Been a long time since I chatted about a movie, huh! With work as crazy as it's been recently, I've been watching more familiars on my shelf, than anything new. Netflix kinda slowed to a crawl for a bit, as a result...
But, with things calming down a bit at work, things are getting back to normal :) So, to get back on track, so to speak, here's one I can't believe I hadn't watched until recently: L.A. Confidential.
But, with things calming down a bit at work, things are getting back to normal :) So, to get back on track, so to speak, here's one I can't believe I hadn't watched until recently: L.A. Confidential.
Plot summary: It's one of those movies on corruption and crime, which can be summed up in that simple sentence, or can warrant a really convoluted explanation if I tried to actually explain things without giving away spoilers. I'm going to go for the simple explanation :) In a nutshell, you've got sex, drugs, murder, police corruption, and a few honest cops with drastically different methods and personalities trying to sort things out in 1950s L.A.
This was another one I'd been meaning to watch for a while. Had seen bits and pieces of it to know it'd probably be one I'd like, but just hadn't had the time to sit and watch all the way through.
The acting is phenomenal. Kim Basinger won an Oscar for her role, which doesn't surprise me, but what does surprise me is that all the male leads were overlooked! This was the big break into Hollywood for both Guy Pearce and Russell Crowe, and for Kevin Spacey, this was a strong follow-up to his break-out role in The Usual Suspects. Don't know why Oscar overlooked all 3 of these performances. Crowe is just a raw bundle of energy, whatever he's feeling is open. And Pearce is wonderful as the scheming rookie. The interview scenes are great, both the one when he's interviewing the 3 suspects (masterful manipulation) and when he's being interviewed at the end. And then there's James Cromwell as the police chief - beautifully cold and subtle! The only other role I'd really remember seeing him in was the farmer in Babe, and this is such a drastically different part... He's not creepy, but scary all the same - so much power being manipulated - really leaves an impression.
Yeah, really don't know why the men were overlooked in award season. Yes, I know this was the year of Good Will Hunting and Titanic, but still!
Interesting cameo: Paul Guilfoyle is Micky C, the gangster at the opening of the movie whose arrest triggers a lot of the movie's action. I don't even think he had any speaking lines. Why interesting? Because Guilfoyle's been Det. Jim Brass on CSI since 2000. Well, it's interesting to me that the only other thing I've seen him in now, is as a mob boss.
The whole movie has that film noir feel to it. Which, as I'm sure most of you who know me already know, I love. Spacey's character would fit right in with the sarcastic, arrogant detectives of Bogart's films and the like. Interesting comment, though, that someone mentioned in a review - most film noir detectives are private eyes, but in this movie, they are all on the police force. Just an interesting thought :) Makes me want to read the book, too, like I want to read Raymond Chandler works after seeing The Big Sleep. Just the feeling that if the atmosphere is this pressing on film, it must be incredible on paper.
This was another one I'd been meaning to watch for a while. Had seen bits and pieces of it to know it'd probably be one I'd like, but just hadn't had the time to sit and watch all the way through.
The acting is phenomenal. Kim Basinger won an Oscar for her role, which doesn't surprise me, but what does surprise me is that all the male leads were overlooked! This was the big break into Hollywood for both Guy Pearce and Russell Crowe, and for Kevin Spacey, this was a strong follow-up to his break-out role in The Usual Suspects. Don't know why Oscar overlooked all 3 of these performances. Crowe is just a raw bundle of energy, whatever he's feeling is open. And Pearce is wonderful as the scheming rookie. The interview scenes are great, both the one when he's interviewing the 3 suspects (masterful manipulation) and when he's being interviewed at the end. And then there's James Cromwell as the police chief - beautifully cold and subtle! The only other role I'd really remember seeing him in was the farmer in Babe, and this is such a drastically different part... He's not creepy, but scary all the same - so much power being manipulated - really leaves an impression.
Yeah, really don't know why the men were overlooked in award season. Yes, I know this was the year of Good Will Hunting and Titanic, but still!
Interesting cameo: Paul Guilfoyle is Micky C, the gangster at the opening of the movie whose arrest triggers a lot of the movie's action. I don't even think he had any speaking lines. Why interesting? Because Guilfoyle's been Det. Jim Brass on CSI since 2000. Well, it's interesting to me that the only other thing I've seen him in now, is as a mob boss.
The whole movie has that film noir feel to it. Which, as I'm sure most of you who know me already know, I love. Spacey's character would fit right in with the sarcastic, arrogant detectives of Bogart's films and the like. Interesting comment, though, that someone mentioned in a review - most film noir detectives are private eyes, but in this movie, they are all on the police force. Just an interesting thought :) Makes me want to read the book, too, like I want to read Raymond Chandler works after seeing The Big Sleep. Just the feeling that if the atmosphere is this pressing on film, it must be incredible on paper.
Side note: Kim Basinger has THE best wardrobe in this movie. Very classy, very classic. Love it. Don't care if she's playing a high class hooker, her clothes are still gorgeous! Apparently high class hookers have good tailors...
Overall: 5 of 5. Great acting, great feel to the movie, very well done. Can't believe I hadn't seen it til now. Definitely one I want to get for my shelf.
No comments:
Post a Comment