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L.A. Confidential
CAST & DIRECTOR
Directed by Curtis Hanson. With Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce.
7.8/10
MOVIHERO RATINGWHAT IT'S ABOUT
Three detectives in the corrupt and brutal L.A. police force of the 1950s use differing methods to uncover a conspiracy behind the shotgun slayings of the patrons at an all-night diner.
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7.8/10
MOVIHERO RATINGYOUR WATCHLISTThree detectives in the corrupt and brutal L.A. police force of the 1950s use differing methods to uncover a conspiracy behind the shotgun slayings of the patrons at a…
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RELEASE SNAPSHOT
Release snapshot for L.A. Confidential.
MoviHero lists September 19, 1997 as the release date for L.A. Confidential. Curtis Hanson is the listed director. The listed cast includes Kevin Spacey as Jack Vincennes, Russell Crowe as Wendell 'Bud' White, Guy Pearce as Edmund 'Ed' Exley, James Cromwell as Dudley Smith. A trailer and 5 stills are available on this page.
Release dateSeptember 19, 1997
GenresCrime · Mystery · Thriller
Runtime2h 18m
DirectorCurtis Hanson
CastKevin Spacey as Jack Vincennes, Russell Crowe as Wendell 'Bud' White, Guy Pearce as Edmund 'Ed' Exley, James Cromwell as Dudley Smith
TrailerAvailable on this page
Images5 stills
BEFORE YOU PRESS PLAY
Is L.A. Confidential right for tonight?
Pacing, attention and emotional impact are estimates from the current MoviHero Watch Profile, not verified scene-by-scene reviews.
How much time should I set aside?
L.A. Confidential runs 2h 18m. Allow extra time for breaks.
Is it slow or fast?
The current MoviHero pacing estimate is 6/10: a middle-ground pace.
Is it a good choice when I am tired?
The attention estimate is 7/10. Expect to follow the story rather than use it as background viewing.
How emotionally intense is it?
The emotional-impact estimate is 4/10, suggesting a lighter emotional load. This does not tell you whether the ending is happy or sad.
CHANGE ONE THING
Like this, but...
These share a listed genre with L.A. Confidential. Profile differences are estimates, not a guarantee of the same story or mood.
MOVIE RATING
MoviHero Rating
MoviHero Rating: 7.8/10 from 5,858 votes. Updated Nov 8, 2026.
Rating data supplied by TMDB, shown on a 10-point scale. MoviHero audience ratings are calculated separately from scores submitted here.
MOVIHERO AUDIENCE RATING
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WHAT WATCHING IT FEELS LIKE
Watch Profile
Seven estimates of the viewing experience, based on the stored Watch Profile. These are separate from the movie rating and are not verified scene-by-scene assessments.
Pacing6/10
Emotional Impact4/10
Mind-Bending7/10
Scary2/10
Violence6/10
Rewatchability6/10
Attention Required7/10
VIEWER REVIEWS
What viewers say about L.A. Confidential
Selected viewer reactions, in their own words. These excerpts reflect individual opinions, not an overall verdict.
Viewer reaction
“City of Angels? More Like City of Demons! Curtis Hanson directs and co-adapts the screenplay with Brian Helgeland from legendary pulp novelist James Ellroy's novel…”
Viewer reaction
“After the seemingly indiscriminate slaughter of the folks at a diner, it's the ambitious "Exley" (Guy Pearce) who suggests to his bosses that it's time…”
Selected review excerpts supplied by TMDB. Opinions belong to their original authors.
WORDS THAT STAY WITH YOU
Memorable lines
Reveal a line containing a spoiler
“Ghost of Christmas Past. Why don't you dance with a man for a change?”
A CLOSER LOOK
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CAST & CREW
The people who make it land.
CHARACTERS IN THIS MOVIE
Follow the character.
Reviewed MoviHero character guides connected to this movie.
otherJack VincennesJack Vincennes in L.A. Confidential (1997), played by Kevin Spacey.Open character guide otherWendell 'Bud' WhiteWendell 'Bud' White in L.A. Confidential (1997), played by Russell Crowe.Open character guide otherEdmund 'Ed' ExleyEdmund 'Ed' Exley in L.A. Confidential (1997), played by Guy Pearce.Open character guide
SIMILAR GENRES & STORY THEMES
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