Laurel Canyon

Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Christian Bale

RS: 1of 4 Stars

2003 Comedy

It's great seeing a foxed-up Frances McDormand playing an L.A. record producer who smokes joints and screws a Brit rocker (Alessandro Nivola) half her age. But writer-director Lisa Cholodenko follows up her deft 1998 High Art with a clumsy package of clichés as McDormand corrupts her Harvard son (Christian Bale) and his snob fiancee (Kate Beckinsale) with her shocking L.A. lifestyle. Puh-leeze!

PETER TRAVERS
(February 21, 2003)