‘L.A. Confidential’ Author Says Film Adaptation Is A “Turkey Of The Highest Form” & Features “Impotent” Acting

It’s not controversial to say that “L.A. Confidential” is a beloved, acclaimed film. The crime feature was nominated for nine Oscars, winning two (Best Supporting Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay), and has a stunning 99% on Rotten Tomatoes. However, one of the biggest detractors of the film is none other than the writer of the source material, James Ellroy. And speaking to the Los Angeles Times, James Ellroy didn’t pull any punches when talking about the noir film based on his 1990 novel of the same name. 

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“L.A. Confidential” tells the story of a group of officers at the Los Angeles Police Department in 1953. The film takes a look at the way the police and Hollywood celebrities crossed over. “L.A. Confidential” stars Guy Pearce and Russell Crowe alongside Danny DeVito, Kevin Spacey, and Kim Basinger. The latter of which won the aforementioned acting Oscar. 

However, even though critics and the public seemed to fawn over director Curtis Hanson’s 1997 film, Ellroy has never been a fan. When the film was first released, you could tell the author was holding back more controversial opinions, but he only mentioned how great it was to see his characters come to life. Now, years after the death of Hanson, Ellroy feels like he can finally say what’s been on his mind for more than two decades. 

“People love the movie ‘L.A. Confidential,’” Ellroy said. “I think it’s turkey of the highest form. I think Russell Crowe and Kim Basinger are impotent. The director [Curtis Hanson] died, so now I can disparage the movie.”

Obviously, it’s not entirely strange for an author to be upset with the film adaptation of their work. Stephen King might be the most famous example of this, as he has always shared harsh words about Stanley Kubrick’s take on “The Shining,” even though the film is lauded as one of the greatest ever. No one on the planet is more closely attuned to the characters in novels than the author of the original work. And clearly, Ellroy is no fan of “L.A. Confidential,” no matter what accolades the film has earned. 

If you have somehow missed “L.A. Confidential,” and are interested in seeing what all the fuss is about, the film is available on Hulu.