Directed by: Curtis Hanson
Written by: James Ellroy, Brian Helgeland, Curtis Hanson
Starring: Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, Kim Basinger
Runtime: 138 minutes
#TGIF guys!
It’s Friday night. I have a hot date with my bulldog and my mom and I’m not one bit upset about it.
After I run a hot bubble bath and pour myself a glass of red I am going to turn on one of my favorite movies called L.A. CONFIDENTIAL.
L.A. CONFIDENTIAL is based on the best selling novel by James Ellroy. The film explores the dark side of Los Angeles in the 1950s. During that time, Hollywood was presented to the average American as the capital of sophistication filled with rich wigs and movie stars. We soon learn how the LAPD turn a blind eye to corruption; how the tabloid rags get their tip offs and how pimps pay for their call girls to have plastic surgery to make them more closely resemble well-known movie stars.
L.A. CONFIDENTIAL softly resembles Roman Polanski’s CHINA TOWN, both film noirs. Film Noir is a cinematic term used to describe Hollywood Crime Dramas. One can usually distinguish a film noir movie by its unconventional style; dark lighting and a particular composition of visual elements. Protagonists and antagonists usually comprise of private eyes, cops, gangsters, fugitives and femme fatales.
We are introduced to three erratically different cops who are thrown together during various investigations. Flamboyant narcotics detective Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey), the macho man Bud White (Russell Crowe) who saw his mother brutally beaten to death as a boy and straight-laced, brown nosing Ed Exley (Guy Pearce). Their personalities and character traits string together perfectly.
Bud White is my quintessential dream hunk. He’s hot, strong, angry and very protective over woman. I used to have fantasies about sleeping with him.
The three cops are once again looped into a brutal murder investigation. A bloody massacre occurred late night at a diner. Quickly, the case initially closes. The LAPD arrest of three African-American men, however, Vincennes, White and Exley suspect that it’s a set up. They happen to be right.
As they quietly continue to probe and question various suspects, they stumble upon a man named Pierce Patchett (David Stratharin). Patchett resides in a beautiful home nestled deep in the Hollywood Hills. Some of his money comes from a call girl service he runs. The hookers he provides all resemble Hollywood stars. One of the hookers, Veronica Lake look-a-like, Lynn Bracken sleeps with both Exley and White. Her heart, however, lies with White.
L.A. CONFIDENTIAL is pure entertainment. It’s filled with corrupted cops, powerful men, endless lies and beautiful women. It’s kind of like reading a really well written “US WEEKELY”.
I am continuously drawn to this story because it really allows me to escape. I’m also infatuated with the love element weaved into the narrative. I dream about being with a guy exactly like Bud White. Bud White falls for Lynn Bracken. Although Lynn is beautiful she’s certainly imperfect. He sees through all of that and cares for her deeply.
Their love story gives me hope. I know it sounds strange, but I crave a love like that. The way he looks at her; the kind of people they are. Both Bud and Lynn are deep and sympathetic. They’re also not rich in funds. In fact, when you peel away their layers of brutal cop and high class hooker, they’re actually quite ordinary.
I hope someone like Bud White will someday love me for all of my imperfections.
Yoga Pose: Urdhva Mukha Svanasana {Upward Facing Dog}. This pose opens up the chest and the heart. It also deepens the spine. Upward facing Dog taps into Chakra #4, the heart chakra. This is the wellspring of love, warmth, compassion and joy.