25 best critically acclaimed movies on Netflix

NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 16: Director Curtis Hanson arrives at the “4th Annual Directors Guild of America Honors” at the Waldorf-Astoria November 16, 2003 in New York City. The Directors Guild of America Honors celebrates people and institutions that have made distinguished contributions to American culture through the world of film and television. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images)

11. L.A. Confidential (1997)

Director: Curtis Hanson
Cast: Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, James Cromwell, David Strathairn, Kim Basinger, Danny DeVito

The next film on the list is a return to popcorn movies. L.A Confidential is a modern-day noir film based on a novel of the same name by James Ellroy. The bright lights of Hollywood meet police corruption, scandals, and mob ties as members of the LAPD navigate the urban decay. It’s the classic noir film.

You get to see a young Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce before they were stars along with one of my favorite roles from Danny DeVito. Unlike another crime drama on this list, A Most Violent Year, this movie is more of a fun viewing than a serious one.

I won’t lie, this film feels like a conventional cop drama at times, but with multiple subplots, mystery, and suspense, it’s an entertaining movie that is easy on the mind for two hours.

The appeal of this movie for me is the production design that makes 1990’s Los Angeles resemble the glitz and glamour of 1950’s Los Angeles. It’s always fun for me to escape into a decade I have no recollection of. I often find myself paying attention to every aspect of the frame so I can notice the time period.

The LAPD has a notorious reputation for corruption, so it’s worth keeping that context in mind while watching the events unfold in this one.