Laurel Canyon (2002)

When an uptight young man and his fiancee move into his libertine mother's house, the resulting clash of life attitudes shakes everyone up.

Director:

Lisa Cholodenko

Writer:

Lisa Cholodenko

Stars:

Frances McDormand, Alessandro Nivola, Christian Bale

2 wins & 6 nominations.

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
Imaad Wasif	...	Dean
Mickey Petralia	...	Mickey
Melissa De Sousa	...	Claudia
Alexandra Carter	...	Darla
Michelle DeMirjian	...	China (as Michelle Demirjian)
Rick Gonzalez	...	Wyatt
Dennis Howard	...	Mr. Elliot
Catherine McGoohan	...	Mrs. Elliot

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.

---

Plot Keywords:

rock 'n' roll | hairy chest | acoustic guitar | time lapse photography | underwater scene | 

---

Taglines:

On the road to the perfect life, Sam & Alex took a little detour.

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexuality, language and drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [United States] Sony Movie Channel [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 March 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

Atracção Acidental

Filming Locations:

Chateau Marmont - 8221 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$149,099, 9 March 2003, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$3,663,356, 3 August 2003

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$590,802

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sony Pictures Classics, Good Machine, Antidote Films (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Joni Mitchell, who was Lisa Cholodenko's inspiration for the Jane character, is among the musicians in Jane's photo gallery.

---

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.

---

Quotes

Jane: Listen, you should be with her if you want to.
Ian McKnight: I don't want to be with her, I want to be with you. I want you to be with her.

---

Crazy Credits

Editorial Mensch ... Caryn Marcus

---

Connections

Featured in The 2004 IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards (2004)

---

Soundtracks

Tear Off Your Own Head (Doll Revolution Remix)
Written by Elvis Costello
Performed by Elvis Costello
Courtesy of The Island Def Jam Music Group
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

A well-made character study, `Laurel Canyon,' explores the reasons for the distress and resentment that can reside between parents and their children.

People are often disappointed in the ones that love them or the ones that they love. This disappointment can stem from the mistakes made by parents in the upbringing of their children, or perhaps the simple differences that separate family members. It is this frustration that plagues Christian Bale's character, Sam, in the film `Laurel Canyon.' A well-made character study, `Laurel Canyon,' explores the reasons for the distress and resentment that can reside between parents and their children. `Laurel Canyon' is about a man named Sam (Bale) and his fiancé Alex (Kate Bekinsale) who move to California so he can begin his medical residency at a local hospital and she can finish her dissertation. The pair moves in with Sam's mom Jane (Frances McDormand) who is record producer who lives on Laurel Canyon Road in Hollywood. Although she is in her mid 40s, she lives the life of a rock star, smoking pot, drinking, partying, and hanging out with her rock star boyfriend Ian (Alessandro Nivola), who is 16 years younger than she. Sam and Jane are always at odds with each other as he is ultraconservative and Jane is like a teenager. The two must weed out their problems and come to terms with each other about the mistakes that Jane made while bringing up Sam. Although a bit slow at times, `Laurel Canyon' was an interesting film that has its lighthearted and touching moments. It's funny to watch the subtle changes that begin in the characters lives. Alex, although conservative like Sam, is slowly being drawn into the free spirited world of Jane's home, with her parties and rock friends always around. Sam is being tempted by the fruit of another woman named Sara (Natascha McElhone), as their share their sexual desires with each other over private conversations in a car. And even Jane is beginning to recognize her own faults-she had several lovers throughout her life is starting to feel the need to settle on just one, Ian. Every character starts to understand that they are all the extreme end of different spectrums and they must learn to meet somewhere in the middle. The acting in the film was excellent. Every actor was believable and to a certain extent, the audience can feel their pain and happiness. McDormand (`Fargo') and Bale (`Empire of The Sun') steal the show with their amazing abilities to transcend the characters in the script to the dynamic people they present on the screen. Praise must also be given to Bekinsale (`Pearl Harbor') and Nivola (`Jurassic Park 3') for their exceptional performances.

One other superior quality of `Laurel Canyon' was the music, some of which was sung by Nivola. The soundtrack holds a great deal of classic rock songs from groups such as `Steely Dan,' `Leroy' and `Mercury Rev.'

Overall, `Laurel Canyon' was a very good movie that reminds its audience to look beyond the surface of things and to see what really matters in all relationships-love. ***