RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Check out the new RT Community
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / Upcoming / Laurel Canyon
Laurel Canyon

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
Bookmark and Share

Laurel Canyon (2003)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
67 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:107

Fresh:72

Rotten:35

Average Rating:6.4/10

Consensus: Though the movie itself is flawed, McDormand is fantastic as Jane.

Runtime: 1 hr 41 mins

Genre: Dramas

US Box Office: $3,596,939

Synopsis: Laurel Canyon is a street that runs through the heart of the Hollywood Hills, joining the middle-class, stolid environs of the San Fernando Valley to the heart of the city of Los Angeles. The... Laurel Canyon is a street that runs through the heart of the Hollywood Hills, joining the middle-class, stolid environs of the San Fernando Valley to the heart of the city of Los Angeles. The canyon is notable for its varied residents through the years and has served, and continues to, as the home to many rock stars, musicians, performers, producers, and the like. Among its current residents are Jane (Frances McDormand), a legendary record producer, currently producing an album for a British band whose lead singer Ian (Allesandro Nivola) is her much younger lover. Jane and the band are creating the album in her Laurel Canyon house where she has a recording studio. Jane’s son Sam (Christian Bale) and his fiancée Alex (Kate Beckinsale) are both recent graduates of Harvard medical school. Conservative, solid and serious, the couple find it necessary to move to Los Angeles to complete their studies: Sam is completing his Residency at the renowned Hausman Neuropsychiatric Institute, while Alex is intent on completing her dissertation on Drosophilia Genomics. Jane has offered her Laurel Canyon home for them to stay in, promising that it will be vacant. But when Sam and Alex arrive Jane and the Band are still working in Jane’s home recording studio to complete the album. Sam and Alex begrudgingly stay at Jane’s house until they can find an alternative place to live. Once in the house, however, things begin to slowly unravel. Alex’s attraction to Jane’s and Ian’s freewheeling lifestyle and Sam’s hesitancy about renewing a relationship with his wayward mother as well as his growing attraction to fellow medical resident Sara (Natascha McElhone) slowly fill the house with tension and doubt... -- © 2002 Sony Pictures Classics [More]

Starring: Frances McDormand, Christian Bale, Kate Beckinsale, Natascha McElhone

Starring: Frances McDormand, Christian Bale, Kate Beckinsale, Natascha McElhone, Alessandro Nivola, Melissa De Sousa

Director: Lisa Cholodenko

Director: Lisa Cholodenko
Screenwriter: Lisa Cholodenko
Producer: Susan A. Stover, Jeff Levy-Hinte
Composer: Craig Wedren
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics

[See More Credits]

  • Trailers
  • Pictures
1 - 5 of 16

See More Movie Trailers & Pictures

Reviews for Laurel Canyon

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
10/18/08
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It pulled me in with its friendly, inclusive, nonjudgmental appraisal of human nature.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
09/24/07
Rob Gonsalves
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
12/30/06
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Geoff Andrew
Geoff Andrew
Time Out

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Film Threat
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Despite a great ensemble of actors, it will leave you hanging from a cliff.

Full Review Source: Oregon Herald | comment Comment
08/13/04
Mark Sells
Mark Sells
Oregon Herald

'We're left with a film that doesn't create enough interest in what went on in those Laurel Canyon backyards to justify pulling over and watching.'

Full Review Source: Las Vegas CityLife | comment Comment
03/03/04
Matt Kelemen
Matt Kelemen
Las Vegas CityLife
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Zap2it.com | comment Comment
02/25/04
Lori Allen
Lori Allen
Zap2it.com
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
01/15/04
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
11/26/03
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

No matter how many times she pushes her specs up her nose Beckinsale is never going to be believable as a nerd. Bale as a psychiatrist: it’s easier to envisage him as Batman.

Full Review Source: Teletext | comment Comment
11/14/03
Annette Dasey
Annette Dasey
Teletext

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
11/11/03
Jamie Russell
Jamie Russell
BBC

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Sunday Times (Australia) | comment Comment
10/27/03
Sunday Times (Australia)
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Frances McDormand lets loose in a terrific new role as record producer, mother, and corrupter of curious girls.

Full Review Source: About.com | comment Comment
10/24/03
Marcy Dermansky
Marcy Dermansky
About.com

'Laurel Canyon' is a little dangerous, a bit unconventional and very seductive.

Full Review Source: ReelTalk Movie Reviews | comment Comment
10/04/03
Frank Wilkins
Frank Wilkins
ReelTalk Movie Reviews
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
09/07/03
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall

...essentially worth checking out if only for the performances and Cholodenko's admittedly steady directorial hand.

Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews | comment Comment
07/20/03
David Nusair
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution | comment Comment
07/16/03
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Real people, real situations. Laurel Canyon is a keeper.

Full Review Source: Movie Boeuf | comment Comment
07/03/03
David N. Butterworth
David N. Butterworth
Movie Boeuf
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
07/02/03
Boston Phoenix
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> >|
all

Latest News for Laurel Canyon

October 19, 2006: Critical Consensus: "Flags" Flies High; "The Prestige" Is Magic; "Flicka" Is A Pretty Good Ride; "Marie Antoinette" Spared Critical Guillotine
This week at the movies, we've got a complex tale of heroism (Clint Eastwood's "Flags of Our Fathers," starring Ryan Phillippe), a story of dueling magicians... More...

See All

More Movies

Coming Soon in Australia
Tomatometer Percentage Movie Date

85% 85% A Serious Man 19/11
— The Twilight Saga: New… 19/11

What’s Hot On RT

60+ New Moon pics

60+ New Moon pics

You want Twilight images? We got 'em!

Salt trailer

Salt trailer

Angelina Jolie! Espionage! Action!

RT Presents Zombieland

RT Presents Zombieland

Exclusive screening

2012

2012

Emmerich unleashes havoc in these clips

Other News

  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Rachel McAdams Rumored for Spider-Man 4 Source: Mania.com
68
  • Danny Elfman Leaves The Wolfman Source: Cinemusic.net
18
  • Oldboy Remake Rumored Dead Source: Latino Review
10
  • Francis Lawrence Directing a Futuristic Sgt. Rock Source: Hollywood Reporter
2
  • Can Avatar Make Money? Source: New York Times
89
  • Robert Pattinson Says Breaking Dawn Could Roll in Fall 2010 Source: Collider.com
20
  • Joe Johnston Talks The Wolfman Source: Ain't It Cool News
8
  • Jason Schwartzman Talks Scott Pilgrim Source: Collider.com
0
  • Weekly Ketchup: Abrams eyes Micronauts, Aykroyd as Yogi Bear
99
  • J.J. Abrams Producing Micronauts Movie? Source: Wall Street Journal
11
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Total Recall: George Clooney's Best Movies
92
  • Critics Consensus: A Christmas Carol Dazzles But Disappoints
43
  • Ho-ho-horror! 10 Scary Christmas Movies
36
  • Weekly Ketchup: Abrams eyes Micronauts, Aykroyd as Yogi Bear
33
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Christmas Carol Tops, Precious Rocks
32
  • Friday Harvest: Prince of Persia, The Road, and more!
26
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
14
  • RT Presents Zombieland
5
  • RT on DVD: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
0
  • Scott Hicks Talks The Boys Are Back
0
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • Scott Hicks Talks The Boys Are Back
0
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
14
  • Richard Kelly chats about The Box
1
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
15
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
8
  • Wolverine Creator Len Wein Talks About the Film
28
  • Gavin Hood Talks Wolverine; Possible Sequel
28
  • Duncan Jones talks Moon, Sam Rockwell, and Mute
14
  • Emma Stone talks Zombieland - RT Interview
40
  • Michael Moore: The RT Interview
139
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • Laurel Canyon at Rotten Tomatoes
  • Laurel Canyon at IGN
  • Laurel Canyon at AskMen

Fresh Links

Featured
Oscar nomination for Rockwell?
Oscar nomination for Rockwell? External Link

Join Moon director Duncan Jones' quest to get Sam a nod.

Werewolves Prowl the Movies
Werewolves Prowl the Movies External Link

TIME tells us the tales behind 13 of Hollywood's most famous wolfmen.

The Return of Pee-wee
The Return of Pee-wee External Link

The 57-year-old is headed back to the Playhouse. Details catches up with the iconic star.

Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Twitter
Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Twitter External Link

Get all the latest movie updates, reviews, interviews and features here.

Competitions
Win Tranformers: Revenge of the Fallen and more on DVD
Win Tranformers: Revenge of the Fallen and more on DVD External Link

The year's biggest film is here and we're giving away big Transformers prize packs -- including both movies and the animated series.

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.