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Los Angeles Plays Itself

Play trailer Poster for Los Angeles Plays Itself Released Jan 1, 2004 2h 49m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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96% Tomatometer 46 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Consisting mostly of shots from other films, this documentary discusses the many representations of the city of Los Angeles in film and on television. Professor Thom Andersen compares the city as it exists in real life with its depictions on screen to examine how L.A. and its massive community have been misrepresented over the years. In addition to critical analysis, Andersen explains how directors portray the city itself as a character, and he also delves into L.A.'s dark history.
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Los Angeles Plays Itself

Los Angeles Plays Itself

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Critics Consensus

A treat for cinephiles, this documentary is a comprehensive, academic, and enlightening film essay concerning Los Angeles and its depiction in the movies.

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Critics Reviews

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Nick De Semlyen Empire Magazine Interesting in places, but let down by a narrator/director who is as dull as dishwater. Rated: 2/5 Oct 22, 2024 Full Review Justin Chang Los Angeles Times A definitive statement about how the movies have distorted our perceptions of this city's architectural, cultural and historical identity .. Sep 1, 2016 Full Review Richard Brody The New Yorker Blends a complex kaleidoscopic portrait of the city and a powerful work of film criticism with Andersen's personal story of living in Los Angeles. Apr 4, 2016 Full Review Dennis Harvey 48 Hills Its first half a sensuous nature idyll, it then gives way to an experimental-cinema bad trip whose fragmented domination interlude is redolent of LSD and Kenneth Anger. Aug 26, 2022 Full Review Dan Sallitt Senses of Cinema Ultimately, Los Angeles Plays Itself plays out as a document of the conflict between Anderson's love of movies and his distrust of mass media. Oct 17, 2018 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews This unusual brainy pic acts to show, in a provocative way, how Hollywood transforms a fiction film into a documentary. Rated: A- May 21, 2015 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jacob F The clips are interesting if you ignore the ranting of the narrator, who seems strangely neurotic. The movie is really long and would be hilarious if the delivery didn't seem so lacking in self-awareness. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 03/06/25 Full Review Niven H Great archive but strange meandering structure. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 09/02/19 Full Review david f An excellent and thoroughly comprehensive documentary about films set in Los Angeles with tons of scenes from movies both famous and obscure. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member The first part of this documentary is interesting and fun, but skip the second half as it's bog down into the director's take on what he thinks other directors have interpreted LA to be. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member Long, but worth it for film freaks. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Those who live in L.A. are quick to point out famous movie locations of films that didn't even exist in that city. Due to small budget many films can't travel outside of tinsel-town and have to use L.A.'s random side streets as anonymous backdrops. Other architectural landmarks double as hideouts for villainous drug lords and malevolent Japanese corporations. Being the home of Hollywood, it's the most filmed city in the world. How the city has been known over the past 80 years is more defined by movies than by realities. Here that idea is explored in every aspect from architecture to history to culture through Dragnet, Blade Runner, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Repo Man, Chinatown, and Rebel Without A Cause. This anthropological study as told by a cinephile that looks to redefine the city's image for movie lovers. It's enjoyable if you're interested in the city and if you just love film, but at a runtime of nearly 3 hours it's a bit of a haul. As a 3 part PBS miniseries I think it would have been a little more manageable. Still very intriguing and worthwhile. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Los Angeles Plays Itself

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Cast & Crew

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Thom Andersen

Director

Encke King

Narrator

Thom Andersen

Producer

Deborah Stratman

Cinematographer

Seung-Hyun Yoo

Film Editing

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Los Angeles Plays Itself

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Movie Info

Synopsis Consisting mostly of shots from other films, this documentary discusses the many representations of the city of Los Angeles in film and on television. Professor Thom Andersen compares the city as it exists in real life with its depictions on screen to examine how L.A. and its massive community have been misrepresented over the years. In addition to critical analysis, Andersen explains how directors portray the city itself as a character, and he also delves into L.A.'s dark history.
Director
Thom Andersen
Producer
Thom Andersen
Production Co
Thom Andersen Productions
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 1, 2004, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 14, 2014
Runtime
2h 49m
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