Film4 is set to broadcast LA Confidential tonight, the 1997 neo-noir crime thriller that has achieved cult classic status and a near-perfect 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Directed by Curtis Hanson, the film features an A-list cast including Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, Kim Basinger, and Danny DeVito.
The story follows three Los Angeles police officers in the 1950s: Detective Lieutenant Ed Exley (Pearce), who seeks justice for his father's murder; Officer Wendell 'Bud' White (Crowe), a volatile cop with a personal connection to a scandal; and Detective Sergeant Jack Vincennes (Spacey), a celebrity consultant who leaks information to tabloid journalist Sid Hudgens (DeVito). Their paths converge as they investigate a seemingly routine murder that uncovers deep corruption within the LAPD.
LA Confidential was a critical and commercial success, earning nine Academy Award nominations and winning two: Best Supporting Actress for Basinger and Best Adapted Screenplay. It also received 12 BAFTA nominations and five Golden Globe nods, with Basinger again winning Best Supporting Actress.
Critics have praised the film as a masterpiece. One reviewer called it 'the flawless ensemble... the masterfully written story, the vibrant yet gritty vision of 1950s LA'. Another described it as 'the thinking person's detective story', while a third declared it 'one of the year's best films'. Audiences have similarly hailed it as 'an instant classic' and 'the best film of the '90s'.
Viewers can catch LA Confidential on Film4 tonight, a must-watch for fans of crime thrillers and classic cinema.
