Frances McDormand in "Laurel Canyon" is one of my most beloved movie characters ever - she's so damn cool and bad-ass in this sort of effortless way, and I think she just might be one of the best-written female film characters I've ever seen. And how many movies today have a hot 20-something rock star guy falling for the super-tough woman in her 40s? That totally rules.

Anyway - "Laurel Canyon" came out just a few months before I moved from Boston to L.A. (like Christian Bale and Kate Beckinsale do in the film), which made it all the more special for me. I love how it gives you this really glamorous look at L.A. living, but in a way that hasn't really been done before. And all the shots of the canyon are so gorgeous, and the soundtrack is fantastic as well.

Also, one critic said something about how that scene with Natascha McElhone and Christian Bale talking in the car toward the end is the sexiest movie scene where the characters don't actually have sex, which I couldn't agree with more.

I so can't wait for Lisa Cholodenko's next movie. "High Art" is a gem, too.

An uptight young professional, played by Christian Bale, brings his fiance/ girlfriend to visit his eccentric music producer mother in Laurel Canyon. The family is joined by the mother's younger musician lover. Throw in some drugs, alcohol, free inhibitions and rock in roll and you've got a recipe for relationship disaster.
This is a REALLY GOOD 4 star movie. Also starring Kate Beckinsale, Alessandro, Nivola and Frances McDormand. (via Amazon)

a great movie.... shows the other ridiculous side of la: the sex side.... also has amazing views of the hollywood hills aka can i please live in this house? and obviously, frances mcdormand is the truth.