L.A. Confidential (1997)

Three cops (Guy Pearce, Russell Crowe and Kevin Spacey) are investigating murder, vice and corruption in 1950s Los Angeles.

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I saw L.A. Confidential long before I ever read a James Ellroy novel. Having now become very familiar with the author and having read four of his novels, I can accurately say that the film of L.A. Confidential bares only a passing resemblance to the cynical, brutally violent, racist universe that runs through his work. But I can also accurately say that L.A. Confidential is an amazing piece of cinema! No novel has ever made it to the screen 100% intact. It's pointless to judge the movie against the book. A movie shouldn't ever be able to  tarnish your love of a book and vice versa. A book is a book and a movie is a movie. Judge each on it's own terms.