Laurel Canyon is above all a movie about feelings and relationships. A liberal mother, kind of hippie; a son that's much more conservative and that does not accept his mother's way of life; the son's fiancé, who's so engrossed in her studying that she has forgotten to live and enjoy life. Incomplete lives that may complete each other... and since it is a movie about emotional stuff it shouldn't fail precisely in that aspect: there are only 2 or 3 sequences that are really moving, meanwhile the rest of the movie passes between indifference and coldness.
Anyway, the final assessment it is rather positive, taking into account this was only the second Cholodenko's film: she knows how to move the camera, she's not pretentious at all, and the actor's selection is just nice: Christian Bale (the son) and Frances McDormand (the mother) are two of the best active actors. Kate Beckinsale is not as good as them, but she looks credible as the posey-swot girlfriend of Bale's character.
*My rate: 6.5/10
Anyway, the final assessment it is rather positive, taking into account this was only the second Cholodenko's film: she knows how to move the camera, she's not pretentious at all, and the actor's selection is just nice: Christian Bale (the son) and Frances McDormand (the mother) are two of the best active actors. Kate Beckinsale is not as good as them, but she looks credible as the posey-swot girlfriend of Bale's character.
*My rate: 6.5/10