The panel treats L.A. Confidential as a near-perfect, ruthlessly efficient Hollywood noir adaptation: great writing, acting, music, and craftsmanship in sync. They praise its 1997 context, Curtis Hanson's disciplined adaptation, the three-cop archetypes, and standout performances by Guy Pearce, Russell Crowe, and Kevin Spacey, while also debating a few weak spots and the movie's slightly long runtime.
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01It is a rare all-around technical and creative slam dunk: acting, writing, cinematography, direction, and music all work together. About 8 min
02The movie rewards repeat viewing because its structure is efficient and layered, with clues, reveals, and character types that become clearer on rewatch. About 32 min
03The interrogation section and other scene transitions create strong momentum, making it easy to get lost in the movie. About 1:04
04Its adaptation from Ellroy condenses a sprawling novel into a tightly controlled mystery without feeling fat or wasted. About 16 min
WHAT DID NOT WORK
Their main criticisms
minorThe movie can feel a little long despite its efficiency. About 1:44
moderateKim Basinger's performance/character sometimes takes them out of the movie, and the Veronica Lake comparison feels strained. About 48 min
moderateDanny DeVito feels too much like Danny DeVito for the Hush-Hush editor role. About 1:28
minorSome plot elements from the novel are underplayed or cut away, especially the heroin spine and the broader book mythology. About 16 min
SCENES THEY KEPT COMING BACK TO
Standout moments
positive
Opening postcard montage and 'L.A. is paradise' setup
The opening frames the city as dreamy and corrupt, setting the movie's central contrast.
Opening minutes Favorite
Rat question at police headquarters
The three cops' answers to whether they'll rat on their friends defines their characters instantly.
About 56 min Favorite
Rollo Tomasi reveal
The name becomes a key clue and payoff, with Pearce's face carrying the reveal.
About 32 min Favorite
Night Owl murders and immediate aftermath
The Night Owl sequence and its lead-in are cited as a major pivot in the film.
About 1:04 Favorite
Interrogation room / live mic sequence
The long, spatially clear interrogation stretch is repeatedly named the movie's best sequence.
About 1:04 positive
Victory Motel shootout
The final shootout is praised for tight spaces, clarity, and a strong sense of situational awareness.
About 1:04
WHERE THEY DISAGREED
The biggest debates
They agreed About 1:12
Who gave the best lead performance: Crowe or Pearce
Bill Simmons
Pearce is the more complete acting nomination.
Chris Ryan
Pearce should get the nod over Crowe.
Sean Fennessey
Both are exceptional, but Pearce may be the better acting award choice.
They partly agreed About 48 min
Whether Kim Basinger deserved her Oscar
Bill Simmons
She was the season's front-runner and had support, though the win is odd in retrospect.
Craig Horlbeck
The win shocked him and he would have gone elsewhere.
Sean Fennessey
He thinks the industry liked rewarding a star at a career turning point, but that logic is shaky here.
They agreed About 1:28
Whether Danny DeVito works in the movie
Andy Greenwald
He is the weak link because he's too recognizable and comedic.
Bill Simmons
He is strongest as narrator but less convincing in scenes.
Chris Ryan
The role could have been played by someone less famous or more understated.
They agreed About 1:44
Would the film work better as a TV series
Sean Fennessey
No one has the stomach; the movie's compression is part of the greatness.
Bill Simmons
A TV version would lose the movie's elegance and efficiency.
Craig Horlbeck
He can imagine cliffhangers, but the film feels right as a film.
11 People discussedActors, directors, writers, and producers
mixedJames EllroySean Fennessey: Admired as the source of the great novel, but said to have mixed feelings because the movie cuts a lot of his plot and soul. About 8 min
