L.A. Confidential (Curtis Hanson, 1997)

[Fletch F. Fletch]

From the Digital Bits Rumor Mill section:

Also just announced for DVD release in Japan (on 6/13 - see Amazon.jp link) is a new 2-disc L.A. Confidential: 10th Anniversary Edition. You can likely expect Warner to release it on DVD and Blu-ray here in the States as well later this summer.

[MilkManX]

I have had the original DVD since it came out.

I wonder if the extras and print will be worth the double dip?

[Fletch F. Fletch]

I wonder if the extras and print will be worth the double dip?

I'd love for it have a James Ellroy commentary which is certainly not out of the question. He loves the film and has done several commentaries in the past.

[manicsounds]

extras are exactly the same as the current US region 1, the only difference being a remastered picture and DTS track

[Fletch F. Fletch]

extras are exactly the same as the current US region 1, the only difference being a remastered picture and DTS track

Where did ya hear that?

[The Fanciful Norwegian]

Those are the specs as given by Amazon JP (and presumably other Japanese sources).

[Fletch F. Fletch]

This sounds like it's going to be worth the wait!

Specs:

Warner Home Video have announced the Region 1 DVD release of L.A. Confidential (2-Disc Special Edition) on 23rd September 2008 priced at $20.97 SRP. Directed by Curtis Hanson and based on James Ellroy’s “L.A. Quartet” series of novels, L.A. Confidential was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, winning two (Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress for Kim Basinger). The evocative and sordid tale of Hollywood in days gone by boasts an all-star cast which, in addition to Basinger, includes Russell Crowe, Kevin Spacey, Danny Devito, Guy Pearce and James Cromwell. The plot, involving three cops, a call girl, a mysterious millionaire and a tabloid journalist, is rife with mystery, ambition, romance and humor.

Digitally remastered, extras include…

Disc 1
* Commentary by Andrew Sarris
* Music Only Track
* Trailers and TV Spots
* Showest
* Nite Owl Action
* Hollywood
* Theatrical Trailer
* Soundtrack Promo

Disc 2
* Whatever You Desire: Making L.A. Confidential
* Sunlight and Shadow: The Visual Style of L.A. Confidential
* A True Ensemble: The Cast of L.A. Confidential
* L.A. Confidential: From Book to Screen
* Off the Record
* Photo Pitch
* The L.A. of L.A. Confidential Hollywood Center Motel
* Formosa Café
* Sid Hudgen's Office
* Victory Motel
* Bidwell's Office
* Nick's Liquor
* Lynn Bracken's House
* Frolic's Room
* Pierce Patchett's House
* Movie Premiere Pot Bust
* Mrs. Leffert's House
* Nite Owl Café
* Navarette's Hole-up
* Fitch House
* City Hall
* L.A. Confidential [2000 TV Pilot]

I'm really curious to see the TV Pilot. I've read a bit about but never seen it. Also, interesting that Sarris is doing the commentary. I would've thought Manohla Dargis after all she wrote that excellent BFI book about the film. It's shame that James Ellroy isn't doing one, though. Oh well.

[Finch]

Artwork is up at DVDTimes

Warner should have stuck with the original poster art which was lovely. This cover is just meh. Still a must-buy though.

[kaujot]

Ugh, I'm sick of all these horrendously photoshopped covers.

[denti alligator]

So no Blu-ray, eh? Weird.

[Cronenfly]

BEHOLD!

[denti alligator]

BEHOLD!

Nice. But it's not in the press release? Is this a sign that maybe the extended cut of New World might also appear on Blu-ray?

[Fletch F. Fletch]

DVDActive has the back of the DVD case artwork online and it expands on the commentary track which not only includes Sarris but also James Ellroy, Russell Crowe, Kevin Spacey, Guy Pearce, James Cromwell, Ruth Myers, David Stathairn, Kim Basinger, Brian Helgeland, Jeannine Oppewall, Dante Spinotti, and Danny De Vito.

[Andre Jurieu]

DVDActive has the back of the DVD case artwork online and it expands on the commentary track which not only includes Sarris but also James Ellroy, Russell Crowe, Kevin Spacey, Guy Pearce, James Cromwell, Ruth Myers, David Stathairn, Kim Basinger, Brian Helgeland, Jeannine Oppewall, Dante Spinotti, and Danny De Vito.

That description makes me think that the commentary track will sound a great deal like the track included on the Goodfellas DVD, which is essentially just a composite of audio tracks from various cast interviews conducted for the EPK. If that's the case, I'm fully expecting to be underwhelmed (... if that's a word...).

[Fletch F. Fletch]

That description makes me think that the commentary track will sound a great deal like the track included on the Goodfellas DVD, which is essentially just a composite of audio tracks from various cast interviews conducted for the EPK. If that's the case, I'm fully expecting to be underwhelmed (... if that's a word...).

Yeah, that's my fear - it would not surprise me. Not to mention the sheer number of commentators?! Sheesh.

[Antoine Doinel]

underwhelmed (... if that's a word...).

The Sloan reference just made my day!

[Fletch F. Fletch]

underwhelmed (... if that's a word...).

The Sloan reference just made my day!

YEah, I noticed that too. I still haven't picked up their latest album, tho.

[Fletch F. Fletch]

DVD Talk review.

Beaver Blu-ray review

This sounds really good, can't wait to pick up a copy!

[Finch]

Got my copy today: can't say anything about the new extras yet but the new transfer is extremely pleasing (I watched it on a 50 inch plasma screen, using the upscaling Oppo player) and probably as good as it can get on standard definition for this type of film (a 9 out of 10, IMO). The sound mix was appropriately loud and aggressive in the few shoot-outs and the dialogue was crystal-clear (not once did I have to resort to subtitles, and I'm a hard of hearing person). The film itself is still a masterpiece within its genre and one of the best American films of the 1990s - a pity that Hanson seems to have peaked with L.A. Confidential as nothing else he's made before or after is anywhere near this good.

[Fletch F. Fletch]

a pity that Hanson seems to have peaked with L.A. Confidential as nothing else he's made before or after is anywhere near this good.

On the contrary, I think that Wonder Boys ranks right up there. Maybe not as good, but damn close.

[Highway 61]

Agreed. Wonder Boys has really grown on me. For my money, it's also Spinotti's most beautiful work.

[hearthesilence]

I'm not sure I can ever watch L.A. Confidential again...

Two years after Kevin Spacey was acquitted of rape charges, Spacey’s former co-star Guy Pearce doesn’t “want him to get away with what he gets away with.” Pearce claims that Spacey harassed him for months on the set of L.A. Confidential. Spacey has been persona non grata in Hollywood since Anthony Rapp accused the actor of making sexual advances on him when he was 14 in 1986. For Pearce, Rapp’s allegations were a “wake-up call” to his own experiences with Spacey. “I was in London working on something, and I heard, and I broke down and sobbed, and I couldn’t stop,” Pearce said.” I think it really dawned on me the impact that had occurred and how I sort of brushed it off and how I had either shelved it or blocked it out or whatever.”

Pearce was 29 when he made L.A. Confidential with Spacey, and he spent the production brushing off Spacey’s advances and convincing himself that it was “nothing.” Pearce says he “did that for five months” and became “sort of scared of Kevin because he’s quite an aggressive man.” Pearce admits that Spacey is “extremely charming and brilliant at what he does[…]He holds a room remarkably, but I was young and susceptible, and he targeted me, no question.” He recalls telling his then-wife Kate that he only felt “safe” when actor Simon Baker was on set because Spacey “dumped [Pearce] like a potato” as Spacey moved on to Baker.

In 2018, Pearce told Australian talk show host Andrew Denton, “Amazing actor. Incredible actor. Slightly difficult time with Kevin, yeah. He’s a handsy guy. Thankfully, I was 29 and not 14.” He later clarified: “I very much understand that it’s too sensitive a topic to be brushed off. Although I wasn’t sexually assaulted or molested, I was made to feel uncomfortable. I addressed and handled the situation when it took place, hence my regret at making it public now.” In a 2022 interview with Piers Morgan, Spacey admitted as much, telling the host that he was “handsy” with other men—though he prefers to say he “caressed” these men, not groped them. In 2024, 10 more men accused Spacey of assault.

[flyonthewall2983]

I watched it maybe three times. I can do without it ever again. Wonder Boys is way better.

[domino harvey]

I agree, but what’s the connection between the two films?

[therewillbeblus]

Hanson