Laurel Canyon (2002)
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68% of critics liked it
(110 reviews) -
50% of users liked it
(8,918 ratings)
Writer/director Lisa Cholodenko follows up her much-acclaimed 1997 debut High Art with this examination of a young couple seduced into a hedonistic, left-coast lifestyle. Taking its title from its central locale, Laurel Canyon focuses on a pair of upper-middle class lovebirds from the East Coast who… More Writer/director Lisa Cholodenko follows up her much-acclaimed 1997 debut High Art with this examination of a young couple seduced into a hedonistic, left-coast lifestyle. Taking its title from its central locale, Laurel Canyon focuses on a pair of upper-middle class lovebirds from the East Coast who relocate to Los Angeles. Freshly minted from Harvard, Sam (Christian Bale) and Alex (Kate Beckinsale) are eager to continue their medical studies out West, but they need some lodging while they hunt for a home. Enter Jane (Frances McDormand), Sam's estranged, Age-of-Aquarius mom, who's more than willing to put the couple up in her lavish digs. Jane is a successful record producer whose latest charge -- both in the studio and in her bedroom -- is Ian (Alessandro Nivola), a brazen, libidinous twentysomething Brit-rocker. As Sam and Alex settle in at Jane's, they gradually lose their straight-and-narrow approach to life and begin to experiment. Alex takes to Ian and Jane, while Sam is wooed by co-worker Sara (Natascha McElhone). Laurel Canyon features a score by Shudder to Think's Craig Wedren; the music for Ian's band was provided by Sparklehorse's Mark Linkous and indie-rockers Folk Implosion. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi
- Directed By
- Lisa Cholodenko
- Written By
- Lisa Cholodenko
- Genres
- Art House & International, Drama
- In Theaters
- Mar 7, 2003 Wide
- Studio
- Sony Pictures Classics
Critic Reviews
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Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald
The movie's contrivances begin to rankle.
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Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
An immediate guilty pleasure.
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Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Fizzles out in the third act, but we're long past caring. By then, Frances McDormand has usurped the movie and turned it into a lesson in character acting.
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Bill Muller, Arizona Republic
Self-discovery seems to be the goal, but the revelations hardly seem worth the work.
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Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer
McDormand is superb. Likewise Bale and Nivola.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Cast
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Frances McDormand
as Jane
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Christian Bale
as Sam
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Kate Beckinsale
as Alex
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Natascha McElhone
as Sara
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Alessandro Nivola
as Ian
- Lou Barlow
- Russ Pollard
- Amaad Wassif





