L.A. Confidential
1997 · Movie · R · 138 min · ★ 7.8 · 95% critics
In 1950s Los Angeles, three detectives with very different approaches investigate the brutal slayings of patrons at an all-night diner. Their search for the truth pulls them deeper into a wider conspiracy tied to corruption within the police force.
Based on L.A. Confidential
Where to watch
Watch free on Plex.
2 hours to watch.
Free
Rent
Streaming availability and prices may be inaccurate or change — verify with the provider before subscribing.
unSUB's subscription recommendations are informational only, not financial advice.
More value for your money
Similar titles, ranked by watch-hours per subscription dollar.
Details
- Years
- 1997
- Release date
- 1997-09-19
- Language
- English
- Rated
- R
- Runtime
- 138 min
- Critic score
- 95/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.8/10 (5,551 votes)
- Box office
- $126,216
About
You’ll like this if you want a gritty 1950s police noir with biting dialogue and interwoven mysteries; Not for you if you prefer straightforward cases, lighter tone, or don’t enjoy ultra-violent thrillers like Gone Baby Gone or Mystic River.
Pros: gritty noir atmosphere; stellar ensemble; sharp, twisty plot | Cons: very talky at times; violence can be intense; some loose ends
Themes
- corruption
- based on novel or book
- call girl
- shotgun
- detective
- femme fatale
- domestic violence
- whodunit
- corpse
- district attorney
- movie star
- good cop bad cop
- +9 more
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Supporting Actress · 1998
- Academy Award — Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay · 1998
- Silver nugget — the best foreign film · 1998
- Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award — Best Film · 1997
- National Board of Review Award — Best Film
Show all 15 awards →
- National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
- Academy Award — Best Cinematography · 1998 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Production Design · 1998 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Supporting Actress · 1998 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Original Dramatic Score · 1998 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Film Editing · 1998 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Director · 1998 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay · 1998 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Picture · 1998 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Sound · 1998 · nominated
Cast & crew
Kevin Spacey
as Jack Vincennes
Russell Crowe
as Wendell 'Bud' White
Guy Pearce
as Edmund 'Ed' Exley
James Cromwell
as Dudley Smith
Kim Basinger
as Lynn Bracken
Danny DeVito
as Sid Hudgens
David Strathairn
as Pierce Patchett
Ron Rifkin
as D.A. Ellis Loew
Graham Beckel
as Dick Stensland
Amber Smith
as Susan Lefferts
Directed by Curtis Hanson