Watch L.A. Confidential

L.A. Confidential was released in 1997 and was distributed by Warner Bros and directed by Curtis Hanson. It is based on a 1990 neo-noir novel of the same name written by James Ellroy. L.A. Confidential stars Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, Kevin Spacey, and Kim Basinger. Danny DeVito rounds out the cast. Crowe and Pearce were relatively unknown in North America at the time, but their roles in the film would springboard them into American cinemas and successful acting careers. The film follows a group of Los Angeles police officers who uncover several scandals that lead to an unsettling revelation. The film, which is based on several real events, and pulls inspiration from real companies and people, is grounded heavily in reality. Several establishments in the film existed in the 1950s, although their names and many events were changed to protect privacy and for the cinematic narrative. L.A. Confidential was a critical success and widely praised as a box-office success. The film won several awards, including two Oscars.