LOS ANGELES PLAYS ITSELF (2003)

Thom Andersens’s superior essay film on Los Angeles and the Movies: How it’s been used; How it’s been seen; How it’s been altered over the years.  Skewing somewhat toward ‘80s and ‘90s pics, but covering most of the last century, he’s held back a bit from the lack of real location shooting in the old studios days (though with exceptions and with studio sets in the mix).  Exceptionally, Andersen’s treatise doesn’t cherry-pick to make predetermined points, he just seems to have seen everything; and seems to show half of it via rapid clips!  (Keep your finger on PAUSE as you’ll want to write down titles for further inquiry.)  He creates a sort of double history/double vision of the town, just don’t call it L.A., Andersen disapproves of the contraction.  And you know he’s on the right path early on with a lovely stop to check on the interior of the much used/much loved Bradbury office building; a wonder of exposed grids; cubicles; cross-hatch gates & walkways.  Another cool section covers L.A. Destroyed.  Many more.  Nice stuff on the different views from locals, adoptees & visitors.  And when he does boil things down to top picks, he chooses well, with extended looks at CHINATOWN; L.A. CONFIDENTIAL; KILLER OF SHEEP; smartly opting for Robert Altman’s THE LONG GOODBYE over SHORT CUTS.  Of course, many you’ll decide not to revisit no matter how architecturally, culturally, sociologically interesting.  On the other hand, Bob Hope & Lana Turner in BACHELOR IN PARADISE/’61, directed by INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN’s Jack Arnold?  Count me in!  Andersen’s film a triumph.

SCREWY THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Surprised he missed Richard Quine’s STRANGERS WHEN WE MEET/’60 which fits all his criteria and then some.

 DOUBLE-BILL/LINK: Many titles mentioned by Andersen can be found right here.  Try using our Search Box, top left corner on the Main Site Full View Web page.  Here’s a LINK to get you started:  https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2009/02/killer-of-sheep-1973released-in-77.html