Spanner-2 Review of Laurel Canyon

Laurel Canyon (2002)

Terrific character piece, wish it had an ending

[8/10 · 10 March 2003]

In this film, currently playing only the arthouse theaters, Christian Bale brings his fiance (Kate Beckinsale) to L.A. to live in his mom's house temporarily while they try to find their own place. His mom however, is a free spirited record producer prone to wild parties and doping... and is also sleeping with the lead singer (Alessandro Nivola) of the band she is producing. Frances McDormand plays the mom and is terrific in the role, as she shows that she loves her life and does care about her estranged son, even as she winds up seducing Beckinsale's character into her lifestyle. The cast is great, the location work in Laurel Canyon is terrific and the characters are all interesting people. My only gripe would be about the ending, or lack thereof.. the film just kindof ends without a resolution. GRADE: A-