Kansas City Confidential (1952)'s comments

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ucuruju

The script is actually really tightly plotted and it hits the ground running-- it doesn't slow down until Coleen Gray steps in and that's also tied smartly to the tense dime novel plot. It's directed in the style of someone like Samuel Fuller. The violence and memorably sweaty faces let us know there's an artist orchestrating what at mere glance could be a conventional 50s crime film. A lot of pitch black cynical stuff here too... spoiler

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1 year 7 months ago

Siskoid

Behind its lackluster title, Kansas City Confidential hides a fun little crime picture with an interesting hook. Four men plan and pull off a heist while masked and only the boss knows who everyone is. (Ironically, there are a couple of great faces behind those masks, guys like Lee Van Cleef and Jack Elam.) When it's time to split the loot, they have to wait for the heat to taper off, then will meet under the boss' direction. Fine. But enter an ex-con in the wrong place at the wrong time who almost goes down for the crime, and he's going to use the fact these guys are mysteries to each other to get his revenge/compensation. As you might expect, there are twists, turns, and inevitable double-crosses, and some are pretty clever, though the film telegraphs them a little early sometimes. I kind of wanted it to be edgier - it's an ALMOST-Noir, too romantic to be a proper Noir - but it's still worth watching (whether you're following its Reservoir Dogs connection or not).

4 years 1 month ago