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L.A. Confidential [Blu-ray]
(Curtis Hanson, 1997)
Review by Gary Tooze
Studio: Video: Warner Video
Discs: Region: FREE Feature Runtime: 2:17:53 Chapters: 34 Feature film disc size: 33.2 Gig One dual-layer Blu-ray, one CD sampler Case: Standard Blu-ray case Release date: September 23rd, 2008
Video: Aspect ratio: 2.4:1 Resolution: 1080p Video codec: VC-1
Audio:
Supplements: Disc 1
•
Audio commentary from critic/historian Andrew Sarris,
producers Arnon Milchan and Michael Nathanson, novelist
James Ellroy, costume designer Ruth Myers, screenwriter
Brian Helgeland, production designer Jeannine Oppewall,
editor Peter Honess, director of photography Dante
Spinotti, and actors Russell Crowe, Kevin Spacey, Guy
Pearce, James Cromwell, David Strathairn, Kim Basinger
and Danny DeVito. Trailer galley and TV spots Music-only track showcasing Jerry Goldsmith's score Disc 2 • CD Sampler which includes six songs from the film: “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive” (Johnny Mercer and the Pied Pipers), “Look for the Silver Lining” (Chet Baker), “Hit the Road to Dreamland” (Betty Hutton), “Wheel of Fortune” (Kay Starr), “But Not For Me” (Jackie Gleason), and “Powder Your Face With Sunshine (Smile! Smile! Smile!)” (Dean Martin).
Product Description: L.A. Confidential is "tough, gorgeous and vastly entertaining", "a genuine masterpiece that will knock your socks off." Director Curtis Hanson and a terrific cast serve up a "ravishing, thrilling tale of police corruption and Hollywood glamour" in this adaptation of James Ellroy's novel. Three cops, a call girl, a mysterious millionaire, a tabloid journalist, and the Chief of Detectives fuel a labyrinthine plot rife with mystery, ambition, romance, and humor. What you'll see is off the record, on the QT and very hush-hush...
The Film: In a time when it seems that every other movie makes some claim to being a film noir, L.A. Confidential is the real thing--a gritty, sordid tale of sex, scandal, betrayal, and corruption of all sorts (police, political, press--and, of course, very personal) in 1940s Hollywood. The Oscar-winning screenplay is actually based on several titles in James Ellroy's series of chronological thriller novels (including the title volume, The Big Nowhere, and White Jazz)--a compelling blend of L.A. history and pulp fiction that has earned it comparisons to the greatest of all Technicolor noir films, Chinatown.
Jim Emerson of Amazon located HERE
Image : NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc. Funny how picky we can get - L.A. Confidential on Blu-ray looks pretty good if showing its, over ten year, age. The transfer itself seems competent and the only flaws are probably more inherent in the original source. There is noise/grain - detail is significantly superior to SD (ditto for colors) but not up to par with many 2007-2008 HD offerings. It is consistent and the 1080P brings up a crispness that I had never noted before. Technically it is dual-layered with the feature size being a healthy 33.2 Gig. I don't see evidence of DNR used to compensate for the existing noise. In fact I'd have to say the image is fairly flawless and I have no strong complaints. Expectations for the image should be tempered a bit with its age but overall the film, and especially Kim B., looked far better than I anticipated. I suspect fans of L.A. Confidential, and its previous digital incarnations, will be mightily impressed with the visual appearance of this Blu-ray.
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Audio & Music:
Extras:
Bottom line:
Gary Tooze September 22nd, 2008
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About the Reviewer: Hello, fellow Beavers! I have been interested in film since I viewed a Chaplin festival on PBS when I was around 9 years old. I credit DVD with expanding my horizons to fill an almost ravenous desire to seek out new film experiences. I currently own approximately 9500 DVDs and have reviewed over 3500 myself. I appreciate my discussion Listserv for furthering my film education and inspiring me to continue running DVDBeaver. Plus a healthy thanks to those who donate and use our Amazon links.
Although I never wanted to become one of those guys who
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find HD is swiftly pushing me in that direction. So be
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