Once in England, British undertaker Richard, writing obituaries and dreaming of the fame of a writer, meets a charming American Barbara. This happens directly during the performance of Richard’s professional duties, that is, during the funeral at the local cemetery, where for some reason the desperate traveler decided to wander. Barbara shares her dreams of acting fame, Richard sees in her native creative soul and understands that without her she can not think of his life. So he decided to go to Los Angeles for her.
Miki Kaurismäki’s picture is permeated with humor, a banter on the “American Dream” (apparently, it’s impossible not to crave fame if you live in L.A.) and, however it sounds, a love of cinema. The walls of Richard’s room are covered with posters from movies (including The Mysterious Train and Jim Jarmusch’s Dead Man, released a few years earlier), and fun inserts with Johnny Depp appear throughout the action (in the image of the same Dead Man) until he finally materializes himself (which is characteristic of the scene in the cemetery). And it is unclear whether this is really Johnny Depp or a figment of the wild imagination of the protagonist.
Vincent Gallo brilliantly plays a colorful musician-loser, constantly smoking pot. At his first appearance in the frame immediately recalls an interesting fact from the biography of the actor: having arrived from Buffalo to New York, Gallo became one of the first white rappers, performing under the pseudonym Prince Vince. It is impossible to say that he is just playing himself.
In addition to Vincent Gallo and the lead actor David Tennant (which is interesting, once “appropriated” the name of the frontman Pet Shop Boys), we can admire the direct play of French Julie Delpie (Gallo will one day play a cameo in her directorial work).
This is one of those films that do not make the lists of “most-most-promoted” and, quite likely, you could safely pass by them without even noticing. But if “Los Angeles without a map” caught your eye, chances are that you will experience exceptionally pleasant emotions.
I would call this film "The Incredible Adventures of a Scot in Hollywood."
A very banal picture, in the spirit of American comedies: here you have the eternal confrontation between the British and Americans, and humor on the edge and, of course, the American dream!
Richard is the embodiment of a romantic chaste guy from the province, without great ambitions, with a simple and ancient desire for “love for life.” Barbara is the dreamer and hunter of the American dream, for her she is ready to do anything. What is the dream of a person living in Los Angeles? That's right, be famous! That's Barbara and trying all the truths and untruths to get a role in the movie. All of a sudden, Richard stands in her way. He was very nice in England, she really likes him, but he doesn't fit into her dream. But something in it catches her, awakens real feelings, makes you look at yourself from the outside. True, the thirst for fame cannot be appeased even by a feeling of love, so she just decides to fit Richard into her plan.
And Richard seems to be infected with her enthusiasm, and what wouldn't you do for love? For love, you can clean the pools, and become a great screenwriter. But that's not what he wants. And here comes the melodramatic conflict of the film: the discrepancy of the world of heroes, both external and internal. Hence the difference in goals and life priorities, hence the misunderstanding of each other. Two different worlds, two different poles. Will it be possible to build happiness romantic and conservative Richard with a progressive American?
David Tannant is so young, incredibly sweet, sincere and ardent. A wonderful image of a guy who threw himself into the pool with his head, desperately in love and not giving up. A very vivid image. And his hairstyles and shirts are already worth seeing this picture.
Vinessa Shaw showed a real girl who seems to know what she wants, but ... no, maybe you still want something else and not this: Her character, unfortunately, was not revealed to the end. That is, the plot she completely played a kind of resident of a vicious city, thirsting for fame, but that’s what in her soul she remained behind the scenes. Therefore, for me, Barbara is a non-integral character, designed only to shade the character of Richard.
Mos, in the magnificent performance of Vincent Gallo, is a strange and unexpected friend of Richard, who became his "good fairy" in Los Angeles. He is also subject to the dream of a stage, only musical, but despite his appearance and lifestyle, he turned out to be a real friend and person in this whole den.
Los Angeles in the film shines with sunlight and hot days. The atmosphere of theatricality, posturing, acting and insincerity is in the air. Pictures of Hollywood party are not distinguished by mannerism and restraint. Debauchery in one word:
There is also a wonderful musical accompaniment in the film. At least in my taste: And the unexpected motives of "hey, woo" in the song performed by the Leningrad Cowboys.
A very nice bonus is Johnny Depp. Brand facial expressions in black and white and some crazy monologue about the cemetery and first love. The latter will remain a mystery to the viewer: did it actually happen or is it a figment of Richard’s imagination?
In general, the film is worth watching. A good comedy with a mixture of melodrama, which allows you not only to laugh, but also to reflect. Great surroundings and great music. Jane Austen-style ending. What a wonderful David Tannant.
Such a beautiful movie and I have never even heard of it! Superstars here play some strange losers, and in episodes. Surely he knows fans of Tennat, from the British TV series Dr Who (not watched, probably in vain). Fans of Johnny Depp should also be aware, although DD for some reason is not listed in the credits - so strange Johnny I have never seen, at first the main character communicates only with the poster Depp from the movie Dead, and it may seem that this will be the first and last work of Joe, where he only winks from the poster - because the first 3/4 of the film he does not say a word that looks wildly cool, but no, alas.
In the story, the main character is a young Scottish writer-undertaker, haha, who falls hopelessly in love, after a fleeting acquaintance right during the funeral procession, with a certain Barbara (Vinessa Shaw), she is only 22, she is a waitress, and of course, an aspiring actress from Hollywood, who literally tomorrow dumps in this America. Our naive hero, after a while realizing (looking at the poster with Catherine Deneuve in his kennel) that it was the one – decides to drop everything and fly for her, in LA! Find Varya will help a small lead, in the form of a corporate box with matches from her restaurant.
In America, there are local characters, one more ridiculous than another, especially Vincent Gallo, he is constantly with a shoal, communicates in yo/bro slang, and endlessly philosophizes about the meaning of life, managing at the same time to teach the main character, who became the same as he was a pool cleaner for the rich (a separate song is an admission to this beautiful job, through a religious dude who, among other arguments, competently fails also Jes!).
The authors (Mika Kaurismaki and screenwriter Richard Rayner) turned out to be overtrolls, and very famously rode through local stamps/stereotypes about brainless producers, concerned directors, incompetent screenwriters, brazen photographers, weddings in five minutes in Nevada, bad Negroes in the neighborhood, gays, saturated majors and marijuana – I applaud standing up! and I suspect that these days even half of these jokes would not pass the censorship. Also note, in a cameo role, the legendary Frenchwoman Anouk Aimee, however, she is also uncredited, like Depp.
Well, in order to finally finish off the stunned audience - in the film Leningrad Cowboys will play live, with Gallo on guitar!, which perfectly fit into the general excitement - we urgently need to find the soundtrack!
9 out of 10
The city-fairy tale, the city-dream, falling into its network, disappear forever.
These exams are incredibly exhausting. Especially when they come earlier than usual in June, and 2 exams a day! But I have dealt with them and can finally relax, write a review in the end! And to dedicate it to my favorite actor - David Tennant, to write about one of his early films, which seemed to me very unusual!
A small town in the north of England. A young and pretty undertaker, besides a promising writer, Richard during the funeral meets the American actress Barbara. They spend the whole day together and break up. Falling in love with a beautiful actress, Richard jumps on a plane and flies to sunny California. He didn’t know what was waiting for him there, how Barbara would accept him, and what the American dream would really be.
At first glance, it is a fairly ordinary comedy with little meaning and disappointment for many of its characters. Such comedies are very popular today with only a slightly different plot. The couple falls in love with each other, one sacrifices himself for the other, but sometimes it seems that it is too much. However, there is something new in it: unusual everyday life and part-time work as a pool cleaner, funny evenings and parties in clubs, not as we often see them in modern times, and secular life is not always as ideal as we imagine it: it is envy, anger, obscene offers, disappointments. Such films can even teach you something – to be more confident, to be less naive, to be kinder to people, and to love more!
At the time of the release of this film, David Tennant was 27 years old. I look at him now - she's barely changed. These huge and admirable eyes, a wide smile, facial expressions - I see this in many of his subsequent works. And it's beautiful everywhere! His hero Richard is a dreamer, always hovering in the clouds. He needed to get down to earth and that's what Los Angeles is doing. I loved his performance, even though a little replay at the end, a guy who has to live a real life. Vinessa Shaw - played his beloved Barbara. The actress, still unknown, but a real realist, without any rainbow dreams, is sometimes cold. If Richard had to be brought back from heaven, Barbara wouldn't have been there long. Sometimes this is important in this crazy, sometimes tough and difficult, but amazing and incredible life!
The roles of the friends of the main characters starred Julie Delpy - Barbara's friend, also Julie - sweet, positive and cheerful, and Vincent Gallo - a strange friend of Richard Moss, but perfectly singing and playing in the group! And a pleasant surprise for me was the appearance of Johnny Depp, and in the same frame with David! In that scene, I never stopped smiling!
Despite many shortcomings, I liked the film. I’m just used to getting pleasure from movies, positive emotions and a charge of good mood. Especially if my favorite actors are in the movie. It was nice and nice. For the fans.