Factual error: In the scene where Lt. Exley arrives at the Night Owl after the murder, the patrol officer is wearing a Safariland velcro-fastened handcuff case on his left hip. That style of rounded cuff case was not introduced until the early to mid 70s.
La Confidential (1997)
Ending / spoiler
Directed by: Curtis Hanson
Starring: Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, Kim Basinger, James Cromwell
Ed's whole motivation towards solving the case was for his father who was murdered by an unknown person he calls 'Rollo Tamasi'. Ed and Bud both after a big fight, decide to work together and seek refuge in the Motel that Dudley kept using to convince unwanted guests to leave. The two become the target of many corrupt officers and they are caught in a shootout, killing all officers who try to get in. Dudley enters and shoots Bud, Ed discovers that Dudley is 'Rollo Tomasi'. Ed manages to get hold Dudley at gunpoint, he leads him outside where he shoots Dudley. Ed tells the Heads of the Department how the whole Nite Owl Massacre was a plot to get rid of Dick Stensland who (along with Leland 'Buzz' Meeks) betrayed Dudley over some heroin. They give Ed a medal and say that Dudley died a hero. Bud (who survived being shot) leaves with Lynn.
Jonny
More mistakes in La Confidential
Ed Exley: Why'd you become a cop?
Jack Vincennes: I don't remember.
Trivia: Had the film been successfully adapted into a TV series, Jack Vincennes would have been played by Kiefer Sutherland. Coincidentally, one of Sutherland's co-stars in The Sentinel (2006) is Kim Basinger, who won an Oscar for her role in this film; James Cromwell played his father in season six of "24."
More questions & answers from La Confidential
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Chosen answer: A 12g shotgun blast at that range would cause an incredibly bloody death, especially as there is a good chance it hit the man in the face. Exley has killed a person in the line of duty before this, but not in such a spectacular way. And while he may not have meant to kill him he chose to shoot over letting the man escape.
Grumpy Scot