Curtis Hanson
L.A. Confidential

"Come to Los Angeles, the sun shines, the beaches are wide and welcoming, and the orange groves stretch as far as the eye can see, jobs are plentiful and land is cheap, every worker can have their own home, and in that home a typical happy American family, you can have it all, and who knows, you might get discovered, become a movie star, or, at least, rub shoulders with some, life is beautiful in Los Angeles, it's a paradise on earth..." This is what the voiceover asserts at the start of the film, while showing the "sunny side" of the metropolis.

In fact, in the fifties, Los Angeles was the symbol of the success of the American way of life, but while the economy was growing impressively, crime and corruption also found their place, reaching the highest echelons of power. The film in question deals precisely with the hidden side of the "American dream" and is an indictment of today's society as well. In the sequences following the glossy opening, it becomes clear that behind the facade, moral decay, scandals, and betrayals are the order of the day, permeating the entire community, from the police to politics to journalism, portraying a vile, abject, dirty world. One of the things well-achieved in "L.A. Confidential" is the harmonious combination of suspense, and critique of society and human nature. There is no clear separation between good and evil, almost as if to suggest that in the world, there are no rules, nor order. To my memory, the film may be the last true noir I've seen since "Chinatown" told in Hollywood style with hints of pulp literature. It's a fascinating cocktail of stories set in the "city of angels".

After the arrest of Mickey Cohen (a real figure), the undisputed boss of organized crime in the city, a relentless war breaks out among criminals wanting to seize the power vacuum formed, with countless violent deaths. Adding to this is a brutal massacre carried out in a diner where six people are found murdered in the restroom, in a bloodbath, piled on top of each other. Three policemen, the brawler Bud (Russell Crowe), the skeptic Jack (Kevin Spacey), and the ambitious Edmund (Guy Pearce) commit to untangling the web. Their paths cross with that of the reporter (Danny De Vito) who writes for "Zitti Zitti" (Hush Hush), a gossip and assault magazine, Captain Dudley Smith (James Cromwell), and the beautiful Lynn (Kim Basinger) who is part of a ring of high-class prostitutes resembling famous movie stars of the time.

Inspired by the namesake novel by (James Ellroy), it is one of those films where it is superfluous to outline the plot because it is extraordinarily rich in characters as well as being inextricable in the unfolding of events. The most important component of the film is the story of the main characters and the study done on their personalities. Director Curtis Hanson offers both action and engagement, violence (a lot of violence) is measured without exceeding the limits of good taste, and the commitment is given by the characterization of the figures that animate the work, the definition of their morality or dishonesty, because soon, everyone will have to confront their own nature, as they will be dragged into a swamp where murder, drugs, and corruption are commonplace. Only in the last minutes will we discover who is pulling the strings of the impressive series of murders, but above all, we will understand that everyone is willing to do anything to achieve their goals.

Ensuring that "L.A. Confidential" is a masterpiece, is not just the dense and unsettling atmosphere that pervades the film, but mainly the effective representation of that period through credible, moreover seductive, storytelling. Hanson's work demonstrates that it's possible to intelligently create action and violence films, stage very complex stories, reconciling entertainment and engagement, art and box office.