Laurel Canyon

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Laurel Canyon

R

Released Mar 7, 2003

1h 41m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

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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Critics Consensus

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

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Richard Brody

The New Yorker

The movie has poise and a lightly perspiring sexiness, but also an uncertain sense of humor...

Mar 15, 2021

Full Review

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.

Rated: 2.5/4

Apr 24, 2003

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Bill Muller

Arizona Republic

Self-discovery seems to be the goal, but the revelations hardly seem worth the work.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 18, 2003

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Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

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.

Rated: 2/4

Nov 9, 2023

Full Review

Kelly Vance

East Bay Express

It's a story about how people get seduced by Los Angeles. That still happens, you know.

Aug 11, 2011

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

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.

Rated: B-

Apr 21, 2011

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Happy L

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.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/23/24

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K K

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.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/05/24

Full Review

Gareth v

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.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/24

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jelisije j

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.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

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.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

05/10/21

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Audience Member

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.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

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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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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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