In this film, Dr. Sam, M.D. (Christian Bale) and his fiancee, Dr. Alex, M.D. (Kate Beckinsale), both graduates of Harvard Med, travel to Los Angeles to temporarily take up abode in the vacant residence of the former's mother, Jane (Frances McDormand), while Alex does a First Year Resident gig in the psychiatric unit of a local hospital and Alex finishes up her Ph.D. dissertation on the genomics of fruit flies. However, upon arriving at the home in LAUREL CANYON, the two find the place still occupied. Jane, a record producer and aging Flower Child, is using the location to put together a new disc with a British rock band. Uptight Sam, who describes his Mom as dysfunctional, is not overly surprised to find her presiding over an environment of marijuana, casual sex, and rock 'n' roll - the traditional California dangers (according to traditional mothers everywhere) to virtue and clean living. But there's nothing Sam can do on a daily basis but go off to do his shrink stuff, during which he becomes attracted to Second Year Resident Dr. Sara (Natascha McElhone), while leaving Alex at home to cope with the corrosive hedonism of surroundings so unlike those of her hoity-toity Eastern upbringing.

For me, the only reason to see LAUREL CANYON is the talented Frances McDormand, who proves that she, as an older actress, can be awfully sexy. Of the female roles in the film, world weary and wise Jane is the only one who promises a Good Time not subject to guilty post-coital introspection. Since none of the other characters captured my interest or sympathy, the quality of the acting involved in their portrayal is irrelevant. Ian (Alessandro Nivola), the leader of the rock group, is just obnoxious as Jane's 20-year-younger, Bad Boy lover. Sara is vapid as the seductress of the one she should be professionally mentoring, and who should know better. The admittedly lovely Alex is like a deer caught in the headlights of temptation, and Sam is too neurotic to be an appealing persona. And the very last scene of the film left my wife and I saying "Huh?".

If you have a choice between LAUREL CANYON and SIRENS, choose the latter. As an adult fairy tale and/or morality play, it's much more fun and entertaining.

An Hour and a Half you'll never get back!!
Review date: 2005-01-03 Rating: 2 out of 10

This film is quite simply a bland yawnfest that will have you wishing for your time back!

The acting is good but no story exists. I felt like I was watching a prolonged pilot episode for a new, less interesting version of 'The O.C.' I've only given it 1 star as zero isn't an option. The soundtrack is the only thing worthy of purchase.

One reviewer said this film was good, if only to let you see 'how the other half lived'??? I believe this is a bit of a daft statement as this kind of drug fuelled moral depravity exists on every level in life and doesn't seem at all glamourised.

Do yourself a favour, put on a good CD and watch some paint dry. It's time better spent!

Taboos and Adult Committment
Review date: 2004-03-14 Rating: 10 out of 10

Laurel Canyon is a street that runs through the Hollywood Hills. It has always been known as a place for the hippies, the Boogie Night scene, the off kilter, slightly left of left neighborhoods.
Into this community come Chrisitan Bale and Kate Beckinsale, newly marired and graduates of Harvard Medical School. Conserative by nature, uptight and serious. They are moving into Alex's (Christin Bale) mom's home while she is away. But, then Jane (Frances McDermond) isn't away. She is a veteran record producer and is in the midst of producing a hit single for a British group. The lead singer, Ian (Alessandro Nivola) and lover of Jane is just taking too long to get these tunes right.
The music he wields is on the edge and the beat grabs you.

Into this mix of honest exploration of relationships and a divergence of world views comes the revolution. Jane is into physical relationships, man and woman and variations of them all. Alex, the son, wants nothing to do with his mom's behavior. He wants the exact opposite. How will this resolve? What happens when two conservative Harvard grads break free of their boundaries? Can mom and her lover keep their fantasies to themselves? What is it about Laurel Canyon- what draws these people into a search for themeselves? I liked this movie- reminds me of the heydays of the 70's and 80's- prisrob

Laurel Canyon echoes with emotion!
Review date: 2003-12-23 Rating: 6 out of 10

Laurel Canyon is an unusual film for Hollywood. It is not your typical story line and that makes it interesting. It is about a young med student coming home with his (also med student) girlfriend to stay at his mother's place expecting she will not be home. Instead she is, and rather than this young couple being the free spirits, it turns out that Mom is a hippy holdover; albeit a fairly successful one who works in the recording industry. Frances McDormand plays Mom, and she is really what makes the movie worth watching. The British rock stars are also kind of cool!

The film says a lot about the relationship between mother & son. Some bits about the mother-girlfriend-rock star relationship are a little harder to imagine. Still, the film is worth watching, certainly for the acting, but also perhaps just to see the lifestyles of the rich and perverted!

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