MovieChat Forums > L.A. Confidential (1997) Discussion > Bud White murdering the black rapist.

Bud White murdering the black rapist.

posted 8 years ago by IceboxMovies
22 replies | jump to latest

The scene in this movie which always bothers me is when Bud White walks in on the unarmed black rapist, murders the rapist even after he raises his hands up in the air, and then covers up the scene to make it look like the rapist tried to shoot at him.

I know the guy was a sick rapist, and everybody here probably believes it was justified for White to kill him, but... the guy did raise his hands up in the air. Also, he looked genuinely scared for his life. The fact that he is humanized in that moment makes it difficult for me to enjoy his death.

The movie is all about this sort of thing, of course -- cops willing to break the law in order to get criminals -- but to me, this is the worst crime which White commits in the film. Instead of trying to arrest an unarmed rapist, he acts as judge, jury & executioner, and murders him. That has always made it hard for me to truly like Bud White. I guess that's the point, though.

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] jbaddock 8 years ago

That has always made it hard for me to truly like Bud White. I guess that's the point, though.

Another point is that White rejects that approach as the film progresses - he's had enough of being Smith's thug, and actually becomes a 'good' cop in the end.

[–] gottaluvafriend 8 years ago

Yes, that's the point. All three of the main protagonists, the Kevin Spacey character, the Russell Crowe character, and the Guy Pearce character are quite flawed human beings at the beginning of the story. But the good in their nature draws them together over the crimes that they uncover. They each end up heroes by the end of the film.

[–] liscarkat (19418) 5 years ago

He was a dirtbag rapist. The world became a better place the moment White exterminated him. It wasn't murder, it was justice and deterrence. The fact that he was black or that he was scared doesn't make it any worse.

[–] laurieann74 (97) 5 years ago

Screw the stupid rapist. He had a helpless & scared woman tied up in the bedroom. What about the fear in her eyes? Are you kidding me?

[–] MovieChatUser497 (18943) 5 years ago

I agree that he should have arrested the guy but having said that his victim was the one I was more concerned with. The guy was a scumbag but you are right the cops don’t have the right to become judge jury and executioner. We the audience however are not supposed to agree with Buds actions in that scene

[–] Bloodworth79 (5737) 4 years ago

Nobody should be defending or feeling bad for a rapist like that.

Only liberal Democrat feel that way.

They will defend the lives of evil people with all their might

[–] MNRebecca (773) 2 years ago

When conservatives finally perceive the disconnect between Christianity and Republicanism, they will choose Republicanism.

[–] fc31 (6122) 4 years ago

I don't like the scene either but for different reasons. The guy was black and poor so he couldn't have escaped justice, he might even get raped in prison.

If he were white and rich then there would be some justification in killing him, because then he would probably hire a good lawyer and get away with it. Like Smith in the end.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

And I thought the OP's comment was absurd...

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7984) 4 years ago

And I thought the OP's comment was absurd...

I agree. Saying someone should get away with rape is messed up. Maybe the guy is a rapist who is currently in prison.

[–] fc31 (6122) 4 years ago

You have to be really young and naive to say that

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7984) 4 years ago

I was kidding around but that is a stupid thing to say that someone who rapes someone should get away with it. You obviously aren't a good person if you are okay with rapists getting away with their crimes just because they happen to be a minority.

[–] fc31 (6122) 4 years ago

I am not OK with rapists getting away with it. That is why I was OK with Smith being shot at the end. I have full confidence that Smith would be able to get away with all the crimes he committed.

[–] GreenGoblinsOck8 (7984) 4 years ago

I get what you meant now. You meant it was dumb of Bud to kill the rapist because he would've gone to prison regardless. Somehow I didn't read it that way. I apologize.

[–] fc31 (6122) 4 years ago

All he did was giving the rapist a quick death, which I think did him a favor. Rapists do not usually do well in prison.

The only tangible benefit of Bud killing him is saving some time for law enforcement and some tax payers' money, but that has nothing to do with justice.

[–] fc31 (6122) 4 years ago

You should know by now our justice system is designed to protect the rich from being wrongfully accused, that is why lawyers have so many privileges. The poor people usually get court appointed lawyers who usually only interested in a quick plea bargain because the cases like that are just not profitable, in other words they ask the poor people to plea guilty in exchange for reduced sentences.

From what I understand there are about 20~30% of prison population are in it for the crime they did not commit but plead guilty anyway.

[–] kwestmo (4385) 4 years ago

Actually about 99% of people in prison are innocent. just ask them

[–] fc31 (6122) 4 years ago

If you watched "The Shawshank Redemption" you would know they all say they were mass murders.

[–] fc31 (6122) 4 years ago

But kidding aside most would admit what they did if there were no chance for appeal.

[–] kwestmo (4385) 4 years ago

Death is better than going to prison and getting raped. so he was better off.

[–] JohnGrant (111) a year ago

Rapists deserve to die regardless of whatever color they are.