Hammerman Ikon

Hammerman Ikon Film Guide

L.A. Confidential
1997
****
Director: Curtis Hanson
Cast: Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, Kim Basinger, Kevin Spacey, Danny De Vito, James Cromwell, David Strathairn, Ron Rifkin, Graham Beckel

In the 1950s, three LAPD detectives with different personalities end up investigating a multiple homicide in a coffee shop, which seems to have links to police corruption, Hollywood sleaze, and organized crime. This hard-boiled crime drama is classy, well-acted, and visually impressive, but seeping with testosterone. The ultimate message is that only men who are prepared to use violence will get any results. The female characters are all prostitutes (Kim Basinger won an Oscar for her performance). Curtis Hanson and Brian Helgeland adapted James Ellroy's 1990 novel and also won an Academy Award.