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Laurel Canyon

Play trailer Poster for Laurel Canyon R 2003 1h 41m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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68% Tomatometer 113 Reviews 52% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Sam (Christian Bale) and his fiancée, Alex (Kate Beckinsale), move to Los Angeles for the summer to stay at the luxurious house of his mother, Jane (Frances McDormand), while she's away. But Jane, a hip record producer, has not left yet because she's still working on a project with her British musician boyfriend, Ian (Alessandro Nivola). Sam and Alex feel the pull of Jane's fast-paced, decadent lifestyle, and their relationship starts to fray when they get involved with other people.
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Laurel Canyon

Laurel Canyon

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Critics Consensus

Though the movie itself is flawed, McDormand is fantastic as Jane.

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Critics Reviews

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Richard Brody The New Yorker 03/15/2021
The movie has poise and a lightly perspiring sexiness, but also an uncertain sense of humor... Go to Full Review Jeff Strickler Minneapolis Star Tribune 04/24/2003
2.5/4
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. Go to Full Review Bill Muller Arizona Republic 04/18/2003
3/5
Self-discovery seems to be the goal, but the revelations hardly seem worth the work. Go to Full Review Nick Rogers Midwest Film Journal 11/09/2023
2/4
Somewhere, there’s an interesting movie to be made that wraps the human condition in with music, psychiatry and fruit fly mating patterns. This isn’t it. Go to Full Review Kelly Vance East Bay Express 08/11/2011
It's a story about how people get seduced by Los Angeles. That still happens, you know. Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 04/21/2011
B-
As a follow up to High Art, this melodrama is not as good or provocative as Cholodenko's debut. Even so, the film deals with female (lesbian) sexuality and as such deserves recognition. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Happy L 06/23/2024 I really enjoyed this movie. It's definitely not a high action flick. It's also not a gut busting comedy, but more of a moody look into both family dynamics and relationships. I love Frances in this movie, she carries the film. The chemistry between Christian Bale & Kate Beckinsale was meh, but her chemistry with Mom's musician boyfriend and mom makes up for it. I also think this movie has an under-rated soundtrack. Definitely would watch it again and have every time I run across it. See more K K 05/05/2024 If one wants to SEE an actor in their craft and delivering watch this movie: Frances McDormand Has Frances McDormand ever given a bad or if half bad performance, I doubt it. The rest of cast and story was enjoyable due to the raw nature of the characters. See more Gareth v @geewah 02/06/2024 Meh. A look at self-discovery and getting seduced by the bright lights of L.A. Despite the ever excellent McDormand, there is little to be entertained by with this movie. See more jelisije j @jjosifovic 10/19/2022 A movie that is about relationships and what people truly want in life, but look to another movie that tells both a message and an interesting story as well. See more 05/10/2021 Sex, drugs, rockin roll and not much of a plot. Lost characters who expect worldly lust and pleasure will satisfy. Never has, never will. Waste of time. See more 08/06/2019 The good acting from Bale, McDormand, and Beckinsale isn't nearly enough to raise the rest of this film. It's pretty boring, a little too odd, and ends with a whimper. See more Read all reviews
Laurel Canyon

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Cast & Crew

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Lisa Cholodenko

Director

Frances McDormand

Jane Bentley

Christian Bale

Sam Bentley

Kate Beckinsale

Alex Elliot

Natascha McElhone

Sara

Alessandro Nivola

Ian McKnight

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Laurel Canyon

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Movie Info

Synopsis Sam (Christian Bale) and his fiancée, Alex (Kate Beckinsale), move to Los Angeles for the summer to stay at the luxurious house of his mother, Jane (Frances McDormand), while she's away. But Jane, a hip record producer, has not left yet because she's still working on a project with her British musician boyfriend, Ian (Alessandro Nivola). Sam and Alex feel the pull of Jane's fast-paced, decadent lifestyle, and their relationship starts to fray when they get involved with other people.
Director
Lisa Cholodenko
Producer
Susan A. Stover, Jeffrey Kusama-Hinte
Screenwriter
Lisa Cholodenko
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co
Sony Pictures Classics, Antidote Films, Good Machine
Rating
R (Language|Drug Use|Sexuality)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 7, 2003, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 1, 2008
Box Office (Gross USA)
$3.7M
Runtime
1h 41m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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