Video Archives Cinema Club Selects: Week of December 23rd

The story revolves around Paul, a young boy from the upper middle-class Grahame family, who is desperate to help his mother overcome their financial troubles. Paul believes that his rocking horse gives him clairvoyant insights into the winners of horse races. With the help of the family gardener, Bassett, and his uncle Oscar, Paul forms a secret betting syndicate that earns significant amounts of money. However, Paul's obsession with the rocking horse and his desire to please his mother lead to tragic consequences. The story explores themes of greed, generosity, and the supernatural, highlighting the stark contrast between Paul's selfless efforts and his mother's insatiable greed[1][3][5].

L.A. Confidential is a complex and dense crime novel that spans nearly a decade. It follows the lives of three Los Angeles Police Department officers: Edmund Exley, the straight-laced son of a prestigious detective; Jack Vincennes, a celebrity cop who advises on a police TV show; and Bud White, a brutal enforcer with a traumatic past. The story begins with the 'Bloody Christmas' police brutality scandal and escalates into a massive conspiracy involving a mass murder at the Nite Owl coffee shop, organized crime, political corruption, heroin trafficking, pornography, and the dark underbelly of Hollywood. The novel is known for its unique style, using clipped sentences and a stream of consciousness narrative that immerses the reader in the gritty and corrupt world of 1950s Los Angeles[1][4][5].