How did this one escape me all these years? Pairing of Robert DeNiro (during his peak years) and Robert Duvall (who steals the film) was strangely overlooked (I was hardly alone nearly 25 years ago). What brought me to it was the recent death of writer John Gregory Dunne.
Had limited expectations going in --- but in retrospect, the setting, LA circa 1948, is one of my favorites. In some ways this is a companion piece for "LA Confidential" --- virtually same period/locale and with that "those was hardly the good ol' days" theme. Murder, amorality, the darkside of that bright city. The visuals were all gloomy, keeping the downbeat theme throughout. And while some call it slow moving, see it when you are in the right mood.
Brilliantly evocative, it made me feel good to be alive now, not then, when hypocrisy was rife (ok, it is now, but we are no longer a truly White Men Only society). A miserable world in an allegedly affluent society (take a look at how the Madame makes ends meet).
Kudos to the terrific supporting cast, especially to Rose Gregorio and Kenneth McMillan, and the under-your-skin Duvall (best I have ever seen him!). It ends a bit too quickly, but I say, EXCELLENT!
Had limited expectations going in --- but in retrospect, the setting, LA circa 1948, is one of my favorites. In some ways this is a companion piece for "LA Confidential" --- virtually same period/locale and with that "those was hardly the good ol' days" theme. Murder, amorality, the darkside of that bright city. The visuals were all gloomy, keeping the downbeat theme throughout. And while some call it slow moving, see it when you are in the right mood.
Brilliantly evocative, it made me feel good to be alive now, not then, when hypocrisy was rife (ok, it is now, but we are no longer a truly White Men Only society). A miserable world in an allegedly affluent society (take a look at how the Madame makes ends meet).
Kudos to the terrific supporting cast, especially to Rose Gregorio and Kenneth McMillan, and the under-your-skin Duvall (best I have ever seen him!). It ends a bit too quickly, but I say, EXCELLENT!