Director Curtis Hanson won over audiences, critics with noir 'L.A. Confidential'
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Molly Driscoll Staff writer
Director Curtis Hanson of the movie 鈥淟.A. Confidential,鈥� among other work, has died.聽
Mr. Hanson also helmed movies including 鈥�8 Mile,鈥� 鈥淭he Wonder Boys,鈥� and the TV film 鈥淭oo Big to Fail.鈥澛�
鈥淐onfidential鈥� was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar and Hanson was nominated for best director for his work on the film. He and writer Brian Helgeland received best adapted screenplay Oscars for their work on the movie.
What made 鈥淐onfidential,鈥� which was also a box office hit, a success?聽
Critics hailed the 1997 movie, which was based on the book of the same name by James Ellroy, as a new, great example of a genre that has often captivated reviewers and audiences: the L.A. noir.
referenced one of the genre鈥檚 most acclaimed movies in reviewing 鈥淐onfidential.鈥澛�
鈥淲ithout strain or affectation, 鈥楲.A. Confidential鈥� recalls 鈥楥hinatown鈥� in drawing an entire socioecomic cross-section and elaborate web of corruption out of an investigation that starts small,鈥� Ms. Maslin wrote.
Monitor staff wrote at the time of the movie鈥檚 release that some of the movie鈥檚 success comes from its cast, writing, 鈥淭he story is so complicated that the movie can't quite make it clear, but the picture has impressive energy and high-intensity performances from Kevin Spacey, Danny DeVito, Russell Crowe, and Guy Pearce.鈥澛�
The film also co-starred Kim Basinger, James Cromwell, and David Strathairn.
Maslin also praised the way the movie kept the audience on its toes.聽
鈥淸The film] embroils [the characters] in a clich茅-free, vigorously surprising tale,鈥� Maslin wrote of the film. She also felt that the movie didn鈥檛 talk down to viewers. 鈥溾�The film] revels in its endless complications,鈥� Maslin wrote. 鈥淭ake a popcorn break and you'll be sorry.鈥� Late in 'L.A. Confidential,' in a scene for which viewers will be endlessly grateful, a character being interrogated finally gives a brief synopsis of the plot. That's no easy matter.鈥�
