Sean Astin’s Enduring Obsession With LA Confidential
Sean Astin shares the film he can’t stop watching, calling it flawless and packed with unforgettable performances. Discover which classic has captured his attention for decades.
Sean Astin has been a familiar face on screens for decades, thanks to starring roles in two of the biggest films of their time—The Goonies in the mid-80s and the Lord of the Rings trilogy in the early 2000s. Even those epic fantasy adventures are now over twenty years old, which only adds to Astin’s reputation for longevity. More recently, he’s been busy leading the actors’ union SAG-AFTRA, but fans were thrilled when he turned up as Bob Newby in the second season of Stranger Things. Unfortunately, his run was cut short (spoiler alert) after a run-in with a demogorgon, so punters missed out on any cheeky nods to his earlier roles in later episodes.
From 80s Favourites to Modern Classics
Astin’s heyday kicked off after The Goonies, with a string of films in the late 80s and early 90s that really captured the spirit of the era. Titles like The War of the Roses, Toy Soldiers, Encino Man, and Memphis Belle all showcased his range. After a quieter patch, he landed the part of Samwise Gamgee in Peter Jackson’s sprawling adaptation of Tolkien’s work, cementing his place in pop culture history. But even as he was making his mark, Astin was a keen admirer of another standout film from the late 90s: LA Confidential.
Why LA Confidential Stands Out
When asked about his all-time favourite films, Astin didn’t hesitate to single out Curtis Hanson’s LA Confidential, a noir thriller set in 1950s Hollywood. He admitted,
“I love LA Confidential. If it’s on for even a second, I just watch it to the end. I almost want to call my cable service provider and ask them not to show it any more, because it has overwhelmed my life.”
He went on to praise the cast, saying,
“And the performances! I mean, David Strathairn and Russell Crowe and Kim Basinger and Kevin Spacey and James Cromwell… Police corruption, and justice, vigilante justice, and it’s just got everything. It’s just a perfect movie.”
Based on James Ellroy’s 1990 novel, the film dives into the murky world of corrupt police officers in post-war Los Angeles. It was a massive hit, earning nine Oscar nominations and taking home two. The film also helped launch Russell Crowe’s career, setting him up for even bigger roles in the years that followed. If it hadn’t been released the same year as Titanic, it might have scooped up even more awards.
Astin’s Latest Projects
While Astin’s love for LA Confidential remains strong, he’s not slowing down. He’s recently wrapped up work on two new projects. The first, A Social Contract, is a low-budget thriller. The second, Chili Finger, sees him starring alongside Bryan Cranston. This darkly comic tale follows a woman who discovers a human finger in her meal at a restaurant and tries to use it for blackmail, hoping for a hefty payout.