Los Angeles on the Silver Screen

When looking at the history of the L.A. Movie you've got to start in Chinatown. Roman Polanski's 1974 classic film, Chinatown, that is. It's got Jack Nicholson's hard-nosed performance as detective Jake Gittes and Faye Dunaway's blistering descent into despair as the doomed Evelyn Mulwray. It delves into the ugly calculus that underlay the Department of Water and Power's construction of the L.A. Aqueduct which diverted water from the Owens Valley to the thirsty mouth of Los Angeles. The film earned eleven Oscar nominations and scored a win for screenwriter Robert Towne.

This film imagines a dystopian future for Los Angeles. It takes us to 2019 when special police forces called Blade Runners hunt down and kill escaped android slaves called Replicants. Harrison Ford weaves through the bleak landscape on a mission that questions what it means to be human. Rutger Hauer gives an incredible supporting turn as the leader of the hunted Replicants. Sean Young and Edward James Olmos are fantastic as well.

If the only reason you know who Elliot Gould is because he played Ross and Rachel's dad on Friends then you need to see this film. He brought the film noir detective into the age of color. It's a story of the sordid details hidden behind the walls of the city's wealthiest enclaves. You can even catch an early performance from Governor Schwarzenegger in his skivvies. This is one of my all-time favorite films.

The young actor's guide to the true costs of fame. This story has been filmed three times. The original 1937 film starred Janet Gaynor and Fredric March Barbara Streisand and teamed up with Kris Kristofferson in the 1976 version. Those are both excellent movies. But to drink deep of the bittersweet intoxication of Hollywood spend a night with the 1954 version with Judy Garland and James Mason. Garland's tumultuous real-life struggles make the story strike the heart that much deeper.

This was a film noir for the 90s. It's a beautifully told tale of corruption, deceit, and murder. It introduced America to the brutally raw talents of Russell Crowe. Kim Basinger and Kevin Spacey both turned in bravura performances.

Fred MacMurray sheds his nice guy image as an insurance salesman who falls under the murderous spell of femme fatale Barbara Stanwyck. This is Film Noir 101, it's must see viewing for anyone who loves movies. Edward G. Robinson adds a touch of humanity to the story that keeps the audience tied to the killers despite their crimes.

At first glance to modern eyes this film looks like a comedy. It is very funny in parts. But it's no comedy. It's a stroll through the emptiness of soul that seeped into so many films from the 70s. Warren Beatty plays a modern Casanova, aimless and immature. The supporting cast includes Goldie Hawn, Jack Warden, and Julie Christie. Lee Grant won an Oscar for her portrayal as Beatty's rich, lonely, and married lover.

Often imitated, but never bettered. Gloria Swanson's iconic performance as Norma Desmond is unforgettable. It is universally ranked as one of the most significant movies in the history of film. You can't call yourself a true film fan until you've seen her deliver that infamous line, All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close up.

Gen X comes of age in this tale of the dark side of the rich, young and lost. It's the Brat Pack gone bad with a cast led by Andrew McCarthy, Robert Downey Jr., and Jami Gertz. James Spader gets to test out his villainous chops as a menacing drug dealer. The film is based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis. It's a story of the overprivileged, irresponsible spawn of the city's elite, and the price you pay when you go too far.

Robert Duvall plays a veteran cop and Sean Penn stars as his rookie partner. They are officers in the L.A.P.D.'s anti-gang C.R.A.S.H. unit. They walk a thin blue line between the Crips and the Bloods trying to keep the peace. This film was the first to dive into the tangled relationships of L.A.'s gang culture and the police that interact with them day to day.