Or, anyway, that's how they might put in "Swingers" (No. 14), if the characters in that Jon Favreau/Vince Vaughn classic were discussing today's Los Angeles Times compilation of "The 25 best L.A. films of the last 25 years."
What makes a movie an L.A. movie? My fave, "Chinatown," isn't listed but that's only because it's older than the arbitrary 25-year cutoff. So what else would you look for: cars, beaches, babes, mystery, defining neighborhoods? You'll find a little bit of all of that in this excellent list.
Yes, the Oscar-winner "Crash" is here, but only ranked 25th of 25. And Quentin Tarantino, Michael Mann and Paul Thomas Anderson all show up too, but probably not for the films you'd expect. There are surprises aplenty here alongside predictably deserving SoCal scene-setters.
"Mulholland Drive," "Boyz N the Hood" and "L.A. Confidential," sure. But "Friday"? "Valley Girl"? "Fletch"?
Check out the list, if nothing else, for a handy guide next time you're in the video store or managing your Netflix queue.
(Photo credit: Bruce W. Talamon, from "Devil in a Blue Dress," via Los Angeles Times)
Sunday, August 31, 2008
This list is so money
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My not-on-the-list nominee would be "Falling Down," the 1993 drama starring Michael Douglas and Robert Duvall. The movie roamed and roved all over L.A.
And I can't believe "Pulp Fiction" isn't on the list. "Jackie Brown" was great, but did it really put L.A. on display more than "Pulp?" Hell, a third of it took place in a MALL. Geez.
I'd also put in a word for "Go," the 1998 movie that was the next movie for "Swingers" director Doug Liman.
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