In a side-walk cafe called "Night Owl," around 1:00 AM in Los Angeles, circa 1953, 15 people are murdered and left for dead in the washroom. This starts a chain reaction of murder, intrigue and suspense involving many people.
The cast of characters in long: Good guy straight as an arrow cop Ed Exley (Guy Pierce); Jack Vincennes, a cop who would rather police Hollywood than the streets of L.A. (Kevin Spacey); Bud White, a cop who hates "women beaters," and is just a tad too aggressive at the wrong times (Russell Crowe); Capt. Dudley Smith, a CO who would rather see L.A.'s finest look good for the public than look bad (James Cromwell); a call girl, Lynn Bracken, who looks like Veronica Lake (Kim Basinger); and a Tabloid reporter (Danny DeVito).
Ed Exley takes the "Night Owl" case, and is determined to prove who did it. But standing in his way are Bud White and Jack Vincennes, two cops with their own agendas.
As clues are revealed, and as Ed Exley tries to prove that he can be a great cop, things take a wrong turn as several men are arrested for the murders... but are ultimately found to be the wrongfully arrested for murder... but the right arrestee's for a brutal rape.
After the rapists escape, Exley hunts them down and shoots them... and becomes a citywide hero. Unfortunately, he knows he got the wrong men.
But Bud White has also figured out that the wrong men were arrested, and sets out to find the real killers. Along the way, he meets up with a call girl who looks like Veronica Lake, and they get intimate, all the while Ed Exley and Jack Vincennes have teamed up to figure out what's really going on.
L.A. Confidential is a crime drama, and it's a good one. There are many characters, and all the roles are played well. There is a certain depth to each character; there is much more we can learn about them but there isn't a lot divulged about each one's past until late in the movie.
However, even though there are several major characters, each one has it's own share of time on screen, and each one is unique, which also makes a more interesting story.
This crime drama isn't your typical "bang bang shoot 'em up" crime drama; there is an interesting story as well as a back-story that all meshes together very nicely.
L.A. Confidential is an absolute must see. This period piece will knock your socks off.
Plot: 
A very interesting story with a great back-story, and a wicked and surprising ending.
Visual Effects: 
There are no special effects shots, but the cinematography is superb, and the gunfights are well done.
Sound:
the score gives the picture a nice touch, al though there are no songs.
Character Development:
We see young Ed Exley go from straight arrow to down and dirty cop. Jack Vincennes learns too late who the real enemies are, and Bud White softens just a tad, and also learns some important life lessons.
Atmosphere:
Realism:
Warren’s Rating:
Movies it was nominated with for Best Picture:
As Good As it Gets; The Full Monty; Good Will Hunting; *Titanic
8.57/10 Is the movie worth your time to watch?
27-01-04
Age at win: 43
Nominated for: Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Lynn Bracken , L.A. Confidential
Nomination: 1/1 (acting), 1/1 (total); Win: Only
Basinger plays a sexy and seductive Lynn Bracken in L.A. Confidential. Weather she is screwing Ed Exley or Bud White doesn't matter, she plays the part with flair.
Basinger isn't trampy or slutty in the role of Lynn, but rather sleek, sexy, smooth, not over the top by any means.
There isn't very much meat to the role, but when Basinger is on the screen she steals the show.
27-1-04
