Renowned author James Ellroy has criticized the 1997 film “L.A. Confidential,” which the creators adapted from his novel of the same name. In an interview with The Guardian, he says that the film is a complete “turkey.” The authors could not do justice to his vision. We take a closer look at the author’s views in the article below.
The Author Expresses Frustration
Ellroy didn’t like the movie “L.A. Confidential” which the creators adapted from his book. He is upset because the movie didn’t follow his story and characters. The filmmakers promised him that the movie would be true to the book, but it wasn’t. Ellroy is especially unhappy with how they showed the character Jack Vincennes.
Poor Casting Choices
Ellroy also expressed his disappointment with the portrayal of his character Dudley Smith, played by James Cromwell. He believed that the character was not as well-developed in the film as he was in the book.
According to Ellroy, the ending is a big disappointment. He understands that the creators did it to keep the movie audience-friendly. But he does not like it.
Still a Good Reception
Despite his criticism of the film, Ellroy acknowledged that it was well-received by audiences and critics alike. He also praised the performances of actors Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce, who played the lead characters in the movie.
Ellroy’s scathing critique of “L.A. Confidential” is not without controversy. The movie was a critical and commercial success. Receiving nine Academy Award nominations and winning two, including Best Supporting Actress for Kim Basinger. It is also widely regarded as one of the best neo-noir films of all time.
Remains a Good Reception
Many fans of the movie and even some film critics have taken issue with Ellroy’s criticisms. They argue that while the movie may not be a faithful adaptation of the book, it is a great film in its own right. They also point out that the changes made to the story were necessary to make it work as a movie.
Despite the backlash, Ellroy remains firm in his position. He has even gone so far as to say that he wishes he had never sold the rights to his book in the first place. Ellroy’s comments are a reminder that even the most successful adaptations can still fall short of the original source material in the eyes of the author.
A Reputation for Being Critical
Ellroy has a reputation for being critical of adaptations of his work. He once also said the film adaptations of his other books are also not up to mark. For example, the author did not like the adaptation of his book, “The Black Dahlia” as well.
In summary, James Ellroy says he is not happy with the way the movie version of his book “L.A. Confidential” was made. He said that it did not show what he had in mind. Moreover, the characters were not to his liking.
Conclusion
Audiences and critics alike received the film well. Despite Ellroy’s criticism, the author acknowledged the strong performances of actors Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce.
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