--- title: "L.A. Confidential: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/l-a-confidential/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/l-a-confidential" critics_score: 90 critics_reviews: 17 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # L.A. Confidential (1997): what the critics said Critics' score 90 from 17 reviews: 17 positive, 0 mixed, 0 negative. Every one of the seventeen reviews is positive, and most of them say the same things in the same order. The praise begins with the adaptation: critics credit Hanson and his co-writer with boiling down Ellroy’s sprawling novel while keeping its characters and its Los Angeles intact. The ensemble comes next, with Crowe and Pearce named most often, and Spacey, Basinger and a restrained DeVito behind them. Chinatown is the recurring point of comparison, and more than one critic calls this the best crime film since it. Several also note that the film manages to be entertaining while saying something about how power in America works. The spread is unusually narrow. The nearest thing to a dissent is Slant, which finds the film’s polished surfaces a little middlebrow and thinks the ending softens the darkness the rest of the story has built. Empire notices changes from the book but accepts them. Den of Geek stands slightly apart in putting Dante Spinotti’s cinematography, rather than the script or the cast, at the centre of its praise. ## Total Film Fi1m's normalised score 95/100 (inferred from the text). 8 October 1997. The critic hails it as a magnificent, certified classic and one of the most intelligent thrillers ever made, superior to Chinatown in richness and dynamism. It singles out the brilliant adaptation of Ellroy's novel, the intensely committed ensemble performances (especially Crowe and Pearce), and the perfect blend of moral analysis with thrilling entertainment. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/la-confidential-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Kenneth Turan Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 14 May 1997. Festival review. The critic describes the film as a compelling, dark, dangerous and intoxicating tale of trouble in paradise that contrasts sunny perceptions with brutal corruption. He notes the director's authentic approach to the source material and period setting while focusing on character and plot. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-05-14-ca-58500-story.html) ## The AV Club — John Krewson Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 29 March 2002. The film is a masterful adaptation of Ellroy's complex novel and a brilliant, compassionate story of flawed people. It stands as one of the greatest crime films of all time. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/l-a-confidential-1798196066) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 23 March 1999. The critic finds nothing imperfect in the film's period details and performances, including the restraint of Danny DeVito. It delivers professional excitement while being profound about the running of America. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/media/1999/mar/23/tvandradio.television1) ## The Independent Rating HHHH. 14 November 1998. The critic calls it a classic film noir. The review highlights the complex plot involving three LA cops and a classy hooker amid blurred lines between press, mobsters, and police, with strong performances from Pearce and Crowe. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/video-reviews-1184924.html) ## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 15 September 1997. The critic describes it as a formidable and oddly delicate thriller that revives the sense of Los Angeles as a warren of lies and secrets. They praise the character transformations, fluent adaptation of the source material, and the film’s silken skein of nerves. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1997/09/22/1997-09-22-141-tny-cards-000155476) ## The New York Times — Janet Maslin Rating Critic's Pick. 19 September 1997. The critic praises the film as a tough, gorgeous, vastly entertaining throwback to classic Hollywood filmmaking that breaks modern studio rules. She highlights its brilliant adaptation of the novel, surprising mystery plot, and strong performances from an ensemble including Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, and Kevin Spacey. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/19/movies/film-review-the-dark-underbelly-of-a-sunny-town.html) ## The Telegraph Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 19 September 2017. The piece celebrates the film as Hollywood's last great noir, praising its cynical take on the LA dream and the performances that launched careers. It notes the critical acclaim and Oscar success despite competition from Titanic. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2017/09/19/crime-qt-la-confidential-hollywoods-last-great-noir/) ## The Times — Brian Case Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 22 November 2003. The writer praises the adaptation for condensing the dense novel while preserving characters and milieu, calling it a beautifully played ensemble piece with authentic period details. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/north-america-travel/us-travel/california/why-im-mad-about-la-confidential-th7ndhk6hhh) ## Time Out — TCh Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 10 September 2012. Hanson's adaptation of Ellroy's complex novel is a towering achievement and probably the finest mystery thriller since Chinatown. It excels as a subtle, shocking, compelling and immensely assured exposé of corruption, violence and scandal in 1950s LA. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/la-confidential) ## Variety — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 25 May 1997. The critic calls the film an irresistible treat packed with narrative twists and memorable characters, and the best of its type since Chinatown. They highlight the superbly drawn characters and the way the film restores the primacy of the dramatic line in crime storytelling. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1997/film/reviews/l-a-confidential-1117329759/) ## Slant Magazine — Matt Noller Rating 3.5/4. 24 October 2008. The film is one of the best neo-noirs of the ’90s and a fine example of classical Hollywood storytelling, though its shiny surfaces make it middlebrow and its conclusion undermines the darkness. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/l-a-confidential-bd/) ## Empire — Bob McCabe Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). The critic praises Hanson's complex dive into Ellroy's world and the fine ensemble performances, particularly from Crowe, Pearce, Spacey, Basinger, and DeVito, along with the evocative 1950s LA cinematography and score. Some changes from the book are noted but accepted as the film delivers inspired storytelling overall. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/la-confidential-review/) ## Den of Geek — Glen Chapman Rating 5/5. 14 May 2009. The critic calls the film a masterpiece, praising the adapted screenplay, ensemble cast performances, direction and cinematography. The one thing singled out for praise is Dante Spinotti’s masterful cinematography capturing the feeling of 1950s LA. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/la-confidential-blu-ray-review/) ## Consequence Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 16 September 2017. Hanson’s sophisticated, complex detective thriller ranks among the best noirs of the 20th century alongside Chinatown. It singles out the essential goodness in the three lead detectives that helps them overcome the immorality around them. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2017/09/l-a-confidential-and-the-last-great-20th-century-noir/) ## Paste — Kenneth Lowe Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 2 June 2016. The film is a masterful period noir with an elegant script that ranks among the best ensemble-driven stories in cinema. It singles out the portrayal of Los Angeles as a place where the image of heroism matters more than actual virtue. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/la-confidential-and-the-problem-of-the-sung-hero) ## The Ringer Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 22 September 2016. L.A. Confidential is a major masterpiece and one of the best movies of the 1990s, the most critically adored studio film of its generation. It singles out Hanson achieving sheer perfection in this one film after a steady career of varied work. [Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2016/09/21/movies/curtis-hanson-appreciation-la-confidential-wonder-boys-696f719f242a) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/l-a-confidential.md