L.A. Confidential [Blu-ray]
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Movie Reviews of L.A. Confidential [Blu-ray]
Movie Review: "And The Dapper Little Gent Does It In Style..." L.A. CONFIDENTIAL on BLU RAY
Summary: 5 Stars
There's a moment in Curtis Hanson's 1997 peach of a film when Guy Pearce playing good-guy cop Ed Exley enters The Night Owl café to check up on possible multiple homicides in the early hours of the morning... As he does, the camera pans across the Formica counter and the nearby tabletops, the saltcellars, the napkin dispensers, the circular seats, the candy vendors... There's tons of stuff in a few seconds - all of 1950s - the attention to detail is mind-blowing... Hanson had made a $15 million dollar movie look like it cost ten times that and I'm thrilled to say that this BLU RAY version of "L.A. Confidential" does exactly the same.
While it's not "Zulu" or "2001: A Space Odyssey" perfect in terms of print - other people's reckoning of 4.5 out of 5 is accurate. I'd estimate that 80-90% of the time the picture is glorious and even when it's a little soft in places, the rest is `so' good, you hardly notice. Also, as you re-watch it, you realise just how good LAC was and what a superlative job Hanson did in bringing the seedy underbelly of Hollywood and the LAPD of the time to the screen. Everything fits on "L.A. Confidential" - the incredible ensemble cast you couldn't buy for love or money now - the chemistry between them all - the ruthlessly realistic story and spunky adaptation of it, the beautiful night locations, the dapper clothes, the colours - even Jerry Goldsmith's music - mellow brass followed by staccato piano fills - was absolute genius! It all worked - and now it looks the business too.
Watching Crowe and Basinger in the main feature in all their beautifully filmed sizzling glory is a treat for sure - but the list of extras is equally impressive too. Check these out...
1. Commentary by Andrew Sarris [Film Critic], James Ellroy [Novelist], actors Russell Crowe, Kevin Spacey, Guy Pearce, David Strathairn, Kim Basinger, Danny DeVito and James Cromwell accompanied by Ruth Myers [Casting], Brian Helgeand [co-writer of the screen with Curtis Hanson the Director], Jeannine Opwell [Production Design], Dante Spinotti [Cinematographer]
(with or without SUBTITLES)
2. "Whatever You Desire: The Making Of L.A. Confidential"
All-new interviews with Director/Screen Writer/Producer Curtis Hanson and his cast & crew
3. "Sunlight & Shadow: The Visual Style Of L.A. Confidential". Hanson gives a behind-the-scenes commentary to reveal how they captured 1950's and brought LA Confidential to life.
4. "A True Ensemble: The Cast Of L.A. Confidential". RC, GP, DD, KB and JC all join Hanson to discuss the chemistry they hoped would happen and did
5. "L.A. Confidential: From Book To Screen". Hanson and co-writer Brian Helgeland discuss the difficulty of bringing the film to screen
6. "Off The Record". Behind the scenes featurette with the cast & crew
7. Photo Pitch: Curtis Hanson recreates his original pitch for L.A. Confidential
8. 2000 TV Pilot
9. "The L.A. of L.A. Confidential": and interactive tour of many of the locations used in the movie
10. Music Only Track
11. Trailers [5 Versions]
12. Online interactivity
If like me, you saw this at the flicks, then bought it on DVD, and loved it on both occasions - you will need to upgrade to this version. Like the beautiful looking and endlessly uplifting BR version of "The Shawshank Redemption" - "L.A. Confidential" is a triumph on BLU RAY. There's no "hush, hush" on this one folks - highly recommended.
Movie Review: They dont make movies like this anymore!
Summary: 5 Stars
To call this movie superb...is an understatement.
A spectacular film that should have taken home every major Academy Award.
Proof that the Academy has truly lost touch with what making a film is all about
Best Actor: Russel Crowe
Best Supporting Actor: Kevin Spacey Or Guy Pierce (pick one)
Best Picture (titanic.???? really???)
Best Actress: Kim Basinger (which she received)
Best Director: Curtis Hanson
The great thing about this film is the 3 protaganist theme.
Officer Bud White (Russel Crowe), the brutal police officer who hands out his own brand of justice and has a thing for helping women in distress . Ed Exley (Guy Pierce), the strait laced, by the book ladder climber and Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey), the hollywood bigger than life cop who is caught up in the underworld of lurid payoffs and sleazy tabloid journalists.
It is a work of art how the Director, Curtis Hanson weaves all three into the frey at a breakneck pace until The film's exposive climax. A shootout at a rundown hotel that will go down in history as one of the most exciting and taught gunfights in the history of movies.
Hanson, by using two relatively unkowns to play the Parts of Bud White and Ed Exley, makes this movie a Character driven plot instad of a star driven vehicle.
And the plot, deftly adapted from James Ellroy's novel is just a work of art. Believable, Not too big for its britches, intricate in its subtlety and incredibly acted. The ensemble cast is truly remarkable with thier chemistry and dedication to thier craft.
If you enjoy crime drama, if you enjoy film noire or if you just want to see what real film making is all about, this is a movie that will Knock your socks off. Should not be missed.
The Blu Ray disc in 1080P is a real treat.
Movie Review: Blu-ray specific review
Summary: 5 Stars
THIS REVIEW IS OF THE BLU-RAY RELEASE
Since the LA Confidential has been reviewed and discussed at great length since it came out over a decade ago, this review will focus on the technical aspects of the Blu-ray release.
Video Quality: The picture quality is demo material. The best thing I can say about it, is that it looks like a 35mm film is being projected on my TV. The image is very clean and sharp, by retains the texture of film. Colors especially looks as they do on film. Overall, the picture is night and day better than the original DVD release. Retail stores should be using a comparison between these two releases to promote Blu-ray.
Audio Quality: I'm not thrilled with the sound. In the Dolby 5.1 mix, and especially the Dolby TrueHD, the sound levels and bass of the sound effects have been turned up extremely high. While this gives your audio system a good workout -- friends have complimented how "cinematic" my speakers sound when watching this disc -- I frankly find it annoying. Every time a door is shut or someone is punched, it sounds like someone is whacking a bass drum. Automatic guns sounds more like an anti-aircraft guns.
Special Features: WB has included a slew of new special features, most of them weighed towards the actors. I didn't really find them all that substantive. What's missing is a commentary by or lengthy interview with Curtis Hanson. He is the genius behind the film after all.
If you like LA Confidential, this is a mandatory purchase for the fantastic picture quality.
Movie Review: Hollywood filmmaking at its best
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been watching movies for almost 60 years, and "L.A. Confidential" is one of the most wildly entertaining films I've ever seen. It was so much fun, I didn't want it to end. (It's anything but a comedy -- but it's fun.)
The story borrows elements commonly found in "hard-boiled" detective fiction: loose dames, prostitution and pornography, homosexuality, police corruption, murdered partners, etc, etc, etc. It is, at least superficially, a broad re-imagining of "The Big Sleep", with an idealistic (but ambitious and hard-nosed) police officer (roughly) standing in for Sam Spade. Of course, given the nature of such novels, these similarities are to be expected. (There is no murdered chauffeur, however.)
The director wanted to stay away from "noir" tone and cliché, and he succeeds. Though set in 1953, "L.A. Confidential" seems modern. The performances -- from actors largely unknown at the time -- are perfect. One could not even imagine better.
The Blu-ray is a beautiful transfer, well-capturing the varied visual moods of LA and surroundings (as discussed in one of the excellent supplements). Some moments, though, appear to have been badly underexposed (as suggested by gray, rather than black backgrounds). Whether this was intentional is not clear, and it doesn't really detract.
Unless you're offended by the violence or subject matter, unreservedly recommended.
There is one rather surprising error -- "When Worlds Collide" was released in 1951, not 1953.
Movie Review: Hanson's LA film noir
Summary: 5 Stars
Prior to making this film noir classic in the tradition of "Chinatown", Curtis Hanson made 2 films which helped along with this film to elevate him to the A-list of directors--"The River Wild" & "The Bedroom Window" (a film noir in the tradition of Hitchcock). With the success of this film (several Oscar nominations with a win for Kim Basinger and Best Picture/Director nod), Hanson went on to make the under-rated "Wonder Boys", "8 Mile" w/Enimen and the chick flick "In Her Shoes". But none matched the success of this classic film noir based on a James Ellroy novel. Why? For one thing he had a fool-proof cast with veterans, Kevin Spacey, Danny Devito & James Cromwell matched with the 2 new Australian newcomers, Russell Crowe & Guy Pearce in their first all-American roles. Also Kim Basinger delivered a poignant Oscar winning performance as Hollywood prostitute who is redemned by her relationship with Crowe's character, Bud White. Another plus is the sharp dialogue courtesy of Ellroy and the great score by Jerry Goldsmith. If you liked "Chinatown"(which Goldsmith also contributed a memorable score) then you'll like this one. Devotees of the book may balk at the happy ending of the film versus the book but perhaps that would've lessen the films chance for box off success--who knows. If it where not for the movie about that big boat that sank, this film would've copped the Best Picture Oscar!! I can't wait for the Blu-ray release of this classic!!