Rating: 
Summary: Frances McDormand is a "babe" in every sense of the word
Review: I've always loved Frances McDormand. She completely gets into every role she plays. And in this film she's better than ever. Laurel Canyon is an area of Los Angeles where only the people who have "made it" live She's cast as Jane, a successful record producer in her mid forties. She lives her life with constant energy and enthusiasm. She smokes illegal substances and eats vegetarian. She looks great too, and is a "babe" in every sense of the word. We soon learn she has a long list of former lovers, both male and female. But currently she's involved with a young British rocker, played by Allesandro Nivola, and their couplings burn up the screen. Her son, Sam, on the other hand, played by Christian Bale, is exactly the opposite. He's just graduated from Harvard Medical School and is engaged to Alex, played by Kate Beckinsale, who is not only a doctor, but also a research scientist. They're supposed to borrow Jane's home while he completes his residency in a local hospital, but it doesn't work out that way. Jane stays in the house, which is also a recording studio, to finish up a record with the rock band. At the hospital, Sam meets a fellow doctor, Sara, played by Natascha McElhone and there is immediate electricity between them. And Alex spends her days in the house where she finds it impossible to concentrate on her dissertation and is welcomed downstairs to hang out with Jane and the band. Soon she's indulging in Jane's lifestyle. Eventually, she finds herself in a unique romantic scene. Conflict is inevitable of course, and the film plays out in a predictable way. And, when I think of it, the storyline is a little silly. But I loved the fact that the film was about an unconventional lifestyle. And I was amazed at the intensity of Frances McDormand's performance, which called for a full gamut of emotions. She made every scene in which she appeared sparkle and all other scenes paled in comparison. The film was written and directed by Lisa Cholodenko and even though the film is set in the present, there was a clear echo of the 1970s and the forces behind the rock music industry. Very enjoyable film. I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Delightful alterative to bloated Oscar contenders...
Review: I loved "Laurel Canyon". That may have something to do with the fact that I spent the last two weekends getting caught up on the Oscar contenders, and it may have something to do with the fact that I adored "High Art". It may have something to do with the fact that I love small, character driven movies with appealing musical angles. Whatever the reason, this movie perked me up after a spate of overrated, overstuffed critics' picks. The plot, which may be its weakest link, is a hybrid of "Almost Famous" and "Sex, Lies, and Videotape" with a dash of "The Graduate" thrown in for good measure. Uptight, straight-laced characters clash with the alternative livestyle of family members, set against the backdrop of Los Angeles. In this case, the clashing lifestyles involve mother and son, a record producer played by Frances McDormand and her psychiatrist son, played by Christian Bale. The cast is uniformly appealing, starting with McDormand, who is playing the bizarro world twin of her straighlaced mother character in "Almost Famous". She slips effortlessly into the role; every mannerism is perfect. Who hasn't known a woman like Jane? Kate Beckinsale beguils as Jane's uptight, overachieving future daughter-in-law. Their flirtation is set in motion by Ian, Jane's latest lover, a British singer who may well be on his way to being the next big thing. Running parallel to this threesome is a more restrained fling between Bale and the gorgeous Natasha McElhone, both medical residents who take their jobs and commitments far more seriously than the other three. Some will deride this movie as being cliche-ridden, although that quick-to-judge glibness overlooks the fact that beneath some of the stock situations there are new things here. I've never seen a movie about a woman seducing her future daughter-in-law, or have seen moments as honest as those between Bale and McElhone, as they piece together their attraction to each other and what they can do about it. Beckinsale and Bale aren't self-indulgent or mismatched, like many cinematic cheating couples; they just aren't fulfilled yet as a couple, and this movie marks one stage in their progress. This isn't a perfect movie, but it's a good one. I enjoyed all the performances and look forward to seeing this director's next work.
Rating: 
Summary: Atmospheric and Pleasurable
Review: I wanted to watch this movie because I like Christian Bale and had heard so much about Frances McDormand's perfomance. I had previously seen the director's film High Art (I enjoyed the film style of High Art, but not the message. However, Patricia Clarkson's turn as a glamorous German lesbian is fantastic.)
The set-up: a Harvard graduate psychiatrist returns to California to begin his residency at a mental facility. He plans to stay at his mother's house in Laurel Canyon with his brainiac girlfriend. The house is supposed to be vacated so that he can work and his fiancee can finish her dissertation. However, his mother, a highly successful record-producer, is still living in the house, trying to finish an album with her boyfriend's band. The psychiatrist son, who resents his unorthodox, lonely upbringing, tersely agrees to remain in the house until he and said girlfriend can find another place. The mother is well aware of her son's anger but feels helpless to fix the situation, so she ignores it. The son's girlfriend, a scientist, finds herself attracted to the open and creative lifestyle of her boyfriend's mom and the merry musicians. Finally, the psychiatrist finds himself attracted to another doctor at the hospital. I really enjoyed this movie because of the perfomances. Frances McDormand does a brilliant job as the perfect producer who is an imperfect mother. Much was made of the sexuality of the role, but her perfomance was so natural it all works. Christian Bale is remarkable as this son who judges his only parent harshly for her failings, but does forgive her. He rigidly organizes his life only to realize that life is fluid. Alessandro Nivola, Kate Beckinsale, and Natashcha McElhone have different accents and are wonderful as well. The music "scene" depictions are tremendous also(It is like watching a party you want to go to!). It is all very sensual. My only criticism is the script function of Kate Beckinsale's character as some innocent led astray. Even with the son' priggishness, I don't see his fiancee as a nubile object waiting to be defiled. That said, good movie.
Rating:
Summary: "You can control your heart."
Review: "Laurel Canyon" from director Lisa Cholodenko is the story of the problematic relationship between record producer mother Jane (Frances McDormand) and pyschiatrist son, Sam (Christian Bale). Sam, about to begin a residency programme, brings fiancee Alex (Kate Beckinsale) to his mother's house in Laurel Canyon. Jane isn't supposed to be there, but thanks to yet another tumultuous end to one of her many relationships, Jane is at the house with a British rock band trying to finalize a record. Sam is very annoyed by his mother's presence and apologizes in advance to Alex for his mother. Obviously just being in the same house sets Sam's teeth on edge, and his unease and impatience is in direct contrast to his mother's laid-back attitude about everything except music. Jane, who is in her 40s, is currently involved with boy-toy rocker Ian Macknight, and Sam clearly doesn't approve of all the frolicking that's going on while he's hard at work. Alex, who is supposed to be working on her dissertation, is slowly seduced away from her work and into the fun-loving company of the rest of the Lotus-eating residents. The film was flawed and does not reach the heights of perfection of "High Art"--Cholodenko's earlier film. Natascha McElhone as Sara--the beautiful resident attracted to Sam was a bit much for me. She looks like an international model dressed up as a doctor. The film would have been much better if Sara and Sam had an attraction that was a meeting of the minds rather than Sam's jaw dropping to the ground whenever he looks her way. Alessandro Nivola as Ian Macknight was marvellous. He played the role with a debonair decadence that was quite perfect. However, the main applause here must go to Frances McDormand. She was incredible. She plays the intense, successful and driven Jane with fire. Jane's character is very genuine, and while I marvelled that anyone like Sam could be related--even remotely--to someone like Jane--I also believed the relationship. Sam has spent a lifetime trying to be the opposite of his mother, but he may be more like her than he wants to admit. The film also had a great soundtrack. Cholodenko captured the mood of Southern California as few filmmakers have ever done, and I am excited to see more from this director--displacedhuman.
Rating: 
Summary: Engaging but predictable
Review: Laurel Canyon is an engaging, well-acted but ultimately formulaic film that explores some familiar situations and stereotypes (most notably, the by now tiresome contrast between the staid East Coast and hedonistic West Coast). The premise could be the set-up for a play, if not a sitcom -Sam and Alex, both conservative medical students (played by Christian Bale and Kate Beckinsale) are heading to Los Angeles and moving into the house of Sam's bohemian, record producer mother. From the very start, we are hit with clichés. Alex's parents are almost caricatures of uptight Easterners; the father chides Sam for not remaining at Harvard; the mother, only half jokingly, warns them not to become scientologists or vegetarians. Needless to say, the couple experiences culture shock when they arrive on the wild and woolly West Coast. Sam's mother Jane (Frances McDormand, in a typically great performance) has a much younger, musician boyfriend Ian (Alessandro Nivola). Jane and the musicians play music, smoke pot and party all night long while Sam and Alex, at first, try to maintain their serious way of life. Naturally, things do not continue in this mode for long. Alex is gradually seduced (both figuratively and literally) into the household's freer mores. She is fascinated and attracted to both Jane and Ian. Meanwhile Sam, in the inevitable parallel situation, is attracted to a beautiful fellow intern, Sarah. Will the couple remain together in the face of these temptations and challenges? Despite the stereotypes and a degree of predictability, the movie remains interesting most of the time. McDormand, Nivola and the other musicians are very natural and the scenes that show the making of a record and the interaction of Jane with the band members are quite believable. Bale and Beckinsale are, perhaps inevitably, not as interesting. There didn't seem to be much chemistry between them. Also, the emotional scenes between Sam and Jane more than anything else made me wonder how Jane could possibly be Sam's mother; they seem to be from different galaxies. Laurel Canyon is not a bad movie and it has some genuinely good qualities. I thought that it started off weakly (the stereotypes again), became quite good in the middle and then concluded on a too cute and simplistic note.
Rating:
Summary: Bale, Beckinsale, Nivola, McElhone and McDorman are great
Review: Christian Bale(Equilibrium, Reign Of Fire) is Frances McDormand's (Almost Famous, Fargo) son who brings his new fiancee played by Kate Beckinsale (Van Helsing, Underworld2003) or wife (I forgot) up to visit. McDormand is kind of a wild mother who smokes, drinks, parties, listens to rock music and dates a musician played with poncey premese by Alessandro Nivola(Best Laid Plans, Jurassic Park 3). Things happen when Nivola and McDormand tempt Beckinsale into their world. Bale goes off with a mysterious woman played nicely by Natasha McElhone(Ronin, The Truman Show, Solaris2002). Bale gets all emotional when he finds Beckinsale and Nivola in a hotel together and theres a lot of problems. A nicely written script and good cast and story make this worth the watch. Though i'm not convinced Alessandro Nivola actually sang that song and played guitar, not the least bit convinced unless someone tells me he did then id agree and go yeah he did and ill just shut the hell up
Rating:
Summary: Frances McDormand is a "babe" in every sense of the word
Review: I've always loved Frances McDormand. She completely gets into every role she plays. And in this film she's better than ever. Laurel Canyon is an area of Los Angeles where only the people who have "made it" live She's cast as Jane, a successful record producer in her mid forties. She lives her life with constant energy and enthusiasm. She smokes illegal substances and eats vegetarian. She looks great too, and is a "babe" in every sense of the word. We soon learn she has a long list of former lovers, both male and female. But currently she's involved with a young British rocker, played by Allesandro Nivola, and their couplings burn up the screen. Her son, Sam, on the other hand, played by Christian Bale, is exactly the opposite. He's just graduated from Harvard Medical School and is engaged to Alex, played by Kate Beckinsale, who is not only a doctor, but also a research scientist. They're supposed to borrow Jane's home while he completes his residency in a local hospital, but it doesn't work out that way. Jane stays in the house, which is also a recording studio, to finish up a record with the rock band. At the hospital, Sam meets a fellow doctor, Sara, played by Natascha McElhone and there is immediate electricity between them. And Alex spends her days in the house where she finds it impossible to concentrate on her dissertation and is welcomed downstairs to hang out with Jane and the band. Soon she's indulging in Jane's lifestyle. Eventually, she finds herself in a unique romantic scene. Conflict is inevitable of course, and the film plays out in a predictable way. And, when I think of it, the storyline is a little silly. But I loved the fact that the film was about an unconventional lifestyle. And I was amazed at the intensity of Frances McDormand's performance, which called for a full gamut of emotions. She made every scene in which she appeared sparkle and all other scenes paled in comparison. The film was written and directed by Lisa Cholodenko and even though the film is set in the present, there was a clear echo of the 1970s and the forces behind the rock music industry. Very enjoyable film. I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: It all comes down to accepting folks the way they are!
Review: I actually just finished watching this film a few minutes ago and loved it. I'm, of course, a huge fan of Frances McDormand. She can do no wrong in my book, but I thought the story and the acting was wonderful on all fronts. In some ways we are all embarrassed by our parents, as they are us, but as we get older, we learn to extend our limits of patience and realize it is all about love..the love you give and receive. Sometimes you need to test your boundaries to find out if your choices are the right ones. The soundtrack blew me away and I've just ordered it as well.
Rating: 
Summary: Propaganda.
Review: Fine acting and good photography wasted. This film pretends to be a study of fidelity until the girlfriend starts a threesome with the mom and her boyfriend. While watching Kate Beckensale kissing Frances McDormand you discover the film is saying that all women are repressed lesbians. This is not true at all but obviously is the fantasy of the writer. It is gross and proposterous to see a man's girlfriend cheat on him with his Mom. What were they thinking?!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Indie
Review: Immediately drawn to anything with the name, "Christian Bale" in it, I saw "Laurel Canyon" as soon as it came out in theatres. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, and the opening scene left me a bit skeptical. I'm not usually one for the artsy-independent films, but there was something about this one. The cinematography is beautiful and the characters are engaging and likeable, despite their vices. After seeing the film, I have to admit that I was a bit shocked at some of the things that happened, but after thinking about it, the only way I can describe this film is, "absolutely beautiful." Everything about it is rhetorically savvy, with intelligently written parts, and wonderfully developed characters. It is almost as if the creators did a "mind experiment" in which well-developed characters, that we can relate to, are placed in uncharacteristic environments so that we may see the implications of one's actions and upbringing. "Laurel Canyon's" music is superb; I reccommend the soundtrack if you enjoyed the songs. I also strongly reccommend this film to anyone who: (a) enjoys indie films, (b) enjoys artistic films, (c) is attracted to beauty, and (d) likes to watch meaningful, thought-provoking films. Excellent, simply marvelous!
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