L.A. CONFIDENTIAL (1997)

A Love Story in the City of Dreams... After a Violent Massacre

On the third Lynchian day of Christmas, we present Curtis Hanson's taut 50's crime mystery L.A. Confidential (1997). The film has one of the most impressive ensemble casts ever assembled, making superstars out of Guy Pearce, Russell Crowe, and Kevin Spacey. Balancing out the cast are such veterans as the ever alluring Kim Basinger, the patronly James Cromwell, and the wry Danny DeVito. Although more straightforward than most of Lynch's films, the young and politically savvy Lt. Huxley's journey into the abyss in the middle of an idyllic American setting has many parallels with Jeffrey Beaumont's odyssey in Blue Velvet (1986).

L.A. Confidential also correlates with the plot, tone, and setting of Lynch's later film Mulholland Dr. (2001), which is noted for its distinctive 50's Los Angeles vibe in spite of its modern setting. The film was nominated for nine Oscars, winning two of them: Best Supporting Actress for Kim Basinger and Best Adapted Screenplay. The film's stylish take on the period inspired future movies, like The Black Dahlia (2006) and Hollywoodland (2006)—and was likely the strongest influence on the recent best-selling video game L.A. Noire (2011). L.A. Confidential is a brilliant and wild mystery-thriller that electrifies us every time we watch it.

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