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L.A. Confidential (1997) Rank 4 Reviews

Expert Review Summary
Movie critics combined give L.A. Confidential (1997) a score of 3.0883 out of 4
based on (168) reviews
Click on the numbers to the right of the graph to see reviews of that rating
Excellent
4
Excellent
(58)
Very Good
3
Very Good
(88)
Good
2
Good
(17)
Fair
1
Fair
(1)
Poor
0
Poor
(4)
Reviews by Score:
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for FilmLand Web (Robert Konop)FilmLand Web (Robert Konop)
...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at FilmLand Web (Robert Konop)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Los Angeles Times (Kenneth Turan)Los Angeles Times (Kenneth Turan)
L.A. Confidential, with an exceptional ensemble cast directed by Curtis Hanson from James Ellroy's densely plotted novel, looks to be the definitive noir for this particular time and place. ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Los Angeles Times (Kenneth Turan)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Variety (Todd McCarthy)Variety (Todd McCarthy)
An irresistible treat with enough narrative twists and memorable characters for a half-dozen films. ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Variety (Todd McCarthy)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for New York Daily News (Jami Bernard)New York Daily News (Jami Bernard)
A juicy noir stew of amorality that's the best thing since ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at New York Daily News (Jami Bernard)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Chicago Tribune (Michael Wilmington)Chicago Tribune (Michael Wilmington)
A movie bull's-eye: noir with an attitude, a thriller packing punches. It gives up its evil secrets with a smile. ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Chicago Tribune (Michael Wilmington)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Cinema em Cena (Pablo Villaça)Cinema em Cena (Pablo Villaça)
...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Cinema em Cena (Pablo Villaça)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Window to the Movies (Jeffrey Chen)Window to the Movies (Jeffrey Chen)
Bud White. Jack Vincennes. Ed Exley. When I see these names, I don't think of easy heroes who are black-and-white good or bad, but of people I know and I've met, people I can see myself being, people who are human. It is exactly this complexity of ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Window to the Movies (Jeffrey Chen)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Jan-Willem SwaneJan-Willem Swane
L.A. Confidential speelt aan het begin van de jaren vijftig in een gewelddadig Los Angeles. De machtigste drugsbaron is achter tralies gezet, waardoor anarchie in de onderwereld is ontstaan. In een café wordt een massaslachting aangericht. De agenten ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Jan-Willem Swane
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Homer YenHomer Yen
The seasoned Capt. Dudley Smith (James Cromwell) questions his new protege, Ed Exley (Guy Pearce) about his political views when it comes to police work. "Would you plant evidence to get a conviction if you knew the person to be guilty? Would you shoot a ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Homer Yen
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Walter FrithWalter Frith
Set in the early 1950's in Los Angeles, 'L.A. Confidential' examines the professional lives of three police officers played in brilliant ensemble fashion by Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce. Spacey is the veteran cop who knows how to bend the ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Walter Frith
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Dallas Observer (Michael Sragow)Dallas Observer (Michael Sragow)
He's (Hanson) never before generated the kind of heat inside a picture--and out of it--that he has with L.A. Confidential. ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Dallas Observer (Michael Sragow)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for San Francisco Chronicle (Mick LaSalle)San Francisco Chronicle (Mick LaSalle)
One of the best crime dramas to come along in years. ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at San Francisco Chronicle (Mick LaSalle)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
Seductive and beautiful, cynical and twisted, and one of the best films of the year. ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Andrew Hicks (Andrew Hicks)Andrew Hicks (Andrew Hicks)
...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Andrew Hicks (Andrew Hicks)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Projectionist (Sean Caszatt)Projectionist (Sean Caszatt)
...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Projectionist (Sean Caszatt)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for eFilmCritic.com (Ryan Arthur)eFilmCritic.com (Ryan Arthur)
...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at eFilmCritic.com (Ryan Arthur)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Arizona Daily Star (Phil Villarreal)Arizona Daily Star (Phil Villarreal)
In doing away with manners, Hanson's hardboiled detective stories craft a more hard-hitting picture of the time than any filmmaker who worked in the 1950s could have dreamed ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Arizona Daily Star (Phil Villarreal)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for New York Times (Janet Maslin)New York Times (Janet Maslin)
Curtis Hanson's resplendently wicked L.A. Confidential is a tough, gorgeous, vastly entertaining throwback to the Hollywood that did things right. ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at New York Times (Janet Maslin)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Mr. Brown's Movies (Michael Dequina)Mr. Brown's Movies (Michael Dequina)
Hollywood moviemaking at its finest--a classy piece of entertainment made with equal parts passion, style, and fun. ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Mr. Brown's Movies (Michael Dequina)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for EmanuelLevy.com (Emanuel Levy)EmanuelLevy.com (Emanuel Levy)
Representing the best of Classic Hollywood Cinema, this noir policier is marked by densely-plotted narrative, psychological depth, moral ambiguity, emotional complxity, and great acting, mostly by non-Americans, such as Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce. ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at EmanuelLevy.com (Emanuel Levy)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Entertainment Weekly (Owen Gleiberman)Entertainment Weekly (Owen Gleiberman)
Voluptuously engrossing. ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Entertainment Weekly (Owen Gleiberman)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for The Onion (A.V. Club) (John Krewson)The Onion (A.V. Club) (John Krewson)
As the story unfolds, carefully and elaborately, what develops is not just a remarkably intricate crime tale but a brilliant and compassionate story of people who struggle to rise above their flawed nature. This may be the best movie of the year; it's ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at The Onion (A.V. Club) (John Krewson)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Timothy ScottTimothy Scott
As a film critic, it 's rare to see a film of such quality where one has to wonder if heUll run out of superlatives to describe it. L. A. Confidential presents such a dilemma. Of course, these are problems a critic loves to have. Forget about The Game. ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Timothy Scott
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Michael DequinaMichael Dequina
Curtis Hanson's adaptation of James Ellroy's crime novel L.A. Confidential earned a strong buzz after premiering at Cannes this past May, and it's easy to see why: it is Hollywood moviemaking at its finest--a classy piece of entertainment made with equal ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Michael Dequina
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for AboutFilm.com (Kris Campbell)AboutFilm.com (Kris Campbell)
A question: How do you mesh an ensemble cast of established and rising stars seamlessly in an Oscar-friendly epic, without the preening and speechifying that normally attaches to such projects? The answer: Um, not sure, actually. This is why I don't make ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at AboutFilm.com (Kris Campbell)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for John BeachemJohn Beachem
The labyrinth plot is mainly about three cops. Ed Exley, who is a golden boy of the LA police; Bud White, who is a maverick cop, playing by his own rules to get justice; and Jack Vincennes, the celebrity cop who works with Sid Hudgeons from the tabloid ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at John Beachem
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Movie Habit (Marty Mapes)Movie Habit (Marty Mapes)
Movie Habit congratulates L.A. Confidential, the first new release to receive a four-star rating from this site. It is an excellent movie. It is incredibly well made, and will no doubt play a role into the Academy Awards next spring. The movie opens ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Movie Habit (Marty Mapes)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Cinematter (Matt Williams)Cinematter (Matt Williams)
It would be easy to label L.A. Confidential a nineties attempt a film noir, but it doesn't quite fit. That overeager catagorization does a disservice both to the film and to the genre. Sure, the pulpy film takes place in the shady underbelly of Los ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Cinematter (Matt Williams)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for JoBlo's Movie Emporium ("JoBlo")JoBlo's Movie Emporium ("JoBlo")
I guess that I'm getting a little soft in my old age, but how come I didn't pick up on this movie's greatness the first time around? When I first saw this film back in 1997, I was entertained somewhat, but never really got what all the fuss was about. ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at JoBlo's Movie Emporium ("JoBlo")
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Media-Assault.com (Sean Caszatt)Media-Assault.com (Sean Caszatt)
Los Angeles crime boss Mickey Cohen has been arrested and is serving a ten year sentence. A vacancy at the organized crime throne makes it open season for out-of-town thugs to try to move in and assume control. The L.A. police force, headed by Dudley ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Media-Assault.com (Sean Caszatt)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Looking Closer (Jeffrey Overstreet)Looking Closer (Jeffrey Overstreet)
That's certainly not an original subject. But just because a story's been told too many times doesn't mean it can't still be told well. And the new film L.A. Confidential tells it far better than most. In fact, this time the story is told with more ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Looking Closer (Jeffrey Overstreet)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Three Movie Buffs (Eric Nash)Three Movie Buffs (Eric Nash)
Based on the James Ellroy novel, L. A. Confidential shows the sleazy side of Hollywood in the 1950's. The movie condenses the book down from years to days but all of the great characters and sleazy mystery is still intact. L.A. Confidential tells the ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Three Movie Buffs (Eric Nash)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
Confidential was a key magazine of the 1950s, a monthly that sold millions of copies with its seamy exposes of celebrity drugs and sex. I found it on my dad's night table and read it breathlessly, the stories of reefer parties, multiple divorces, ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Deep Focus (Bryant Frazer)Deep Focus (Bryant Frazer)
If you care about character and plotting, if you're one of those people who's complained that movies don't have a compelling story anymore, if you've ever mourned the demise of adeptly concise filmmaking technique at the hands of directors interested in ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Deep Focus (Bryant Frazer)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Nick's Flick Picks (Nick Davis)Nick's Flick Picks (Nick Davis)
...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Nick's Flick Picks (Nick Davis)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (Jack Garner)Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (Jack Garner)
But there should be nothing hush-hush about the success of this crime film. L.A. Confidential is easily the most engrossing and exciting Los Angeles police drama since Chinatown. The 1996 Oscar race is off and running. Adapted from James Ellroy's ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (Jack Garner)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Brandon StahlBrandon Stahl
It is an understood passion and an understood calm. Bud White walks into the home of Lynn Bracken, a prostitute "cut to look like Veronica Lake." He's one of L.A.'s finest investigating the murder of fellow cop, and one of the leads takes him to her home. ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Brandon Stahl
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Ted PriggeTed Prigge
I was thinking after I saw "L.A. Confidential," and I couldn't come up with a single thing wrong with it. And I couldn't think of one scene where I wasn't totally engrossed, a character who wasn't at least a bit interesting (save the really small parts), ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Ted Prigge
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Sridhar PrasadSridhar Prasad
top reading this review right now. Quickly shut down your computer, and leave to go see L.A. Confidential. Then see it again. Are you back? Good. Now we can talk What I have just done is send you on one of the best film-rides in the last 25 years. ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Sridhar Prasad
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Laramie Movie Scope (Robert Roten)Laramie Movie Scope (Robert Roten)
L.A. Confidential" is one of the best films of the year, an excellent film noir murder mystery brimming with style and atmosphere and topped off with fine acting. This is one of those classic films like "The Big Sleep" where the murder mystery is so ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Laramie Movie Scope (Robert Roten)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Movie Reviews UKMovie Reviews UK
Based upon James Ellroy's acclaimed novel, L.A. Confidential sifts all of this work's atmosphere, complexity, depth and power into its superb adaptation. Opening on a Christmas Eve in the early 50s, organised crime boss Mickey Cohen (Paul Guilfoyle) has ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Movie Reviews UK
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 3.80 out of 4 stars for Mr. Showbiz (Richard T. Jameson)Mr. Showbiz (Richard T. Jameson)
See L.A. Confidential. Be astonished at discovering anew how very, very satisfying movies can still be. And how fine that can feel. ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Mr. Showbiz (Richard T. Jameson)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 3.75 out of 4 stars for Ozus' World Movie Reviews (Dennis Schwartz)Ozus' World Movie Reviews (Dennis Schwartz)
The feel of the movie is of nostalgia for the Hollywood glamorous life of [the 1950s]... ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Ozus' World Movie Reviews (Dennis Schwartz)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 3.75 out of 4 stars for Ozus' World Movie Reviews (Dennis Schwartz)Ozus' World Movie Reviews (Dennis Schwartz)
A 1950s history of sleazy Hollywood and corrupt cops and crime bosses running the city, is gone over with a fine eye for detail in this stylized, technicolor noir film, that also depicts the popular scandal magazine of that era, Confidential Magazine, ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Ozus' World Movie Reviews (Dennis Schwartz)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 3.75 out of 4 stars for Movie Hell (Michael J. Legeros)Movie Hell (Michael J. Legeros)
This one left me a bit cold. Director Curtis Hanson's acclaimed adaptation of James Ellroy's neo-noir novel is overripe with all sorts of wonderfully sordid stuff: dirty cops, corrupt politic- ians, drug smuggling, sex scandals, sleazy ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Movie Hell (Michael J. Legeros)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 3.60 out of 4 stars for Oregon Herald (Jamie Peck)Oregon Herald (Jamie Peck)
...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Oregon Herald (Jamie Peck)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 3.60 out of 4 stars for Chicago Reader (Lisa Alspector)Chicago Reader (Lisa Alspector)
This movie restores genre elements to a level of potency that's disturbing, satisfying, and rare as hell. ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Chicago Reader (Lisa Alspector)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 3.60 out of 4 stars for Washington Post (Desson Thomson)Washington Post (Desson Thomson)
There are so many things to enjoy here. ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Washington Post (Desson Thomson)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 3.60 out of 4 stars for Newsweek (David Ansen)Newsweek (David Ansen)
You have to pay close attention to follow the double-crossing intricacies of the plot, but the reward for your work is dark and dirty fun. ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Newsweek (David Ansen)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 3.52 out of 4 stars for USA Today (Mike Clark)USA Today (Mike Clark)
This sleek adaptation of James Ellroy's dauntingly complex novel has the black-and-white tabloid soul of an old "Confidential" magazine. ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at USA Today (Mike Clark)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 3.52 out of 4 stars for ReelViews (James Berardinelli)ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
Lately, it seems that film noir has become the province of independent productions. As a result, it's refreshing to see a big-budget, studio effort of this sort that does nearly everything right. ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for DVD VerdictDVD Verdict
Evoking in immense detail the look and spirit of Los Angeles and Hollywood in the early 1950s, with a stunningly talented acting ensemble and a compelling story, L.A. Confidential is an absolutely reference quality film noir and a DVD that still sets a ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at DVD Verdict
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for SPLICEDwire (Rob Blackwelder)SPLICEDwire (Rob Blackwelder)
t's 1953 in Los Angeles. The city is still pretty, but it has a dark underbelly that is the territory of corrupt cops and mobsters. There is a massacre at a all night diner that may have been a mob hit, but is being pinned on some convenient black youths. ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at SPLICEDwire (Rob Blackwelder)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for filmcritic.com (Christopher Null)filmcritic.com (Christopher Null)
L.A. Confidential, despite what you've heard, is not the best film in 20 years. It's not even the best film of 1997 (current titleholder: In the Company of Men). But if you consider all films ever made that have the nasal Danny Devito providing ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at filmcritic.com (Christopher Null)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for ReelViews (James Berardinelli)ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
Crooked cops. The mystery and allure of Hollywood in the '50s. Death, double-crossing, and secret alliances. Paparazzi waiting to get that one breakthrough picture. These are just some of the elements that make Curtis Hanson's L.A. Confidential one of ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for Q Network Film Desk (James Kendrick)Q Network Film Desk (James Kendrick)
As I watched the credits rolling after "L.A. Confidential," I came to a wonderful and refreshing conclusion: Hollywood is still capable of making great films. I would never deny that a monumental amount of junk emerges from Hollywood's hallowed halls ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Q Network Film Desk (James Kendrick)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for Film Quips Online (John R. McEwen)Film Quips Online (John R. McEwen)
This is a 1950's comic-book style police drama, with two cops battling each other, themselves, and the system to find true justice. There is lots of wisecracking, 50's cliches and fistfights among the multitude of tough guys in this picture. There is ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Film Quips Online (John R. McEwen)
L.A. Confidential (1997) scores a combined 3.50 out of 4 stars for Michael RedmanMichael Redman
The most difficult aspect of talking about "L.A. Confidential" is knowing where to begin. The film is thick with subplots come together to create a smart complex film that is one of the best police movies in recent years. The City Of Angels of 1953 is ...read the complete L.A. Confidential movie review at Michael Redman
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Movie Reviews: Crime
L.A. Confidential (1997) Reviews
L.A. Confidential (1997)

RANKINGS:

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Ratings and rankings are based on number of movie, review scores, awards & other criteria.
Overall Rating:
3.1718
L.A. Confidential (1997) is ranked overall as out of 4 stars
Avg Critic Score:
3.0883
L.A. Confidential (1997) is ranked overall as out of 4 stars
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