****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
These thrilling "neo-noir" movies from the 1980s and 1990s reward repeated viewing -- for the acting of fine ensembles, the cleverly written dialog, the unforgettable characters, the twists and turns of suspenseful plots, and much more.In Lawrence Kasdan's "Body Heat," William Hurt has a tryst with Kathleen Turner, who makes a smashing screen debut. They meet in a steamy Florida bar and smolder until they erupt into a passionate affair that will not end well; it's both an homage to the 1944 classic "Double Indemnity" and an intense, engrossing story in its own right. (It contains the great line, "You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man.")The complex, atmospheric "L.A. Confidental," based on the James Ellroy novel, is set in 1950s Los Angeles, where corrupt cops and seamy starlets belie the glamour of Hollywood. It's not just a period piece but a gripping, character-driven drama that makes the most of its stellar cast: Guy Pearce, Russell Crowe, Kevin Spacey, Kim Basinger, Danny DeVito, and others.Robert Altman does a mercilessly cynical take on Tinseltown in his production of Michael Tolkin's novel "The Player." The film is as much a comedy as a tragedy in which deadly ambition and hilarious desperation collide; Tim Robbins, as a murderous screenwriter, leads a marvelous cast that is complemented by cameos from dozens of major stars.You get all three Blu-rays, featuring excellent picture and sound, in a compact case with multiple extras (featurettes, commentaries, deleted scenes, trailers, and so on) at a rock-bottom price. An excellent value!
