L.A. Confidential is a dizzying roller coaster ride of plot and character. There are a couple of slips in the screenplay (and in hindsight, the casting), but the bulk of the story is exceedingly well-plotted – even more-so than the novel – and filled with the kind of great, tough dialogue they used to write for Bogart. (“The proof had his throat slit.”) However, I always think of “Rollo Tomasi”, which makes no sense until you see the movie and increases in power each time you hear it. It’s the moment back in 1997 when L.A. Confidential went from a really good movie to an all-time classic. The way it comes back again and again means more to me than Chinatown’s “she’s my …..”. Two actors in particular give their finest moment of reaction when the words are spoken.
The characters, drama, action and even some great comedy charge forward at 50,000 volts of charisma and class. Characters are sharply defined and play off each other extremely well. Kevin Spacey chews the scenery while leaving plenty for others and a little space for personal reflection. He likes to go big, sure, but he also knows how much the small moments can mean. One of the best moments has to be when asked why he became a cop and Spacey replies “I don’t remember.”
It’s a film where the three leads are not likable or heroic by any standard definition, but we root for each of them to improve. These flaws lead to conflict and in the case of Exley and Bud White, one of the more brutal fights I’ve seen. Not brutal as in bloody, but from the moment White finds Exley in that room, you’re certain he plans to beat him to death. (Sometimes I can buy the incident that leads to this moment, but I don’t try to defend it to others.) This fight merely becomes the start of a beautiful relationship and watching the duo work together is even more exciting than when I was watching them butt heads.
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