Coming Up: Los Angeles Plays Itself

My niece's boyfriend, an undergrad at UCLA, complained about the fast pace of contemporary media after dinner yesterday. "I want more time to think and reflect," he said, deftly shattering the stereotype of Gen Y mediaphilia.Whether it was simple post-Thanksgiving-dinner stupor or a genuine desire, I think what the boy really needs is a visit to the American Cinematheque on Sunday for a screening of Thom Andersen's masterful film essay Los Angeles Plays Itself, which explores the representation of our great city through movie portrayals. Andersen brings together classic Hollywood features such as Blade Runner and LA Confidential as well as less well-known and decidedly unusual clips - gay porn snippets, for example - and while the range of examples is vast, what makes the film so enormously pleasurable is Andersen's wry, idiosyncratic take spoken in voice-over. Andersen ponders the city's history, musing on architecture, geography and storytelling obsessions, and occasionally rants about particular irritants - the lack of geographic continuity in most Hollywood car chases. Andersen's knowledge of both the city and the history of cinema is tremendous, and listening to his essay is like hanging out with a brilliant but slightly cranky family member who's letting you in on a rarified part of your own history.
the details
Los Angeles Plays Itself
American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theater
Sunday, November 29, 7:30 p.m.