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L.A. Confidential Details

FULL SYNOPSIS

Based on the best-selling novel by James Ellroy and directed by Curtis Hanson, this award-winning crime drama explores both the dark side of the Los Angeles police force and Southern California's criminal underbelly in the early '50s, when Hollywood was still seen as America's capital of sophistication, glitter, and glamour. Dudley Smith (James Cromwell) is the head of the LAPD and is loyal to his officers and eager to turn a blind eye to violence or corruption within his department, as long as it's the "bad guys" who are getting hurt. Bud White (Russell Crowe) is a police detective whose violent and cynical nature is often at war with his basic sense of decency and justice. Ed Exley (Guy Pearce) is a beat cop-turned-detective whose strict by-the-book philosophy and willingness to blow the whistle on other officers is balanced by a shrewd and opportunistic understanding of the internal politics of the department. And Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey) is a flashy "Hollywood" detective who serves as technical advisor for the TV series Badge of Honor. He is also in cahoots with Sid Hudgeons (Danny DeVito), publisher of the scandal sheet Hush Hush, who throws kickbacks to Vincennes in exchange for being brought along when showbiz figures get busted. White, Exley, and Vincennes find themselves drawn into a tangled and sticky web of violence and betrayal following a multiple murder at a coffee shop that is believed to be part of an effort by Mickey Cohen (Paul Guilfoyle) to consolidate his hold on organized crime in L.A. This lead appears to be connected to the discovery of a bizarre pornography and call-girl ring operated by Pierce Patchett (David Strathairn), whose women are given plastic surgery so that they more closely resemble well-known movie stars. White's role in the investigation is complicated when he falls for Lynn Bracken (Kim Basinger), one of Patchett's prostitutes, who is the spitting image of Veronica Lake. L.A. Confidential was nominated for nine Academy Awards and netted two, with Brian Helgeland honored for Best Adapted Screenplay, and Kim Basinger taking home a statuette as Best Supporting Actress. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

  • Release date:September 19, 1997

Awards

Awarded by
Nominee
Category
Year
Status
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Jeannine Oppewall Best Art Direction 1997 Nominee
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Anna Behlmer Best Sound 1997 Nominee
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Peter Honess Best Editing 1997 Nominee
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Dante Spinotti Best Cinematography 1997 Winner
American Society of Cinematographers Dante Spinotti Best Cinematography 1997 Nominee
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Dante Spinotti Best Cinematography 1997 Nominee
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Curtis Hanson Best Director 1997 Winner
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Curtis Hanson Best Screenplay 1997 Winner
Broadcast Film Critics Association Curtis Hanson Best Adapted Screenplay 1997 Winner
National Board of Review Curtis Hanson Best Director 1997 Winner
National Society of Film Critics Curtis Hanson Best Director 1997 Winner
National Society of Film Critics Curtis Hanson Best Screenplay 1997 Winner
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Curtis Hanson Best Adapted Screenplay 1997 Winner
New York Film Critics Circle Curtis Hanson Best Director 1997 Winner
New York Film Critics Circle Curtis Hanson Best Screenplay 1997 Winner
Chicago Film Critics Association Curtis Hanson Best Director 1997 Winner
Chicago Film Critics Association Curtis Hanson Best Screenplay 1997 Winner
Toronto Film Critics Association Curtis Hanson Best Director [Runner-up] 1997 Winner
Hollywood Foreign Press Association Curtis Hanson Best Director 1997 Nominee
Hollywood Foreign Press Association Curtis Hanson Best Screenplay 1997 Nominee
Directors Guild of America Curtis Hanson Best Director 1997 Nominee
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Curtis Hanson Best Director 1997 Nominee
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Curtis Hanson Best Picture 1997 Nominee
Hollywood Foreign Press Association Jerry Goldsmith Best Original Score 1997 Nominee
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Jerry Goldsmith Best Dramatic Score 1997 Nominee
Screen Actors Guild Kim Basinger Best Supporting Actress 1997 Winner
Hollywood Foreign Press Association Kim Basinger Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture 1997 Winner
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Kim Basinger Best Supporting Actress 1997 Winner
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Michael Nathanson Best Picture 1997 Winner
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Jay R. Hart Best Art Direction 1997 Nominee
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Andy Nelson Best Sound 1997 Nominee
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Brian Helgeland Best Screenplay 1997 Winner
Broadcast Film Critics Association Brian Helgeland Best Adapted Screenplay 1997 Winner
National Society of Film Critics Brian Helgeland Best Screenplay 1997 Winner
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Brian Helgeland Best Adapted Screenplay 1997 Winner
New York Film Critics Circle Brian Helgeland Best Screenplay 1997 Winner
Chicago Film Critics Association Brian Helgeland Best Screenplay 1997 Winner
Hollywood Foreign Press Association Brian Helgeland Best Screenplay 1997 Nominee

Cast

Kevin Spacey
as Jack Vincennes
Russell Crowe
as Bud White
Guy Pearce
as Ed Exley
James Cromwell
as Dudley Smith
Kim Basinger
as Lynn Bracken
David Strathairn
as Pierce Patchett
Danny DeVito
as Sid Hudgeons
Ron Rifkin
as D.A. Ellis Loew
Matt McCoy
as Brett Chase
Paolo Seganti
as Johnny Stompanato
Sally Insul
Paul Guilfoyle
as Mickey Cohen
Fred Scialla
as Stand-In (Danny DeVito)
David St. James
as Detective at Hush-Hush Office
John Mahon
as Police Chief
Amber Smith
as Susan Lefferts
Darrell Sandeen
Graham Beckel
as Dick Stensland
Gwenda Deacon
as Mrs. Lefferts

Crew

Curtis Hanson
Director
Curtis Hanson
Producer
Arnon Milchan
Producer
Michael Nathanson
Producer
Brian Helgeland
Screenwriter
James Ellroy
Book Author
Curtis Hanson
Screenwriter
Dante Spinotti
Cinematographer
Jerry Goldsmith
Composer (Music Score)
Peter Honess
Editor
Jeannine Oppewall
Production Designer
Bill Arnold
Art Director
Brian Helgeland
Co-producer
Dan Kolsrud
Executive Producer
David L. Wolper
Executive Producer
Mark Poll
Set Designer
Julia Levine
Set Designer
Louisa Bonnie
Set Designer
Jay R. Hart
Set Designer
Ruth Myers
Costume Designer
Linda Montanti
First Assistant Director
Mali Finn
Casting
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