| Photos (see all 62 | slideshow) | Videos (see all 10) |
| Frances McDormand | ... | Jane | |
| Christian Bale | ... | Sam | |
| Kate Beckinsale | ... | Alex | |
| Natascha McElhone | ... | Sara | |
| Alessandro Nivola | ... | Ian McKnight | |
| Lou Barlow | ... | Fripp (as Louis Knox Barlow) | |
| Russell Pollard | ... | Rowan | |
| Imaad Wasif | ... | Dean | |
| Mickey Petralia | ... | Mickey | |
| Melissa De Sousa | ... | Claudia | |
| Alexandra Carter | ... | Darla | |
| Michelle DeMirjian | ... | China (as Michelle Demirjian) | |
| Rick Gonzalez | ... | Wyatt | |
| Dennis Howard | ... | Mr. Elliot | |
| Catherine McGoohan | ... | Mrs. Elliot | |
| Judith Montgomery | ... | Woman 1 | |
| Patricia Place | ... | Woman 2 | |
| Willo Hausman | ... | Cambridge Party Guest #1 | |
| Greg Wolfson | ... | Cambridge Party Guest #2 | |
| Brandy Nightingale | ... | Cambridge Party Guest #3 | |
| Catharine Scott | ... | Stewardess | |
| Marcus Ashley | ... | Tom | |
| Lyle Kanouse | ... | Hospital Patient #1 | |
| Marcia Cholodenko | ... | Hospital Patient #2 | |
| Gina Doctor | ... | Gloria | |
| Lauri Johnson | ... | Landlord | |
| Tom Griffiths | ... | Manager | |
| Reef Karim | ... | ER Doctor | |
| Lou Cutell | ... | Elderly Man | |
| Zeus | ... | Elderly Man's Dog | |
| Nick Kiriazis | ... | Justin | |
| Heidi Sulzman | ... | Laura | |
| Ariel Felix | ... | Mark | |
| Marie Blanco | ... | Debby | |
| Ted Koland | ... | Room Service Guy | |
| Philip Pavel | ... | Philip, the Concierge | |
| Mark Rogerson | ... | Doctor | |
| Justin Meldal-Johnsen | ... | Soft Rocker | |
| Mark Linkous | ... | Himself | |
| Daniel Lanois | ... | Himself |
Directed by | |||
| Lisa Cholodenko | |||
Writing credits(WGA) | ||
| Lisa Cholodenko | (written by) | |
Produced by | |||
| Scott Ferguson | .... | executive producer | |
| Jeffrey Levy-Hinte | .... | producer | |
| David McGiffert | .... | co-producer | |
| Susan A. Stover | .... | producer | |
| Dara Weintraub | .... | line producer | |
Original Music by | |||
| Craig Wedren | |||
Cinematography by | |||
| Wally Pfister | |||
Film Editing by | |||
| Amy E. Duddleston | |||
Casting by | |||
| Deborah Aquila | |||
| Mary Tricia Wood | (as Tricia Wood) | ||
Production Design by | |||
| Catherine Hardwicke | |||
Art Direction by | |||
| Stephanie Gilliam | |||
Set Decoration by | |||
| Gene Serdena | |||
Costume Design by | |||
| Cindy Evans | |||
Makeup Department | |||
| Margot Boccia | .... | makeup artist: Ms. Beckinsale | |
| Voni Hinkle | .... | hair department head | |
| Melanie Hughes | .... | key makeup artist (as Melanie Hughes-Weaver) | |
| Ben Nye Jr. | .... | makeup artist | |
| Shari Perry | .... | key hair stylist | |
Production Management | |||
| Scott Ferguson | .... | unit production manager | |
| Beau J. Genot | .... | post-production supervisor | |
| James R. Maceo | .... | production supervisor (as Jim Maceo) | |
Art Department | |||
| Chuck Askerneese | .... | assistant property master | |
| Mychael Bates | .... | property master | |
| Mike Boudreau | .... | swing gang | |
| Jack Cornelius | .... | swing gang (as Jack B. Cornelius Jr.) | |
| Nicole Cramer | .... | art department intern | |
| Peter Croyle | .... | construction coordinator | |
| Heather Duthie | .... | art department intern | |
| Elias Garcia | .... | labor foreman | |
| J. Michael Glynn | .... | swing gang (as Michael Glynn) | |
| Canada Johanna Gordon | .... | assistant art director | |
| Jean B. Kliever | .... | art department coordinator | |
| Robert Louden | .... | greensman | |
| Todd Morris | .... | on-set dresser | |
| Craig Anthony Muzio | .... | master scenic (as Craig Muzio) | |
| John 'Johnny O' Ornelas | .... | assistant props (as John Ornelas) | |
| Rita Rani | .... | art department intern (as Rita Ahyja) | |
| Eric Reichardt | .... | master scenic | |
| Lee Ross | .... | stand-by painter | |
| Grant Samson | .... | lead person | |
| Jessica Samuelson | .... | assistant props | |
| Keith Sawyer | .... | stand-by painter | |
| Christopher E. Schmid | .... | greens foreman | |
| Thomas Spencer | .... | swing gang | |
| Robert Stover | .... | assistant set decorator (as Robert L. Stover) | |
| Paul Treuscorff | .... | construction foreperson | |
Sound Department | |||
| Mandy Allen | .... | adr recordist | |
| Joe Barnett | .... | sound re-recording mixer | |
| Javier Bennassar | .... | sound effects editor | |
| Frank Bradley | .... | utility sound | |
| Evan Daum | .... | sound assistant | |
| Jed M. Dodge | .... | dialogue editor (as Jed Dodge) | |
| Matt Dubin | .... | sound recordist | |
| Tom Efinger | .... | adr recordist | |
| Mary Erstad | .... | foley mixer | |
| Marc Fishman | .... | sound re-recording mixer | |
| Bruno Frascà | .... | adr mixer (as Bruno Frasca) | |
| Frank Gaeta | .... | sound designer | |
| Frank Gaeta | .... | sound supervisor | |
| Phyllis Ginter | .... | foley artist | |
| Marilyn Graf | .... | foley mixer (as Marilyn Graff) | |
| Robert Jackson | .... | boom operator | |
| Emily McCullough | .... | adr recordist (as Emalie McCullough) | |
| Steve Nelson | .... | production sound mixer | |
| Alec St. John | .... | sound effects editor | |
| Trevor Ward | .... | stereo sound consultant: Dolby | |
Special Effects by | |||
| Larry Fioritto | .... | special effects coordinator | |
| Virgil Sanchez | .... | special effects technician | |
Visual Effects by | |||
| Devin Johnson | .... | motion control assistant | |
| Lee Ford Parker | .... | motion control photographer | |
Stunts | |||
| Elle Alexander | .... | stunts (as Elle Itkoff) | |
| Steve M. Davison | .... | stunts (as Steve Davison) | |
| Debbie Evans | .... | stunts (as Debbie Evans Leavitt) | |
| Greg Harris | .... | stunts (as Greg C. Harris) | |
| Buddy Joe Hooker | .... | stunt coordinator | |
| Norman Howell | .... | stunts | |
| Diana R. Lupo | .... | stunts (as Diana Lupo) | |
| Chuck Picerni Jr. | .... | stunts | |
| Chad Randall | .... | stunts | |
| Jimmy N. Roberts | .... | stunts | |
| Katie Rowe | .... | stunts | |
| Mike Smith | .... | stunt double | |
| Dana Stein | .... | stunts | |
| Ron Stein | .... | stunts | |
Animation Department | |||
| Martin Garner | .... | computer animator | |
Casting Department | |||
| Rich King | .... | extras casting | |
| Jennifer Munoz | .... | casting associate | |
| Jennifer L. Smith | .... | casting associate (as Jennifer Smith) | |
Costume and Wardrobe Department | |||
| Deborah Myles Davis | .... | costume supervisor | |
| Anne Laoparadonchai | .... | costumer | |
| Laura Marolakos | .... | costumer | |
| Peggy A. Schnitzer | .... | assistant costume designer (as Peggy Schnitzer) | |
Editorial Department | |||
| Don Capoferri | .... | dailies color grader | |
| Alana Greenfield | .... | negative cutter | |
| Vivian Hengsteler | .... | negative cutter (as Vivian Hengstelar) | |
| Caryn Marcus | .... | editorial | |
| Mato | .... | color timer | |
| Hilary Schroeder | .... | associate film editor | |
Music Department | |||
| Mike Andrews | .... | musician: guitar, Ian's Band | |
| Lou Barlow | .... | musician: bass, Ian's Band | |
| Latashia DeVeaux | .... | music coordinator (as Latashia Deveaux) | |
| Justin Jacquemotte | .... | music production assistant | |
| Greg Kurstin | .... | musician: keyboards: Ian's Band | |
| Lee Mars | .... | additional score mixer | |
| Mickey Petralia | .... | music producer: Ian's Band | |
| Russell Pollard | .... | musician: drums, Ian's Band | |
| Karyn Rachtman | .... | executive soundtrack album producer | |
| Karyn Rachtman | .... | music supervisor | |
| Lise Richardson | .... | music editor (as Lisé Richardson) | |
| Fred Vogler | .... | music recording engineer (as Fred R. Vogler) | |
| Joey Waronker | .... | musician: drums, Ian's Band | |
| Imaad Wasif | .... | musician: guitar, Ian's Band | |
| Craig Wedren | .... | additional score mixer | |
Transportation Department | |||
| Mark 'Bugsy' Albertson | .... | driver | |
| David F. Hoiseck | .... | driver | |
| Paul Kowalczyk | .... | driver | |
| David G. Lang | .... | driver | |
| John 'Hoover' Lee | .... | driver (as John Lee 'Hoover') | |
| Randy Mellison | .... | driver | |
| Chaddon E. Merrick | .... | driver | |
| Gordie Merrick | .... | driver | |
| Guy Merrick | .... | transportation captain | |
| Michael Merrick | .... | transportation coordinator | |
| Roxanne 'Rocky' Merrick | .... | driver | |
| Buster Videgain | .... | driver (as Gregg R. Videgain) | |
| Johnny Videgain | .... | driver | |
| Louis Videgain | .... | driver | |
| Gary Wiseman | .... | driver (as Gary J. Wiseman) | |
Other crew | |||
| Gregg Alberg | .... | set production assistant | |
| Tamara Allen | .... | production coordinator | |
| Sia Aryai | .... | artwork provider | |
| Chad Attie | .... | artwork provider | |
| Mary Pat Bentel | .... | assistant: Ms. Cholodenko | |
| Myron Bitting | .... | coordinator: LAPD | |
| Kyle Boorman | .... | artwork provider | |
| Kayce Brown | .... | set production assistant | |
| Heather Cappiello | .... | script supervisor | |
| Harrison Cheung | .... | assistant: Mr. Bale | |
| Mark A. Ciardelli | .... | cook | |
| Vincent Cortez | .... | security officer (as Vince Cortez) | |
| Chris Cox | .... | artwork provider | |
| Julie David | .... | stand-in: Ms. Beckinsale | |
| Mathilde Decagney | .... | animal trainer (as Mathilde De Cagney) | |
| Brad Doran | .... | album art courtesy of | |
| Antonio Evans | .... | first aid | |
| Perri Fichtner | .... | location scout | |
| John B. Finn | .... | post-production accounting services: JFA Inc. (as John Finn) | |
| Corinne Fixmer | .... | accounting consultant | |
| Jenny Fumarolo | .... | assistant: Frances McDormand | |
| Oanas Alberto Garcia | .... | cook | |
| Sharon Gardner | .... | accounting consultant | |
| Mimi Glaser | .... | clearance/product placement coordinator | |
| John Goetz | .... | artwork provider | |
| Michael Haber | .... | artwork provider | |
| Don Hannah | .... | album art courtesy of | |
| Tom Hellyer | .... | set production assistant | |
| Michael Hobley | .... | artwork provider | |
| Brandon Hollyer | .... | first assistant accountant | |
| Takeo Hori | .... | staff: Antidote Films | |
| Kim-Minh Huberwald | .... | office production assistant | |
| April A. Janow | .... | production accountant | |
| Phill Kane | .... | location scout (as Phil Kane) | |
| Greg Kappy | .... | assistant location manager | |
| Reef Karim | .... | medical technical advisor (as Reef Karim M.D.) | |
| Phyllis Kaufman | .... | legal services | |
| Jeremy Kidd | .... | artwork provider | |
| Zbigniew Kozlowski | .... | unit publicist: Block-Korenbrot (as Ziggy A. Kozlowski) | |
| Steve Krug | .... | key set production assistant | |
| Susan Leber | .... | staff: Antidote Films | |
| Elio Lupo | .... | assistant: Ms. Beckinsale | |
| James R. Maceo | .... | location manager (as Jim Maceo) | |
| Sheikh 'Ubi' Ubaid Mahmood | .... | office production assistant | |
| Michael Manheim | .... | artwork provider | |
| Cleo Maye | .... | assistant craft service | |
| Frankie McEwen | .... | stand-in: Ms. McElhone | |
| Paul Mercier | .... | looping group | |
| John Monsour | .... | computer consultant | |
| Scott Morgan | .... | production secretary (as Phil Packer) | |
| David Mortimer | .... | unit publicist: Block-Korenbrot | |
| Darin Moss | .... | layout board | |
| Stan Nelson | .... | consultant: bioinformatic (as Stan Nelson M.D.) | |
| Carla S. Nemec | .... | additional clearances (as Carla Nemec) | |
| Brandy Nightingale | .... | personal assistant: Ms. Beckinsale | |
| René Norman | .... | artwork provider | |
| KB Pugliese | .... | payroll accountant | |
| Antonio Quinn | .... | stand-in: Mr. Nivola | |
| Irwin M. Rappaport | .... | legal services (as Irwin M. Rappaport Esq.) | |
| Emmanuel T. Reyes | .... | cook's helper | |
| Nathan Robinson | .... | assistant: Mr. Nivola | |
| Karen Robson | .... | legal services | |
| Mark Rogerson | .... | stand-in: Mr. Bale | |
| Matthew Rudolph | .... | location assistant | |
| Michael Sartain | .... | set production assistant | |
| Charlie Scott | .... | craft service | |
| Mary Jane Skalski | .... | staff: Antidote Films | |
| Helene Slavin | .... | artwork provider | |
| Michael Spalt | .... | artwork provider | |
| Pattee Stayrook | .... | art consultant: Art O'Rama | |
| Dorit Thies | .... | artwork provider | |
| Justin Thomas | .... | chef | |
| Peter Vogel | .... | assistant production coordinator | |
| Beth Wernick | .... | looping group | |
| J. John Corbett | .... | title designer (uncredited) | |
| Frank Murray | .... | post-production accountant (uncredited) | |
| Dan Riley | .... | assistant: Irwin M. Rappaport (uncredited) | |
Thanks | |||
| Karen Bernstein | .... | special thanks | |
| David Bowie | .... | special thanks | |
| Laura Cholodenko | .... | special thanks | |
| Marcia Cholodenko | .... | special thanks | |
| Paul Cholodenko | .... | special thanks | |
| Mark Christopher | .... | special thanks | |
| Janet Clogston | .... | special thanks | |
| David Colden | .... | special thanks | |
| Elvis Costello | .... | special thanks | |
| Jennifer Cox | .... | special thanks | |
| Maureen Duffy | .... | special thanks | |
| Larry Elins | .... | special thanks | |
| Linda Elins | .... | special thanks | |
| Howard Fabrick | .... | special thanks (as Howard Fabrick Esq.) | |
| Graham Dary Ferguson | .... | special thanks | |
| Rodrigo García | .... | special thanks (as Rodrigo Garcia) | |
| Christie Gaumer | .... | special thanks | |
| Deborah Harry | .... | special thanks | |
| Michael Hausman | .... | special thanks (as Professor Michael Hausman) | |
| Peter Himmelstein | .... | special thanks | |
| Tamara Jenkins | .... | special thanks | |
| Justin Kardan | .... | special thanks | |
| Karen Kardan | .... | special thanks | |
| Kayvan Kardan | .... | special thanks | |
| Larry Klein | .... | special thanks | |
| Julia Kole | .... | special thanks | |
| Jeanne Levy-Hinte | .... | very special thanks | |
| Emmanuel Lubezki | .... | special thanks | |
| Andy Marcus | .... | special thanks | |
| Dr. Charles 'Chip' McDaniel | .... | special thanks | |
| Doug McGrath | .... | special thanks | |
| Kathy McWorter | .... | special thanks | |
| Barry Mendel | .... | special thanks | |
| Eric Mendelsohn | .... | special thanks | |
| John Miller-Monzon | .... | special thanks | |
| Joni Mitchell | .... | special thanks | |
| Susan Muir | .... | special thanks | |
| Phedon Papamichael | .... | special thanks | |
| Iggy Pop | .... | special thanks | |
| Alex Porter | .... | special thanks | |
| Kelly Reichart | .... | special thanks | |
| Kate Robin | .... | special thanks | |
| Ira Sachs | .... | special thanks | |
| Michelle Satter | .... | special thanks | |
| Amy Scholder | .... | special thanks | |
| Sleater-Kinney | .... | special thanks | |
| Bruce Springsteen | .... | special thanks | |
| Chris Stein | .... | special thanks | |
| Patrick Stettner | .... | special thanks | |
| Robin Vachal | .... | special thanks | |
| Bart Walker | .... | special thanks | |
| Brendan Ward | .... | special thanks | |
| Joey Waronker | .... | special thanks | |
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| Lackawanna Blues | 24 Hour Party People | Stoned | Short Cuts | Saved! |
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It has taken me years to get around to watching Laurel Canyon, even after having lived in Los Angeles and worked in West Hollywood for a year and a half. There is more about the southern California lifestyle to dislike than can ever be explained in less than 1,000 words, and this movie takes on really just a tiny, tiny part of it, but it paints a picture of show business life clashing with 'normal' life that matches the reality that I experienced there with astonishing accuracy.
Of course, a lot of the effect comes from the location shooting. Anyone from Los Angeles will instantly recognize many of the locations, particularly things like the Château Marmont hotel (where, incidentally, Lindsay Lohan lived for months and months in 2006 while she couldn't seem to stop partying enough to find a real apartment) and, more importantly, that charming cafe at the corner of Laurel Canyon and Kirkwood Drive, where I often used to go for coffee.
Jim Morisson's house, a few feet away, is sadly overlooked, which is strange since the movie is about the hectic world behind the scenes of the music industry. Christian Bale plays the part of Sam, a young professional, a psychiatrist already tired of his profession and struggling to start a life with his young wife, Alex. Kate Beckinsale is the perfect embodiment of a young bride horrified by the debauchery taking place around her, as she and Sam move into his mother's house to find, to their dismay, that she has not moved out as promised, but is still there recording music with some dirty, stoned musicians. It is truly remarkable how flawlessly Francisc McDormand fits into the role of the aging mother still stuck in a rock star lifestyle. She is truly one of our most versatile actors!
While the relationship between Sam and Alex is realistic and convincing enough (especially Sam's dismay at bringing Alex around his mother, and his clearly desperate need not to displease her - note the way he looks at her when he declines his mother's offer of a drink...), but the mother-son relationship is not believable in the slightest.
But this, however, is not something that I think the movie is shooting for. This is not a family drama, it's a comparison of different lifestyles, sort of a peek into the craziness of show business life juxtaposed with everyday American society (the educated kind, at least), and how completely different and unmixable they are. Unmixable? Is that a word? Anyway, you get the idea. Water and oil. It's nearly impossible to imagine a smart, well-balanced young man entering his career as a psychiatrist having come from the environment that Jane (McDormand) would have provided him during childhood, but the situational drama that comes from their relationship is revelatory about both lifestyles.
The actual neighborhoods and the style of the houses in that part of Hollywood are presented perfectly, thanks in no small part to the location shooting, but it also captures the attitude in many ways as well. I will say that I found the ending to be a bit sudden, but if nothing else, it's one of those movies that makes you think. You may find yourself imagining one lifestyle or the other, and comparing your own thoughts to how the people in the movie were living. It makes you think, and while I found some scenes and situations a little too far of a stretch (Sam's fascination with the darker lifestyle is interesting, but getting involved sexually with her husband's mother? Yeah RIGHT...), it's still an interesting and well-written drama.