Frances McDormand,
Christian Bale,
Kate Beckinsale,
Natascha McElhone,
Alessandro Nivola
... see more 
Writer/director Lisa Cholodenko follows up her much-acclaimed 1997 debut High Art with this examination of a young couple seduced into a hedonistic, left-coast lifestyle. Taking its title from its cen... read more
DVD Release Date: July 15, 2003
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Stats: 539 reviews
Your Rating
Flixster Reviews (539)
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January 22, 2008Relatively subtle, decently played inter-generational relationship drama - ultimately... kinda unsatisfying as a story. Felt like the film-maker had good characters, actors and settings... but it kinda went fffftt. Could have been good.
Reminded me a little of Beatty and Ashby... read more -
November 20, 2009A good dramatic story with a comedic side. It relies on the acting talents to carry the story, who do that quite well. Christian Bale, Kate Beckinsale and Frances McDormand all gave strong performances and worked quite well together. I feel that the movie lacked a message, but it... read more
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August 6, 2008"Christan Bale and Kate Beckansale deliver a wonderful delight"
I really enjoyed this movie. This one of Christan Bale's first and best films. Its about alot of things like affairs, relationships, mother and son, and rockers who do anything for sex. Its a big drama that any... read more -
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March 14, 2007Bale and Beckinsale play the most attractive and also the most boring couple alive and you're begging for them to break up by the end of the movie. The performances were pretty good but the characters were pretty pretentious and slightly lame. And the last scene was supposed to m... read more
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May 24, 2008Christian Bale is brilliant as always but the rest of the film isn't. It's a character piece (and thankfully short), but it does appear to be an exercise in making Kate Beckinsale strip down to her underwear (thanks to a no-nudity clause) every ten minutes...all very well, but is... read more
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January 19, 2012fb677587177I really can't say why I like this movie, but I do. It's not because it really ever goes anywhere- it doesn't. It's not because any of the characters are particularly likeable- they're not. I didn't walk away from it feeling enlightened, or even particularly entertained, but some... read more
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December 8, 2010OMG! I love the scene with Christian Bale and Natasha Mcelhone when they are talking about what they want to do to each other sexually. And then the passionately kiss.
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July 9, 2009This movie didn't have much as far as plot goes, but there was some nice character development going on. The actors did a nice job with that - Frances McDormand in particular.
Critic Reviews
April 25, 2003
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
April 24, 2003
Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Fizzles out in the third act, but we're long past caring. By then, Frances McDormand has usurped the movie and turned it into a lesson in character acting. Full Review
April 18, 2003
Bill Muller, Arizona Republic
Self-discovery seems to be the goal, but the revelations hardly seem worth the work.
April 17, 2003
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer
McDormand is superb. Likewise Bale and Nivola.
April 11, 2003
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post
If there is one reason to see Laurel Canyon, it's to witness McDormand in the kind of role she's long deserved. Full Review
April 11, 2003
Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle
Laurel Canyon's end isn't entirely satisfying, but the story works. Full Review
April 11, 2003
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
Thanks to the performances and the general looseness of the script, the movie is more appealing than it has any business being.
April 4, 2003
Peter Howell, Toronto Star
[Cholodenko's] smart script and sensitive directing make up for sluggish pacing, the picture's one major flaw. Full Review
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Laurel Canyon
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