir classic, I realise I like it more and more on each viewing. On my first viewing, I thought it was meh and it didn't do much for me. The second viewing was better, and the third viewing cemented it as a true classic of the thriller genre. My fourth viewing of the film is possibly the best so far, as I watched it as a double feature with another favourite, Zodiac. L.A Confidential boasts some fine lead performances and a well-written screenplay, as a group of characters are explored against a 1950's Los Angeles backdrop.
The intriguing story is performed by actors at the top of their games, Guy Pearce especially. Pearce plays the prude detective very well, and could have easily won an Oscar in 1997, if the Academy had the sense to nominate a deserving talent, but I won't delve into that. The rest of the cast is extraordianry, as Kevin Spacey continued his remarkable '90s streak and Russell Crowe delivered what essentially was his breakout performance.
The wonderfully written screenplay explores what is behind the glamour of Hollywood and different ways of dealing justice. The script is pretty complex, with a few twists along the way of a fabulous filmic experience. It's no surprise that this won the 1997 Best Screenplay Oscar.
This, along with Chinatown, are my favourites of the noir genre, as both showcase great performances and incredible screenplays that make for indelible films.