A
Fabulous Cast... A Mediocre Story...
This
film revolves around the lives of five people.
Sam (Christian Bale) is a straight laced
individual who likes to keep things simple and
clean and contained by routine. His girlfriend,
Alex (Kate Beckinsale), is a 'brainiac' who
seems a little bored with her own life... a life
spent writing a dissertation on the mating
rituals of the fruit fly. Sam's mother (McDormand)
is a successful record producer who lives her
life with a complete lack of structure or
responsibility. She constantly makes the same
mistakes in her life and never seems to learn.
Her latest boy toy lover (Nivola) is the lead
singer of her latest signing... he is an
immature flirt. The fifth person is Sarah, a
doctor (McElhone) working in the same hospital
as Sam. She gives Sam rides to work every day
and flirts with little subtlety every time they
talk.
Sam & Alex are forced to live with his Mother
while they hunt for a home in the Hollywood
Hills. The situation really makes Sam
uncomfortable because he has some seriously pent
up issues with his Mom. Alex finds her hum-drum
routine pleasantly distracted by the craziness
of the musical home. She seems to like the care
free attitude and want to let go a little.
However, Sam is intent on keeping his life and
hers as dull as possible... all the while
entertaining thoughts of his new female
co-worker.
I suppose the film is interesting enough. I
never really had the inclination to look at my
watch. I think the biggest problem is that I
really don't know what the whole point was. I
didn't learn anything, I didn't really care
about any of the characters, and I thought the
whole group was a rather depressing & shallow
bunch. This film lacks a certain profundity when
it appears to be preaching some.
Sam is a clingy boyfriend who doesn't know how
to have fun. His Mother is a loser who hangs out
with losers and can't stop living in the past.
Her boy toy is the lead singer of a 'go nowhere'
band who uses her for the cash she can make him.
The only two characters who we can have any
sense of compassion for are Alex and Sarah. But
they both have their negative aspects too.
This film starts by showing us a group comprised
of winners and losers, and ends by revealing to
us that they are all, in fact, losers. There's
also the theme of 'relationship boredom'. Sam
and Alex are bored with each other, but don't
have the guts to admit it. So, they inevitably
drift apart until feelings get hurt and we have
the displeasure of watching... And what is the
fun or redeeming value in that?
It is a well made film with solid acting from
the entire cast... most notably from Beckinsale,
who never hits a wrong note in any film she
does. But the entire cast is mired in vagary and
blandness. It is hard to bring yourself to truly
care about these people.
To reiterate... this film is interesting to
watch, even if a little contrived. You'll find
yourself wanting to know what happens to them
all, but you won't care whether it's good or
bad. I am going to give this film a reluctant
recommendation because of the detailed plot and
superlative acting... but I don't think I'm ever
going to want to watch it again.
©
Written by TC Candler
Richard
Propes' Comment
n/a
Jacob
Hall's Comment
"Laurel Canyon" is an odd film about odd people
who do odd things. Christian Bale, Kate
Beckinsale and Frances McDormand are all
excellent in their roles, the soundtrack is
wonderful and the writing well done,
but...what's the point? There doesn't seem to be
a theme here. There is never a point. I could
never relate to these characters or like them
because they are all either arrogant, dumb as a
brick, or just an irresponsibly dangerous human
being.
