Laurel Canyon (B- or 2.5/4 stars)
In 2010, Writer/Director Lisa Cholodenko experienced wide success with her lesbian dramedy, The Kids Are All Right. That's a very good film. And I heard that she made an 'okay' film in 2003 called 'Laurel Canyon'. So I've now seen in and also regard it as 'okay'. The movie's title is derived from an area that runs through the middle of the Hollywood Hills near L.A. (where Cholodenko grew up). The plot is an examination of a stuffy East Coast couple seduced into a hedonistic, West Coast lifestyle. Both Sam (Christian Bale) & his fiancee Alex (Kate Beckinsale) graduated from Harvard Medical School & temporarily relocate to Sam's estranged mother's (Frances McDormand, as a Joni Mitchell-type) lavish home in Laurel Canyon for him to begin a residency in psychiatry at a local hospital.
Meanwhile, Alex can work on finishing her doctoral dissertation there. Sam is wildly overprotective of Alex, & is concerned that she might not be comfortable working in his wacky record producer mom's home. Sam's mother, Jane, has been engaging in a recent affair with hunky, libidinous Ian (Alessandro Nivola), who is 16 yrs. younger than her & is the lead singer of the British group she's currently cutting an album with in her home. The main plot revolves around a clash over differing lifestyles. Tension builds as Sam & Alex start to doubt their 'perfect' relationship. Complicating matters is an attractive Israeli doctor colleague (Natascha McElhone) who has eyes for Sam; and over time, Sam realizes that they share a lot in common. All the while, an unsettled Alex is intrigued by the Brit rocker & sits-in on their marijuana-fueled recording sessions; evens joins in on their partying. Alex is tempted by both Jane(!) & Ian (in a great swimming pool scene), & is confused - yet turned on - by their free-spirited intentions. Contrivances abound. And everything wraps-up 'okay', even with the fuzzy ending we're given.
Generally, I don't mind open-ended movies, but the ending here leaves an awful lot open; and I wonder what the reason for the lack of closure is. In any case, the movie is watchable from beginning to end. I wasn't wildly invested in the story or these people, but they are, at least, mildly interesting. I just wish the 'follow-through' was as good as the initial set-up. The performances are pretty good, even though the characters aren't fleshed-out enough. Frances McDormand comes out best; her delightfully loopy, pot/sex-lovin' mother is, by far, the most energetic & intriguing character. I also enjoyed Alessandro Nivola; he got the Brit rocker spirit down perfectly. And, to my ears, he nails a cockney British accent (the actor is from Boston).
Bale & Beckinsale convince us as utterly uptight doctor-types who struggle with their repressed desires. Bale & McElhone share an erotic car scene in which no skin is shown -- great acting there (and writing!). And Wally Pfister's lyrical cinematography aids the narrative extremely well. But as mentioned, it all just doesn't really go anywhere. I have no idea what will become of these people or their various relationships. Soooo ... why give us this story? That's the question I ask. I enjoyed getting a chance to see the type of upscale, bohemian Beverly Hills neighborhood that I had only imagined in my dreams. But that's not quite good enough for me to exalt the film. I needed more to chew on, for sure. So I rest on a B-/2.5 star rating. It's a flawed film, good 'enough', but as with most B-'s ... you wish for more.
Meanwhile, Alex can work on finishing her doctoral dissertation there. Sam is wildly overprotective of Alex, & is concerned that she might not be comfortable working in his wacky record producer mom's home. Sam's mother, Jane, has been engaging in a recent affair with hunky, libidinous Ian (Alessandro Nivola), who is 16 yrs. younger than her & is the lead singer of the British group she's currently cutting an album with in her home. The main plot revolves around a clash over differing lifestyles. Tension builds as Sam & Alex start to doubt their 'perfect' relationship. Complicating matters is an attractive Israeli doctor colleague (Natascha McElhone) who has eyes for Sam; and over time, Sam realizes that they share a lot in common. All the while, an unsettled Alex is intrigued by the Brit rocker & sits-in on their marijuana-fueled recording sessions; evens joins in on their partying. Alex is tempted by both Jane(!) & Ian (in a great swimming pool scene), & is confused - yet turned on - by their free-spirited intentions. Contrivances abound. And everything wraps-up 'okay', even with the fuzzy ending we're given.
Generally, I don't mind open-ended movies, but the ending here leaves an awful lot open; and I wonder what the reason for the lack of closure is. In any case, the movie is watchable from beginning to end. I wasn't wildly invested in the story or these people, but they are, at least, mildly interesting. I just wish the 'follow-through' was as good as the initial set-up. The performances are pretty good, even though the characters aren't fleshed-out enough. Frances McDormand comes out best; her delightfully loopy, pot/sex-lovin' mother is, by far, the most energetic & intriguing character. I also enjoyed Alessandro Nivola; he got the Brit rocker spirit down perfectly. And, to my ears, he nails a cockney British accent (the actor is from Boston).
Bale & Beckinsale convince us as utterly uptight doctor-types who struggle with their repressed desires. Bale & McElhone share an erotic car scene in which no skin is shown -- great acting there (and writing!). And Wally Pfister's lyrical cinematography aids the narrative extremely well. But as mentioned, it all just doesn't really go anywhere. I have no idea what will become of these people or their various relationships. Soooo ... why give us this story? That's the question I ask. I enjoyed getting a chance to see the type of upscale, bohemian Beverly Hills neighborhood that I had only imagined in my dreams. But that's not quite good enough for me to exalt the film. I needed more to chew on, for sure. So I rest on a B-/2.5 star rating. It's a flawed film, good 'enough', but as with most B-'s ... you wish for more.