L.A. Confidential (1997)

Film noir had its moment in the 1940s, and 1997’s L.A. Confidential tries its best to resurrect it. It’s a sweeping crime drama set in the 50s and earned Kim Basinger an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Along with her, the cast is loaded with Danny DeVito, James Cromwell, Guy Pearce and Russell Crowe. It shows how the Los Angeles Police Department has long had a problem with corruption. And how repressed everyone was in the 50s. There are several storylines playing out over its nearly two-and-a-half-hour runtime, which was considered a very long movie at the time. These days, that’s just a Tuesday at the theater. It’s based on a James Ellroy book, so expect some extreme violence and darkness. It didn’t succeed in bringing back film noir, but it was both a critical and financial success. It doesn’t turn up as often on streaming in 2026 as you might like, but it is a drama that will keep you invested if you come across it.