LA CONFIDENTIAL (1997) Movie Reaction • FIRST TIME WATCHING

[@criminalcontent]

Hey everyone! Check out a young Russell Crowe in one our favorite modern film noirs - hope you enjoy! And check out Jonathan's not-so-surprising reaction at the end!

[@NeilLewis77]

its always funny how we see peoples ages through the lense of film. to me, russel crowe is super young in romper stomper and as i watched this in the cinema, this is crowes normal age and hes now an old man.

[@ps5392]

To this day one of my favorites! I watch it at least once a year. Great reaction!

[@diarrheagondola]

Exley isn't corrupt, even in the 2 books he appears in. He's a political climber, and will exploit any corruption or weakness he can find in a rival to advance. At his core, though, he's a good cop and wants to see justice done.

[@tomandrews2887]

Hes not corrupt. I wouldn’t call him good. Especially in White Jazz. He cares more about himself than justice.

[@diarrheagondola]

@@tomandrews2887 Even in White Jazz, he cared most about making Dudley Smith pay.

[@tomandrews2887]

@@diarrheagondola Of course. But he wasnt really good. He was Fd up and cold and ruthless. Hes one of the most complicated characters ever. In the books at least.

[@sephjnr]

He justified his machinations on wanting to match up to his father's standards. For reasons revealed in the LA Confidential novel he shifts towards personal vengeance.

[@Missy-24]

Calling Exley the bad guy at the start put me off this video. I'd understand "unlikable" but "bad"...

[@Daddybear-ht8wi]

I'm in my late 70's, Mickey Cohen was a real gangster. Generally speaking from what I can remember: The 2 men who got shot in the car were real. The 2 men in the house with heroin were real. Johnny Stompanado, Cohen's bodyguard and real boyfriend to Lana Turner, real people. Johnny went to Scotland and accused Sean Connery of having an affair with Lana, while shooting a movie together. He pulled a gun on Connery who took the gun away, beating up Stompanado. The story is built around real corruption in the L. A. Police Dept. in the early 50's Lynn was safe with the Sheriff's dept., not the police dept. Mickey Cohen spent time at McNeil Island Federal penitentiary for tax evasion.

[@3sappington]

Johnny Stompanato was stabbed to death by Lana Turner's daughter.

[@alecfoster4413]

@@3sappington And the jury dropped the charges I believe, as she was defending her mother.

[@MarcoMM1]

Great reaction Jonathan, This is a rare perfect film. Everything about this film is amazing from the cast, their acting, story, directing, cinematography, editing and pacing I can't recommend this film more, an absolute must see! It absolutely should have won best picture that year! There are some fun-facts about it, the look of the film is very authentic. One of the parts of the film that still stands up very well is the production values and overall look of the film in recreating 1950s L.A. This is because much of what we see is real. The “Bloody Christmas” was a real-life event. One of the key moments in this movie is a riot that occurs in the police station on Christmas Eve. Called “Bloody Christmas” by the press, it was actually based on a real event that took place. The casting of the main character was a much simpler process for Hanson. The main character in the film is the ambitious officer Ed Exley. When he was casting Exley, Curtis Hanson always knew he wanted an unknown actor to play him. In his words: “I didn’t want audiences to know what to expect.” So, a casting call went out and extensive auditioning took place. When Guy Pearce auditioned, Hanson loved him. In the novel, James Ellroy describes Bud White as being the biggest cop on the LAPD and well over 6 foot tall. So, to prepare, Crowe moved into an apartment so small that he had to duck to get into the doorways, and could barely stand up. He said this worked in making him feel like a giant by the time he came to the set to shoot. The Fleur de Lis is based on a real-life rumour. This is actually based on a real-life rumour about a similar agency that used to circulate in 1950s Hollywood. There was a screenwriter at the time called Garson Kanin he wrote a couple of Spencer Tracy/Katharine Hepburn comedies and, in his memoirs, Kanin described a place called Mae’s, where there were girls who looked like Mae West, Barbara Stanwyck, Joan Crawford, Marlene Dietrich and Ginger Rogers. And the Fleur de Lis is based on that place. Warners turned down Hanson's request to submit "L.A. Confidential" to the Cannes Film Festival, reasoning that the French fest would be biased against a big-studio production. Hanson went behind the studio's back, submitted the film anyway, and was rewarded with a screening that was well-received by critics. Keep up the good work.

[@DrewG-wd8ql]

Easily in my top 5 all time and I'm 66, so seen a ton of great movies. I'm glad how well you paid attention to the entire movie and didn't get bored at the beginning following our three cops on three different investigations. Now you can see how all three tied together and turned into an explosive ending. Great reaction!

[@AuspexAO]

"Hold up your badge, so they'll know you're a policeman." James Cromwell is so underrated in this movie. He really is a despicable person, but what makes it worse is that you can always see the teacher and mentor in him. The ethical questions he posits to Exley at the beginning of the movie turn out to be prophetic as he is gunned down to prevent another miscarriage of justice.

[@anthonyleecollins9319]

You're not the only one who didn't see the "big swerve" coming. I saw this in a crowded theater, and when Dudley fired the gasp from the audience practically drowned out the gunshot on the screen. You may know this already, but "Bloody Christmas," and also the relationship between Lana Turner and Johnny Stompanato, were based on real events.

[@AuspexAO]

I was there too and yeah there were people saying, "no!" and gasps. It was crazy how well that scene played.

[@billolsen4360]

The story has as many swerves and curves as the highway from San Berdoo up to Lake Arrowhead.

[@johnkeenan1829]

One of my top three favorite films, and, to my mind, one of the greatest American films ever made.

[@genghispecan]

Great reaction - glad you could appreciate this rare gem of a modern film... not an ounce of fat in the script. That "big swerve" was one of the handful on instances where I witnessed an audience in shock - a collective intake of breath followed by a deathly, stunned silence across the entire auditorium; it was a tremendous experience. What amazes me is how easily this film could have been murdered in editing because it was "too long" or "too slow" but the studio had the wisdom to let the director tell the story, not talk down to the audience and let the story evolve along with the characters. One of my favorite flicks - truly think it got robbed by the unstoppable spectacle of the year that was Titanic.

[@TennSeven]

Great reaction! This movie is just so damn good, and the book, written by James Ellroy, is even more phenomenal (as are the other three volumes of his "L.A. Quartet" series).

[@Al_NERi]

My favorite of the L.A. quartet novels is the second, The Big Nowhere. Sometimes I wish it would be adapted for the screen but considering the cinematic fate of the inaugural L.A. novel The Black Dahlia (horrible movie unconvincingly shot in Bulgaria instead of L.A. Effectively ended director Brian DePalma's major studio career) maybe not. On the other hand if it were to be made with the same quality as Confidential it would make a gangbusters detective mystery/thriller.

[@TennSeven]

​@@Al_NERi Yeah, I like that one, too! I also think it would be hard to convince James Ellroy to even let it be adapted because by all accounts he absolutely hated both The Black Dahlia and L.A. Confidential movies (though he's said DePalma's original three hour cut of The Black Dahlia wasn't too bad).

[@2skeletonz14]

Very cool factoid The final, final, final credit was the movie was dedicated to Sgt. Jack Vincennes.😮

[@Tr0nzoid]

Kim Basinger has said her name is pronounced like "bay-singer" and it is how she has been introduced in talk shows, without dispute. That said, I always have to get reminded how to pronounce "Theron."

[@vahaneloyan]

You guys should watch Kubrick’s The Killings. It’s probably the last old Film noir. It’s Base-Sin-Ger.

[@sapfire2288]

Bloody Christmas was a real event, each cop is flawed in someway which is why this movie is so great. Interesting fact, Exley and White live and are the ones that give a reason to why they became a cop, whereas Jack doesn’t and is killed.

[@richardkovacs2006]

And the inclusion of Lana Turner and Johnny Stomapnato -later ending up in a murder, which left a few questions... In fact before the murder Stompanato was beaten up by none other than Mr James Bond himself Sean Connery for abusing Lana on the set. So funny how these real life stories/people were used for this story. Very smart.

[@maralinekozial9131]

This film is & was on another level back then & today!!!! Best film of 1997 by far❤

[@randal_scandal]

This is my favorite movie of all time. Noir. Twists. Rolo Tomasi.

[@987654321wormy]

This movie is getting close to being 30 years old and it holds up like it was put out last year.

[@kennethcrist443]

Lynn wasn't "perfect". She agreed to be a part of the scheme to get Exley killed. She didn't know that part, but she knew the pictures were being taken and she allowed herself to be screwed by Exley, thus betraying Bud. Even though she thought she was helping Bud, she is smart enough to know that the way she was doing it was wrong at least morally. No "perfect" people in James Ellroy's world.

[@tfpp1]

This movie isn't the one to be having the debate if it's a "Christmas" movie or not. That one - is Die Hard. 43:57 - I KNOW RIGHT?, I love how much you appreciated this moive. It's pretty much cemented on my top 10 films of all time, of any genre. I just . . . never tire of watching this work of art. And if you like moral ambiguity, watch The Rock. It's rare when your antagonist is a "reluctant villain".

[@jaymedina3142]

Perfect. Every performance, of every character, was perfect.

[@richardkovacs2006]

This movie is packed with great acting. Kevin Spacey to me is perfection in this, but all the other actor are in their top game. The whole mood of the movie is just great (in being dark). Love this movie, I-ve seen it so many times, but never get tired of it. Love love love the Rollo Tomasi scenes.

[@gordonhaire9206]

"Chinatown" "The Two Jakes" "Mulholland Falls" "Sunset Boulevard"

[@johnr8095]

not only are they a perfect team once they start working together they naturally coordinate their movements. At one point Exley tosses keys at Bud and bud immediately knows to catch them. and they had just started working together.

[@janehollander3843]

I really wanted a sequel with them together solving another conspiracy. I was so sad to see them separate at thr end.

[@krisbrown6692]

This is the last film I bought on VHS, the first film I bought on DVD, Bluray, and Digital Video. Just an amazing film.

[@maralinekozial9131]

Same here & I re bought it a second time on VHS back in 2000 also because I couldn't afford a DDV player yet ❤ Masterpiece film to this day

[@phoenixfire124]

This is such a great movie. I think it gets lost in the mix more than it deserves. Great reaction! Very fun

[@Dude_on_a_Map]

I just saw this in 2023 as well, I was blown away by this film and sad I had not seen it sooner

[@pajanightbadger1713]

I've given Kevin Spacey the same pass I gave Michael Jackson after watching this. To call this film a hidden gem is doing it a disservice, it's a true masterpiece.

[@leebrandt8597]

Everything about this movie feels like lightning in a bottle

[@criminalcontent]

it’s not talked about enough!

[@chickmcgee1000]

You should get the deluxe dvd, it comes with an earlier attempt at making a folm from the novel, starring Kiefer Sutherland. Not knocking that movie, but it really reveals just how perfect Lee Curtis Hansen made magic with his version of James Elroy, writer of the trilogy does interesting commentary about the movie. Great review. This movie is missed by too many people it’s a true masterpiece film.

[@Ddoc080]

I saw it three times in the movie Theatre when it came out. Then went to a 20th anniversary screening at my local art house theater. It's perfect except Exley's decidedly 1990's style glasses. In the 50's his glasses would have been more Buddy Holly. I only recently realized this one mistake. Lol

[@MikeKruzel]

I remember seeing this in the theater. Great cast! I remember Matt McCoy playing Chainsaw, Mark Harmon's student in Summer School. 😂

[@HK-wv4hr]

Such a great reaction! I love when someone appreciates how good this is.

[@RichardFay]

You nailed it. All three of the protagonists are flawed - Exley is ambitious, Jack is venal, Bud has serious anger issues - yet all three of them are effective at their job. They do the right thing for bad reasons, or in Bud's case the wrong thing for good reasons. Dudley OTOH, does bad things for bad reasons. If you like films with moral ambiguity, you should check out "Lone Star". A Sheriff in a Texas border town in modern times is trying to solve an old murder - and one of the suspects is own dead father.

[@myoung7654]

Lone Star is a great movie and one that hasn't been covered by other reaction channels 👍

[@JnEricsonx]

Excellent movie. Saw it 4 times in the theater.

[@chuckleezodiac24]

awesome movie. great reaction.

[@jdolan74]

Jonathan always makes me laugh. I think I’ll always be partial to 20th Century Fox’s opening since I don’t get it any more not like I used to. Not only is DIE HARD a Christmas movie but DIE HARD 2 DIE HARDER is a Christmas movie.

[@stevenhenry9605]

This is a top 3 movie for me. Not just crime movies, all movies, all time. The screenplay is absolutely phenomenal, the performances are amazing, the cast is stacked. The tension, the slow unraveling and reveals, and as you said, the symmetry of the storytelling. If this had come out any other year, it could've been best picture. And it should've beaten "Titanic." It's twice the movie.

[@browniewin4121]

Die Hard is my favorite Xmas movie. L A.Confidential is one of my all time favorite movies, I think it is practically perfect in every way. This did not start Russel Crow's career. You liked this, I think you would like Lone Star (1996), and 2 Days in the Valley (1996).

[@Ddoc080]

Lone Star the overlooked mid 90's masterpiece

[@ajcorreira-hv8vi]

Fun fact in the book the gun fight at the end of the book happened in the opening of the book and it wasn't bud and exile In the gunfight

[@wham-shirt-trimmer]

The movie in Home Alone what Kevin watches is a fake movie made specifically for Home Alone. I don't know if that's the same actor. That you reference.

[@criminalcontent]

Right, it's an actor named Ralph Foody and the fake film is called Angels with Filthy Souls. (Thank you, wikipedia;)

[@billolsen4360]

@@criminalcontent In this movie, he looks like a Dick Tracy comic strip villain.

[@davidtoupal1015]

Voted best movie ever by rotten tomatoes

[@davidtoupal1015]

Russel Crowe in good guys

[@jodrizzle1]

Great showdown at the end.

[@WUStLBear82]

The real Best Picture of 1997. If you want another unconventional Christmas movie, try _The Lion In Winter (1968) _ . Christmas with one of the most disfunctional families in history--the Plantagenets. Katherine Hepburn wins her 3rd Best Actress Oscar, and the film debut of a future James Bond, a future Hannibal Lecter, and a future King Arthur.

[@RichardFay]

...AND some of the best lines ever written : "Of course he has a knife, he always has a knife ! We all have knives, it's 1183 and we're barbarians".

[@pasteye1671]

Such a great film and book. Now onward to another Elroy book/film The Black Dahlia, and then Chinatown...

[@johnmoreland6089]

Nice reaction to this perfect film. I still can't believe this didn't win Best Picture over Titanic, even with Titanic's record-setting box office. Ah, well. Neither the first nor last one the Academy got wrong. LOL.

[@larksmom]

I am enjoying your reiew of this movie. But one thing bothers me. (I have seen the whole movie, but it has been a long time ago.) Why was the prosecutor not punished? He was with the top cop at the end.

[@rafaelrosario5331]

Young Sherlock Holmes has a bit of a post credit scene...1985 Enjoy your perspective!

[@jodrizzle1]

Great climatic shootout.

[@obscillesk]

Nono, i think you may be right about the home alone thing, cause Angels with Filthy Wings is fake, they made it specifically for those clips in the movie

[@xxsilentreatmentxx]

Wait do you think the gangster movie in Home Alone is really from the 40's? They filmed it in the 90's specifically for Home Alone lol

[@kevinmckoy2276]

“Die Hard” is definitely not a Christmas movie. It is an action movie set at Christmas time.

[@haroldshipmen9715]

you look exactly like the guy in the movie theatre in scary movie 1 who stabs brenda for talking too much.😂

[@joeybrazil2024]

I love that scene! Lol Brenda crying on the platform.

[@haroldshipmen9715]

@@joeybrazil2024 watch it back he looks like him 😂

[@michaelatteberry6462]

I had to subscribe after the angel on top of the Christmas tree. Your reactions and analysis were spot on

[@billolsen4360]

Seen the flick maybe 10 times through & never noticed that before. This guy does good work!

[@jillfromatlanta427]

No comment when the captain says the name Rollo Tomasi to Exley??? Geez louise. Poor.

[@rollotomassi6232]

Great watching you mis-step your way through this masterpiece whodunnit. Rodrigo Salvador? C'mon man!

[@jillfromatlanta427]

Bay-sing-ur

[@orangewarm1]

the world needs bad men (True Detective).

[@lewismaddox4132]

You haven't even seen Chinatown yet, or if you have, you haven't shared it with the world. It's better. Jack Nicholson may be the best gum shoe in cinematic history. Don't look for anyone riding off with a hooker to Arizona, however. It's...Chinatown.

[@criminalcontent]

only nicolette hasn't seen it

[@classiclife7204]

Lol, who the hell said this was a Christmas movie? Buzzfeed?

[@TheWidowsSon70]

Morally ambiguous characters are much more interesting. It is why I have never been able to enjoy Superman as a character.

[@criminalcontent]

DC universe characters not as much depth as Marvel ones for sure (other than Batman)

[@myfootballjesus]

JUST BECAUSE a movie takes place in mid december DOES not, i make it a xmas movie , PSYCHO takes place around Xmas , but is NOT a xmas movie, it has nothing to do with the plot. Same with Diehard...( action movie)