- Actors: Frances McDormand, Alessandro Nivola, Christian Bale, Kate Beckinsale, Natascha McElhone
- Directors: Lisa Cholodenko
- Writers: Lisa Cholodenko
- Producers: Dara Weintraub, David McGiffert, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte, Scott Ferguson, Susan A. Stover
- Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Letterboxed, Live, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
- Language: English
- Subtitles: French
- Region: (US and Canada This DVD will probably NOT be viewable in other countries. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
- Number of discs: 1
- Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
- Release Date: July 15 2003
- Run Time: 103 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00009MEKN
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
#14,609 in DVD (See Top 100 in DVD)
- #38 in DVD > Drama > Love & Romance > Infidelity & Betrayal
- #40 in DVD > Drama > Love & Romance > Love Triangle
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Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Lisa Cholodenko embodies inhibitions, choices, and love...,
By
This review is from: Laurel Canyon (DVD)
The story surrounds Sam's (Christian Bale) mother Jane (Frances McDormand) who is a successful pleasure-seeking record producer in California. Sam escaped the hedonistic life style of his mother to seek a more responsible spot in the world through attending the Harvard Medical School from which he has recently graduated with a emphasis in psychiatry. In addition, Sam has furthered his rebellion against his mothers life style by proposing to a beautiful Harvard scientist, Alex (Kate Beckinsale). The perfectionist Alex moves with Sam to California where she can work on her thesis in regards to fruit flies and Sam can begin his residency in psychiatry. In order to save some money Sam and Alex move temporarily into Jane's house, which is a haven for drugs, sex, and rock-n-roll. Alex, who grew up in a rigid life style with country clubs and specific societal rules, are fascinated by Jane's life style and begins to explore the world that she never has experienced, which is about to lead into an emotionally painful journey. Laurel Canyon is a terrific film about inhibitions, choices, and love, which Lisa Cholodenko embodies through the different characters. Cholodenko depicts the personal rules of the characters through social interactions between the characters as well as in the mise-en-scene. These personal rules are about to be broken as the characters are set in a society where rules are not the norm or wanted. This leads to interpersonal conflicts as it will most certainly hurt the individuals in the social setting in which they live. The conflicts lead the audience to ponder what is acceptable and desirable in our contemporary society where many different norms exists. In essence these norms are scrutinized through the fine direction and performance by an excellent cast.
3.0 out of 5 stars
A long self-involved crisis,
By Kylie6 "Kylie" (USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Laurel Canyon (DVD)
'Laurel Canyon' is the meandering American version of a tale that was better told in another Christian Bale film: 'Metroland'.Sam (Bale) and Alex (Beckinsale) are two yuppies displaced from their hum-drum successful lives into the "wild" home of Sam's disfunctional mother (McDormand). The story attempts to show the ambiguity of love and committment as the secluded Alex starts to experiment in the world of sex, drugs, and rock & roll. Simultaneously (and all-too predictably), Sam is drawn into an attraction with a co-worker. There were only two scenes that I liked: when Sam returns home after a drunken proposal and the explosive scene at the hotel. Beyond those two moments, 'Laurel Canyon' is a poorly written and one-dimensional film and I don't understand why such talented actors were drawn to it. For a movie that explores the commitment, honesty, and culture issues more skillfully, do yourself a favor and see 'Metroland' instead.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Run-of-the-mill love story with memorable characters,
By Duotonex (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Laurel Canyon (DVD)
I'm one of those people who saw this movie because of: A. Frances McDormand and the fact that she excels at every role she plays, and B. Christian Bale because I still hope that someday he returns to the type of psychotic role he played in American Psycho.This is not a terrible movie, but those who are talking of Oscar snubs should have seen more movies in 2002. McDormand's performance as a middle-aged record producer is believable enough and pretty well-done. In fact both Bale and Beckinsale also do a pretty good job as the right brained young professionals who simply aren't used to the "rock-and-roll" lifestyle. (Although Beckinsale took it just a little too far in the role of the nerdy bookworm working on her dissertation) The problem lies within the story itself. You've seen this movie many times before. Boy has girl, boy loses girl, boy gets another girl, boy realizes he misses first girl, boy gets back with first girl. My feeling is that the movie needed a serious disaster or chaotic event to really drive the plotline, but none of the sort is evident. By the way, this review would've been 2 stars if not for the hilarious performance by McDormand's love interest in the film. I think his name was Alessandro Nivola or something.
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