When an uptight young man and his fiancée move into his libertine mother's house, the resulting clash of life attitudes shakes everyone up.
Director:
Lisa CholodenkoWriter:
Lisa Cholodenko
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Title: Laurel Canyon (2002)
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2 wins & 6 nominations.
See more awards »
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Frances McDormand | ... | Jane | |
| Christian Bale | ... | Sam | |
| Kate Beckinsale | ... | Alex | |
| Natascha McElhone | ... | Sara | |
| Alessandro Nivola | ... | Ian McKnight | |
| Lou Barlow | ... | Fripp (as Louis Knox Barlow) | |
 |
Russell Pollard | ... | Rowan |
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Imaad Wasif | ... | Dean |
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Mickey Petralia | ... | Mickey |
| Melissa De Sousa | ... | Claudia | |
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Alexandra Carter | ... | Darla |
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Michelle DeMirjian | ... | China (as Michelle Demirjian) |
| Rick Gonzalez | ... | Wyatt | |
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Dennis Howard | ... | Mr. Elliot |
| Catherine McGoohan | ... | Mrs. Elliot | |
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
Newly graduated psychiatrist Sam and his fiancee Alex move to Los Angeles for Sam's residency and into Sam's mother's house in upscale Laurel Canyon. Only problem is, Sam's mother is still there, supposedly finishing up a record that she's producing for the band of her new boy toy, Ian. She seems more interested in smoking pot and drinking than actually working though. Alex doesn't mind but Sam is quite upset. Alex starts off focused on her work (finishing a dissertation on genomics), but is soon distracted by the rock-'n-roll lifestyle going on around her. Meanwhile, Sam is equally distracted by beautiful Israeli intern Sara. Written by Jon Reeves <jreeves@imdb.com>
Plot Keywords:
boyfriend girlfriend relationship | united states of america | united states | usa | rock 'n' roll |Taglines:
On the road to the perfect life, Sam & Alex took a little detour.Genres:
DramaMotion Picture Rating (MPAA)
Rated R for sexuality, language and drug use | See all certifications »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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Sam: [laughs, exhales, scratches his head] I think that you're incredibly attractive too, Sara, I do.
Sara: You do?
Sam: Yeah, I think about you. Trust me. A lot.
Sara: How do you think about me?
Sam: How?
Sara: Yeah. Do you think about me having sex with you?
Sam: Yeah.
Sara: How?
Sam: How do I think about ...
[...]
See more »
(1995)
Written by Mark Linkous
Performed by Ian's Band
See more »
Did You Know?
Goofs
The album-wrap party takes place in a suite on an upper floor of the Chateau Marmont (we see Ian order more champagne for the "penthouse suite", and the view from the balcony is clearly an upper floor). Yet when Sam storms out of the suite, then runs downstairs while arguing with Jane, they only descend one flight before reaching the lobby. There is a cut, but the dialog implies that no time was cut from their descent. See more »Quotes
Sara: I just... I don't really know you, I... I just feel connected to you, I feel... I feel safe with you. Like it's okay to be honest. It's just one of those things. I'm just attracted to you. And it's not just because I think you're incredibly sexy.Sam: [laughs, exhales, scratches his head] I think that you're incredibly attractive too, Sara, I do.
Sara: You do?
Sam: Yeah, I think about you. Trust me. A lot.
Sara: How do you think about me?
Sam: How?
Sara: Yeah. Do you think about me having sex with you?
Sam: Yeah.
Sara: How?
Sam: How do I think about ...
[...]
See more »
Crazy Credits
Special thanks to Christie Gaumer & Shakespeare and to Red Hot Chili Peppers. See more »Soundtracks
Someday I Will Treat You Good(1995)
Written by Mark Linkous
Performed by Ian's Band
See more »
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
28 March 2003 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Laurel Canyon See more »Filming Locations:
Chateau Marmont - 8221 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA See more »Edit
Box Office
Opening Weekend USA:
$149,099, 9 March 2003Gross USA:
$3,663,356Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$4,412,203Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
There's a clash of cultures, families and sexual orientations in "Laurel Canyon", and I enjoyed all of it. Sam (Christian Bale) and Alex (Kate Beckinsale) are an uptight, New York couple in complete control of their lives, until they move in with Sam's mother Jane (Frances McDormand) who is a loose hippie (in all senses of the words). Jane also has a slew of rock-and-roll men living in her house, most notably, Ian (Alessandro Nivola), her primary boyfriend with an irresistible accent - but then again Jane and Ian don't really label anything, especially relationships.
As Sam grows increasingly frustrated by his mother's lifestyle, Alex grows increasingly intrigued by it. Sam's need to control everything can get annoying, but Bale plays well off of Beckinsale's quiet energy. The sexual tension between Beckinsale, Nivola and McDormand is electric and is able to keep driving the film forward.
The dialogue is funny enough and the actors are all very good that they make up for the slightly predictable plot. At the Independent Spirit Awards, Frances McDormand was nominated for Best Supporting Actress and Alessandro Nivola for Best Supporting Actor. Well deserved nominations and quite possibly the best performances of their careers. Be prepared for sexual energy in every direction, but I recommend "Laurel Canyon".