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1 9 "SEP T'E Wl Rr 1, CI-F I A Yi A SBU RY PARK PRESS A movie review i 'n ILJf i ill Film deftly demonstrates good and evil in the city of angels ml I A LA. I J. its wholesome Cleaver family types exude optimism. But that short film is Russell Crowe plays an explosive police detective in 1950s Los Angeles. Opens today Rated is the man of the future, which takes root in L.A.

first, naturally, and then works its way across the country. By 1997, the Pierce Pat-chetts are a dime a dozen, no longer rare or even scorned. Danny DeVito plays vile Sid for more laughs than such a sleazy type deserves, while Kim Basinger portrays a woman disappointed by life but still hopeful for salvation. Hanson and crew have created a look that defines the sensual appeal of Los Angeles, then and now: Bud White (Russell Crowe) completes writer Ellroy's triumvirate of cops with complicated personal and professional lives. Bud's an instinctive cop but a loose cannon who slams alleged perpetrators around before asking questions.

That draws the appreciation of the boss, Dudley Smith. Dudley (James Cromwell) has a coy brogue and a sharp eye; he's not as pleasant as he appears. Jack, Ed and Bud are only nodding acquaintances when "L.A. Confidential" begins, but they're sucked together when Bud's partner is gunned down at an all-night diner. A cop murder is high profile stuff; solving it will do wonders for the scandal-plagued, image-conscious LAPD.

Moreover, Bud and Ed both fall in love with a beautiful prostitute, Lynn Bracken, who models her looks after the then-vo-guish actress, Veronica Lake. The contemporary relevance of this film's rogue cops, the cover- By ELEANOR O'SULLIVAN Movie Writer Admirers of director Curtis Hanson won't be surprised at the sheer pleasure generated by his sultry brain teaser, "L.A. Confidential." This new movie, about three men and a blonde, finds Hanson at the top of his form again, 10 years after his excellent film noir debut, "The Bedroom Window." Hanson and co-screenwriter Brian Helgeland have whittled down James Ellroy's densely plotted crime noir to a tidy two hours. Amazingly, four distinct personalities remain intact, even with the shorning. Beyond that, a specific time, place and mood are captured by Hanson and his talented colleagues the seedy but alluring underworld of L.A.

in the 1950s. Hanson begins this twisted murder mystery with a travelogue hyping L.A.'s unlimited, post-World War II promise. We're told that the city is wide open for newcomers. This little film-within-the-film is shot in bleached tones and ups engineered by the department's top men and their subordinates' messy sex lives sting. Ellroy's characters can't resist the flame, and of course, they get burned.

Is the law enforced? In this film, the victims far outnumber the protected and served. Just outside this circle of shysters, con artists and compromised women is the film's most fascinating character, Pierce Patchett. He's rotten and rich. Pierce runs the call girl service that employs Lynn, and he provides plastic surgery for his stable of women. The prostitutes are surgically revised to resemble movie stars.

Pierce, as played by the eminently talented David Strathairn, narrated by (out of 4) Sid Hudgens (Danny De- Vito), who's a new breed of reporter-photographer. Sid peeks in bedroom windows and snaps sensational photos for the tabloid, Hush-Hush. He knows the film's sunny layer is a ruse. Sid gets his tips on vice busts and errant movie stars from Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey), a dandy with a mysterious personal life and plenty of shady action. Sid pays Jack $50 for each tip, big money in those days.

Ten bucks will buy Jack's slavishly strait-laced colleague, Ed Exley, a new pair of good loafers. Ed (Guy Pearce) is the shunned police son of a heroic cop; he's a loner because he's smug and inflexible. By the end of "L.A. Confidential," Ed will have loosened up. vast houses perched precariously on ragged hills, thick, pulsating air and excessively lush plant life.

But "L.A. Confidential" acknowledges a surreal dichotomy: that a place can be rotten and flourishing, simultaneously. HE CjWRP "TWO VERY EM THUMBS IIP! VERY ENTERTAINING. VERY, VERY GOOD." "Gangbustersl CONFIDENTIAL' Is a shrewd, elegant film with a flawless ensemble CONFIDENTIAL' Is riveting a dangerous and Intoxicating tale of big trouble In paradise." cast and style to burn." KouMtklbrM -JaMt Masla "A brilliant blend of booze, bribes and broads. A rare and rattling detective story i Vjfy with a cast that deserves to be decorated, 'CeS flV (-Today Show, NBC-TV) (f vW fl It ftLOCMfS 9DNV THFATeS 11 iNFWARK MtTHOPLM NEW I HWNKLW TRIM.EM NUILtY 667-1 7)1 9DNY ThFATRES FREEHOLD FHttHULD 463O600 ffiOAt DMAg HAfllFV 11 NFWBWUNSWCK B46 3P00 (WW PARK CINEMM FUfUl fAHK S4I DWFPI OOFIW NEWPORT CENTRt CINEMM Jtrm UTVTTJ-aMIBI? wnimiAW0FW44g MAPUIWO00 OUAO NATIONAL SMllSf'MFNTB MAPUWIKJD 7833100 HAZLCT MULTIPLEX WM AU JERSEY OMMA8 htfWARK B1 7-8100 ALLWOOO CINEMM aifTUN 77B947 NATIONA! AMlJWK-NT8 AM8DV MULTIPLIX CINEMAS' EfllMfcnLE 3400 ATLANTIC TRtPUX AtLAHTtU HCQHLAMJ6 39 1-018 BfRHtWIIUD ClIttMA 9 Bt'WJ WlfcLD MS-160J GtNFfWl OHEMA VILLH STAR 4 WAfCMUNO JSBTOOT Chester cine mm cinema plaza SIXPUX FLfMiNGTfJN 7BM777 us HAAfT fl MBCACK QUAD AMC MJmim Sll WHitWOOO B64-3W0 HEADQUARTERS 10 I'MAYf AIR TRIPLEX rmvtheatru SONY THfftTHES SHOWBOAT HitwATtR 941 -36B0 STRATH MORE TWM vtUMNHT QUAD UNJN OTY Bb6-3B7B OJf PLEX nrf-tJN tf UNION TWIN UMUN 777H.M I6C4 CK-t FX OCJfON WARNER OUAO VALLEY VCW CWEMU WAYNE wayne jowsno BTINV TKATHH WAYNE WAh 8BOOB0S ROBERT! WEU.MDNT TRIPLIX MUNILUUR 783-ebOO BfGAL ONE' MAS VEST MUFORO 4 VWST MLHJRO 7WWX) i Hit anil BKAUQJ6 9nB) HOHOKEN TWIN CjiC'-: i I ji I in pi if, 'I ij I'l '1 STARTS TODAY fMlU WW IMU CINEMAS fDiSlN 777 AtM tS87 MIDOLPSROOK 0A1.URIA CINEMM (W AN 433 3BU0 K1NV THFATWS MONMOUTH MALL EAttwmvN B35-10CD MONTOOMIHY ClNtMAi RUCxr HUl 974-7444 STWV THf ATITS MOUNTAINSIOf 10 32 (Ail MUuMTAf MtArtf CI TV tXPLEX RAMSEY ONE MA SONY THEA1W3 RIUOE FIELD PARK AMC ROCKAWAY TWELVE 3866S cw(-ix onprw ROUTE 4 TENPLEX PAftAMUB 777ALM fSSS ffiUttAL ONEM RUTGERS PLAZA SOW CACOUHT PAVB.KM IW46 rtvtft bUKj4UU CINCMA 10 SXLAbUNNA WIJAL CtMA8 HUOBON 7 lift QTY 434-1414 MYWAV nvi FAiHI.OWN 796-1717 Kf NflAU RAMt ClNfeMAI 7 SOUTH URUN8WCK KPN MALI CiNEMAI EKJMT trtJNCOLM CINEMA I AMUNGION ti873 UMMN nVIRLIX SW5 U787 tfifWS TMfAIHfe LOIWV BRICK 1 MONMOUTH OCEANj 4 Wtm mCKHAZA NAVl AMVSEMFNTS Ffi CfNEMAI THIATM 477 A2O0mAMOY MUIWUM EDKADltT LOfWI CINFWFXOnftW SCWYTHEAnrei NIW UNSWtCK GSMENLO MRK tf FIVEEHOLP NfWBRUNSWIClC MAU CfNIMAS METROPLfX NATt AMUSEMENT? OftfY THEATIff GcHAznr monmoutn MULrmfX fATONIOtWi CINEMAS ffT P3S1000 HAU 264 O0 EOISON FflEEHOtO CiNf MA II PAHhiWANY 3354141 ONfM ClOAH QN6 BBT-OBTT 6L0tTER CNF MA 4 DtfcttH 768 98UU colony a 1AST HANOVER ft hum -tipni VLAfAVETTI SlfWJ 3f? 8030 UN" TED ABTBT8 MOVtf AT SPRING VALLEY NEW CITY CtttEMM NfcW CI1Y EH4-MU0 PAVILION Pt AAA THiAHW SxirE fJo SHpWTllll-S 4 11(4 mUr if 7HJAk.l i.