IMDb > Laurel Canyon (2002)
Laurel Canyon
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Laurel Canyon (2002) More at IMDbPro »

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Laurel Canyon (2002) -- When an uptight young man and his fiancee move into his libertine mother's house, the resulting clash of life attitudes shakes everyone up.
Laurel Canyon (2002) -- When an uptight young man and his fiancee move into his libertine mother's house, the resulting clash of life attitudes shakes everyone up.
Laurel Canyon (2002) -- HV post
Laurel Canyon (2002) -- CineMagia.ro - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
6.5/10   7,376 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 4% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Lisa Cholodenko
Writer (WGA):
Lisa Cholodenko (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Laurel Canyon on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
5 June 2003 (Israel) more
Genre:
Drama | Music more
Tagline:
On the road to the perfect life, Sam & Alex took a little detour.
Plot:
When an uptight young man and his fiancee move into his libertine mother's house, the resulting clash of life attitudes shakes everyone up. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
2 wins & 5 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(19 articles)
The Notable Films of 2010: Part Five
 (From Dark Horizons. 23 December 2009, 10:10 AM, PST)
The Notable Films of 2010: Part Five
 (From Dark Horizons. 23 December 2009, 10:10 AM, PST)
User Reviews:
"I'd much rather be in here than out there in that cold world..." more (133 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

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
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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)
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Stephen E. Hagen .... second assistant director (as Stephen Hagen)
David McGiffert .... first assistant director
John R. Saunders .... second second assistant director
 
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
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Jerry Bertolami .... dolly grip
Paul Birk .... electrician
Jeff Chassler .... electrician
Eric M. Davis .... electrician
Mitch Dubin .... camera operator
Richard Fezzey .... grip
Robert Forrest .... grip (as Robert G. Forrest)
Cory Geryak .... chief lighting technician
Bob Gorelick .... Steadicam operator
Michael Guthrie .... grip (as Mike Guthrie)
Bob Hall .... first assistant camera
Amy Hoffecker .... electrician
Casey Jones .... key grip (as Casey P. Jones)
Joe Kelly .... grip
Joe Macaluso .... grip
Peter McAdams .... best boy grip (as Pete McAdams)
Jim McComas .... electrician
Daniel C. McFadden .... camera loader (as Dan McFadden)
John Monsour .... 24 frame video operator
Noe Nava .... electrician
Neal Preston .... still photographer
P. Scott Sakamoto .... Steadicam operator
David A. Seekins .... camera loader (as David Seekins)
Philip Shanahan .... second assistant camera (as Phil Shanahan)
Laura Stewart .... electrician
Larry Sushinski .... best boy electric
Rachel Wells .... electrician
Curtis A. Andrews Jr. .... lighting technician (uncredited)
 
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
 
Crew believed to be complete


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Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for sexuality, language and drug use.
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
103 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby Digital
Certification:
New Zealand:R16 | Finland:K-11 | Iceland:12 | Malaysia:18PL | Australia:MA | Denmark:7 | Germany:12 | Norway:15 | Singapore:R(A) | Sweden:7 | UK:18 | USA:R | Argentina:13 | Canada:AA
Filming Locations:
Los Angeles, California, USA
Company:
Antidote Films (I) more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
In the party scene in the hotel room, Daniel Lanois, a real life famous record producer, makes a cameo appearance. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: On the plane, Sam and Alex ask for scotch and juice, respectively. The stewardess hands them a bottle (presumably of scotch), a glass of ice, and an empty glass. more
Quotes:
Sam: Why did you break up with Bobby? I thought Bobby was the real thing
Jane: Well, then I got to know him.
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in The 2004 IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards (2004) (TV) more
Soundtrack:
In a Funny Way more

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User Reviews

   (Review this title)
2 out of 2 people found the following review useful.
"I'd much rather be in here than out there in that cold world...", 24 July 2008
8/10
Author: Michael DeZubiria (miked32@hotmail.com) from Luoyang, China

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.

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