Speech

Richard Waite                                                                                                                        Waite 1

English 101

Speech

12/1/2013

Speech Outline of L.A. Confidential

Attention Getter: Movie trailer

Thesis: Today I will tell you about how Curtis Hanson successfully updates this genre by quantifying the classic noir protagonist and retains a classical noir style by integrating foreshadowing and fatalism in the film which decidedly make L.A. Confidential the epitome of neo-noir.

-Elements of Neo Noir

A. Protagonists in Search of Answers.

            1.) Multiple protagonists, one Phillip Marlowe. Shady, Brutal, and Smart

Elana Shefrin’s academic write "Le Noir Et Le Blanc: Hybrid Myths In Devil In A Blue Dress and L.A. Confidential" further examines the split detective figures within L.A. Confidential,“In a somewhat parallel ambiguity, the Exley/ White duo, seen as two halves of a whole man, form a hybrid persona as they become jointly single-minded in their investigation. White’s hot rages are tempered by Exley’s cold calculations as they move toward solutions to numerous psychoses in the public and private spheres” (Shefrin).

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            Together, the main protagonists in L.A. Confidential are equal to one decent cop.

            2.) Vincennes’ Fleur-de-Lis prostitution ring, White’s missing heroin, Exley’s Nite Owl case lead them all to Dudley Smith and his goons

            3.) The personalities of Vincennes, White, and Exley identify closely with that of Phillip Marlowe in contrast to other classic noir protagonists.  

Elements of Noir

B.  L.A. Confidential maintains the classic noir setting by incorporating blackmail, the nostalgic location, and foreshadowing. Similar to classical noir films such as The Big Sleep and Double Indemnity

C. Foreshadowing

Foreshadowing and fatalism is shown throughout L.A. Confidential whether it is with flashbacks, conversations, and even hidden clues.

            1.) One classic noir film which foreshadows the plot and character outcomes is   Double Indemnity introduction. The introduction begins with an unknown figure seen in the opening credits walking towards the camera in crutches.

2.) Dudley Smith quote describing the actions of all protagonists, “Would you be willing to plant corroborative evidence on a suspect you knew to be guilty, in order to ensure an indictment? Would you be willing to beat a confession out of a suspect you knew to be guilty? Would you be willing to shoot a hardened criminal in the back” (L.A. Confidential).

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3.) Sight and Sound Magazine Amy Tuabin’s interview with Curtis Hanson hints to the likeliness of this, “The audience might also notice that there's a certain resemblance between this movie and This Gun For Hire” (Taubin).