Sunset Strip (2000)

Director:

Adam Collis

Writers (WGA):

Randall Jahnson (story)
Randall Jahnson (screenplay) ...

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

The boulevard of sex, drugs and rock'n'roll.

Plot:

A comedy that takes place during 24 hours on Sunset Strip in 1972.

Plot Keywords:

Photographer | Sunset Strip | Sex | Guitarist | Alcoholic

Cast

Simon Baker	...	Michael Scott
Anna Friel	...	Tammy Franklin
Nick Stahl	...	Zach
Rory Cochrane	...	Felix
Adam Goldberg	...	Marty Shapiro
Tommy Flanagan	...	Duncan (as Tommy J. Flanagan)
Darren E. Burrows	...	Bobby (as Darren Burrows)
John Randolph	...	Mr. Niederhaus
Stephanie Romanov	...	Christine
Jared Leto	...	Glen Walker
Mary Lynn Rajskub	...	Eileen
Maurice Chasse	...	Nigel
Mike Rad	...	Badger
Josh Richman	...	Barry Bernstein
Sabastion Robertson	...	Busboy

Also Known As:

Untitled Sunset Strip Project (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality, language and drug content.

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L | Finland:K-15 | Australia:M | Canada:14A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Fox 2000 Pictures

Goofs:

Continuity: At the end of the movie when we are told Nick Stahl's character is inducted into the rock 'n' roll hall of fame his name is spelled "Zack". Seconds later in the credits it is spelled "Zach".

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Unscripted: (#1.4)" (2005)

The Real Stuff

What do you want in a movie? If it's verisimilitude, you must have subjective overview for the context, or else it's just another period piece as distant and impersonal as The Napoleonic Wars. If it's a character study, you must accept this as the basis of the filmed entertainment.

"Sunset Strip" should be viewed as a character study companion piece to "Almost Famous" with far more accurate verisimilitude. "Famous" is a wondrous pastiche, lotsa entertaining bang for your buck. But "Sunset Strip" represents the real s**t. I know. I was there. And here's why you should take my anonymous word for it.

When I first saw this movie I was astonished that I didn't recognize the name of its writer, for I recognized every one of his characters, literally as well as figuratively. The writer obviously was exactly the same age I was, worked in the exact aspects of the entertainment industry that I did, at the exact same time in the early 70's at the exact same spots in Hollywood and knew the exact same people I did (or knew of.) Anna Friel was Genie the Tailor, who did in fact die in an auto accident with several members of British band Fairport Convention. The geeky manager was seemingly an early Geffen clone. The disolute songwriter was a Warren Zevon-alike, while Jared Leto was, dare I say, a completely interchangeable popstar type of the era. My own future husband, popstar of that era, lived in the exact same Laurel Canyon mountain aerie depicted in the film (replete with benevolent landlord), while I worked as a music photographer amongst the main protagonist's doppelganger. And I did know who he was. He was one of the names you'll recognize on photo credits of the era, who owns a major restaurant here. But he didn't want his name on the writing credits, so I'll respect that.

"Sunset Strip" is a highly entertaining character study that is unbelievably accurate in its depiction of an assortment of characters on the perimeter, or the earliest stages of ascent, of the music scene in Los Angeles in the early 1970's. It's all true. And we did go out there every night. . .