L.A. Confidential

A satisfyingly rich, juicy slice of '50s noir, and quite possibly the most deftly crafted film to emerge yet this year. Slicker and less disturbingly gritty than "Chinatown," but more bang-out entertaining, it's boosted by a a superlative cast--the crown jewel of which is a trio of masterful performances by Kevin Spacey and Aussie newcomers Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce (particularly the latter) as the unlikely LAPD allies who attempt to disinter the sordid, convoluted truth behind an apparently cut-and-dried murder case.