L.A. Confidential is one of those movies that really rocked my world, but it’s also one that I feel could handle a sequel, if put in the right hands, like Joe Carnahan’s. The good people over at moviehole.net give us this
:Joe Carnahan, the talented brains behind the acclaimed thriller “Narc” (2004), has signed to direct a sequel to the 90s hit, “L.A Confidential”.“The film I’m doing next is White Jazz, the sequel to LA Confidential,” Carnahan tells CHUD. “My brother and I wrote the adaptation,” he said.
“That script is one of my favorites. It’s heartbreaking. It’s, to me, what that book always was – the point of departure from the Eisenhower 50s to the psychedelic freakshow, Manson 60s. It’s a total combination of the two with a heavy, heavy voice-over narration, this kind of classic noir. I love the script, dude. I’m going to get it out there – once it’s done I’m going to get it on the internet so people can read it.”
White Jazz”, the film, has been in development hell for quite a while. At one stage, Nick Nolte was set to play the films lead character, a corrupt copper named David “Dave” Klein, and John Cusack was attached to play his partner, Junior Stemmons. Just weeks before she was arrested for shoplifting, Winona Ryder was reportedly in talks to play a role.
Film Noir, hippy style. That works, it’s different and interesting. What I really think is great is that Carnahan wants to put up his finished script on the internet, now that’s a writer who loves his work. I don’t think it will actually happen, because if there is a production company involved they may have a little something to say about the ending coming out before the movie is even in production.
One thing is certain though; between Smokin Aces and White Jazz Carnahan’s career is getting hotter by the moment. He’s being smart too, he’s still working on projects that have a least some of the flavor that Narc had. He isn’t trying to direct slap stick comedy, he’s sticking to guns and tension with the occasional smart mouthed line. This movie could possibly make his name very well known if it’s done right and I think he knows it.
If he’s able to get the many factors together to make this movie a success, the script, the location, the costumes, the music, the talent and of course the tone then this movie has the potential to rock even more worlds that it’s predacessor.
Actually White Jazz is the direct follow up to LA Confidential and has Exley in it. However, his role isn’t nearly as prominent.
Of course, that doesn’t mean anything for the movie (they could play Exley up to be a central role). The book concentrates on Klein and Stemmons (with Klein being the anti-hero).
I’d love to hear more about the screenplay.
I’d love a sequel to ‘LA Confidential”…but there’s a small problem.
“White Jazz” may in fact be part of author James McElroy’s quintet of crime novels set in LA during various time periods, but this really wouldn’t be “a sequel” as far as films go.
Now if they adapted it and threw in either Wendell ‘Bud’ White (Russell Crowe) or Ed’ Exley (Guy Pearce) then, we can say “it’s a sequel” in the film sense, right?
Getting better Sharon getting better.
I’m really excited by this, but I’m trying not to get my hopes up. It seems like all the James Ellroy novels got mired in adminstrative problems before they made it to the big screen (the recent Black Dahlia nonwithstanding).
I was especially disappointed when White Jazz originally fizzled out because I think it’s a better story than LA Confidential (and I LOVED LA Confidential).
I think a lot will ride on the script adaptation. If you saw LA Confidential then read the book, you’ll find that the book takes place over a much longer time period and has a different ending. Ellroy apparently didn’t mind this (on the DVD he says that the screenwriters did an incredible job of condensing his story down to a watchable movie).
I think White Jazz will have to be similarly trimmed down.
If you haven’t read any of his books, you’re missing out. They’re harsh (harsher than the movies), but satisfying.
American Tabloid and the Cold Six Thousand were also very good.
Thanks for the news!
Very true my friend. I’m just hoping that this one will.
L.A. Confidential is a movie greatly appreciated by film critics (it received an Academy Award). A sequel would be great and interesting although not every great movie has great sequels.