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Heat and Colllateral. Both movies should have had LA in the end credits.
Amazing movie
I love that movie.
Yo homie. That my briefcase?
This was my immediate thought. I fucking love that movie.
I remembered it being so bad when i was a kid and saw it..rewatched it and was so happy to be wrong. It was great
Haha exactly what I thought of when I saw this post.
The mood and night hue, has stayed with me ever since I saw it in 2004 in the theater.
There is a fantastic Doc called Side by Side and it goes through the history of film, not like movies per say but the film to digital and what impact moving to the medium of digital has done for the industry.
Michael Mann talks in length about how Collateral to capture the look and feel of night LA was really only possible on digital.
Would recommend checking that documentary out if you have an interest in the medium.
I wish I could see Collateral in the theater again just for the office building scene towards the end.
Incredible fucking flick.
The scene where Tom Cruise has to kill the Jazz musician is a masterclass of acting and tension.
After he kills him Vincent has a look of almost regret on his face and it's some of the best acting Cruise has ever done
the coyote.
that's all i have to say.
Yes! I remember reading that was completely unplanned! This coyote just appeared, slunk across the street, and they kept the cameras rolling. It also says a lot about the similarity between Vincent and the coyote. Man, what a fantastic movie - one of Cruise and Foxx best IMO.
Also, the song that plays as the coyote appears is very fitting. Shadow on the Sun by Audioslave. The whole soundtrack is perfection tbh.
Wait, he kills him?...F*CK!
It's kind of interesting how in this movie you "notice" the city almost as if it's one of the characters. For example I absolutely loved The Heat and Falling Down but couldn't remember the fact they were taking place in L.A. But with Collateral, I remembered from the first time I saw it.
Another one like that would be Get Shorty, but only because its explicit theme is Hollywood and movie-making.
Falling Down should have been a cult classic. I never hear about it. Just like Better off dead.
That's exactly what they were going for, actually! According to the DVD extras, they wanted the city itself to be more than just a setting. They wanted to show it in ways they hadn't seen it shown in movies before. So it really does feel like LA is a character in and of itself.
I wrote an essay about this films use of different ethnic neighborhoods as characters in my 'diversity in film' class taught by John Singleton. Amazing filmmaking.
One of my all time favorite movies, and my first immediate thought.
Spot on. Michael Mann nails it with Collateral and Heat. The city is a character unto itself. It's not this glitzy paradise. It's dark and gritty with some interesting characters. Oh and some damn good music to boot.
A thousand times yes. I remember going to blockbuster and actually buying this movie. No lie, I watched it back to back like over 5 times that night
Heat.
And of course, Falling Down…..
Falling Down is my answer!
Collateral
I just realized I still haven't seen Falling Down. Still holds up? I should add it to my watch list
Best answer here! Falling down was such an under-rated movie. Incredible acting. Incredible shoots (pun intended)
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9d
LA Story, with Steve Martin and a few other notable actors. Super funny film.
Mad this isn't top. Clue is literally in the title.
R U O K?
Agreed !
Big upvote for The Big Lebowski. The City really is another character.
The city really tied the movie together.
Jackie Treehorn treats objects like women, man!
Mr. Treehorn draws a lot of water in this town. You don't draw shit, Lebowski. Now we got a nice, quiet little beach community here, and I aim to keep it nice and quiet. So let me make something plain. I don't like you sucking around, bothering our citizens, Lebowski. I don't like your jerk-off name. I don't like your jerk-off face. I don't like your jerk-off behavior, and I don't like you, jerk-off. Do I make myself clear?
The thing I love about The Big Lebowski (other than being the funniest movie of all time) is how it covers so many different aspects of LA culture. You have your ultra wealthy with trophy wife (even though he didn’t really earn the wealth himself). A funny showing of the porn business, Malibu, and the wealth there. The self-indulgent artsy culture via Maude. And of course the Dude himself is a peek into lower class life via a washed up hippie.
The Coens really throw the kitchen sink at us in regard to SoCal culture. Even briefly mentioning that Donny was a surfer which jives with the popularity of surfing there when Donny would’ve been younger.
As a lifelong LA resident — The Long Goodbye is best at it. Not necessarily the locations themselves, but the way they’re shot and the feeling that creates.
So many good ones here.
Menace II Society
Night crawler
From what I remember, they got the geography of LA down really well in Nightcrawler, actually following the streets rather than turning a corner during a chase and ending up across town. One of my favorite films
they go by my old fuckin apartment in nightcrawler lol, that movie is a phenomenal depiction of LA
500 days of summer is an underrated movie for this too, it takes place in LA
Robert Elswit's work is really underappreciated in that film.
My sis was an EMT in La when this movie came out and she said it’s was eerily accurate.
Training Day
End of watch while we're at it
Training Day, End of Watch, and Harsh Times all take place in the same universe if I'm not mistaken.
Harsh Times and Training Day definitely are. Leti is in both movies as a connecting character. That movie is super slept on. Great watch
To me this is the most LA feels like an actual character in any film. It’s the battle between good and evil in a city where it’s easy to blend the lines of both. The story is rich with heritage and LA street gang lore and also has two parts for West Coast hip hop pioneers Dr. Dre and Snoop. Its got crooked and straight white, latino, and black characters with Bones and Smily showing Jake love because they recognize someone in a fucked situation with integrity, something all three possess and something a lot of the people who grow up in the areas depicted in LA face daily. LA is a beast and if you’re an animal you can go far.
It would be much easier for Jake to go along with Alonzo, he’d make detective. Smily could blast Jake, he’d be rewarded by Alonzo. Bones could do the same with the same outcome. Being human is far more difficult and all three chose the latter.
“They’re not like you. You know what I learned today, I’m not like you.”
I’m a native Angeleno and this one resonates most for me.
I'm surprised that I had to scroll down so far for this. Would have been my second pick after Collateral.
My pick after Heat
Check out Harsh Times with Christian Bale
To Live and Die in LA
Green Goblin has a threesome with Daphne from Frasier
And you get to see William Petersens willy
Should be higher. William Friedkin was a great director. Movie was released in 1985 and reflects an L.A. that doesn't really exist anymore. It's like a time capsule.
Fantastic movie with a cracking soundtrack
I can’t find a way to watch this anywhere
There’s a 4K version that came out last year.
Excellent movie and they actually show William Petersens penis 😳😳
Kiss kiss bang bang has to be on the list.
The Nice Guys
One of the most underrated comedies of the last 10 years. It's such a perfect dark comedy movie.
The scene where Ryan gosling is on the toilet, smoking a cigarette and pointing a gun at Russell crow is a masterclass in physical comedy.
This gives me some vibes. Could be a sub-post to OP, movies that dive into the lifestyle of LAs rich and famous :D
That and Gosling finding the dead body made me a fan of his for life. I always quite enjoyed his work but that movie made me a dedicated lifelong fan.
I do agree, but it pulls me out when I see shots that are clearly downtown Atlanta.
L.A. Story
What I really want to do is direct!
My top answer as well.
Hi I’m Bob I’ll be your Mugger today.
Big S small a small n Big D small e Big E! SanDeE!
Had to scroll too far for this.
"So you're majoring in Communications?"
Long pause.
"Yes."
Long pause
"Ah ha."
You sink vith a financial statement like ziss you can have ze duck?
I now hear Enya
How is this not the top answer?
Under the Silver Lake
That movie was a trip!
i was about to say! what a film and very LA in a way
Love this movie
Awesome one!
Heat, Nightcrawler, Training Day
500 Days Of Summer is LA in some of the best light. As someone that grew up a skate rat kid, Mid90s gets the vibe down pretty well
Mid90's got so many things right, especially trying to navigate your social scene at that age.
Oddly, Dirty Girl did a perfect job of capturing late 80's Oklahoma.
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9d
They Live
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
T2 👊
Came here to say They Live. For whatever nostalgic reason, that movie always reminds me of 80/90s LA the most.
Mulholland Drive
Repo Man
Having lived in California during the 1980s (although in the Bay Area) Repo Man captured the various crazy factions that interacted with each other on a daily basis
Volcano at least makes it’s LA backdrop a big backdrop.
LA Story
Magnolia
Short Cuts
LA Story is one of my favorite films. So many amazing moments, and very heartfelt. Great showcase of early 90s LA culture too!
Night of the Comet.
Quality 80’s sci fi B movie.
2 Days in the Valley
Escape from LA.
LA Confidential
Collateral
Heat
The Nice Guys
Predator 2
The sweaty atmosphere literally drips off the screen
LA guy here. I would say To Live and Die in LA is way up there. Pulp Fiction. You’ve already got Drive, that’s a good one. The Big Lebowski. Nightcrawler. THE TV SET/WHAT JUST HAPPENED double feature if you want a good real look at what it’s like to work in the motion picture industry. Licorice Pizza. Training Day. Harsh Times. Street Kings.
Chinatown (1974) in case no one's mentioned it yet.
To live and die in L.A.
Escape from L.A. lol
I had to scroll too long for this.
Also the most realistic.
I’d like to add Jackie Brown to mix of some many great movies here and Revisor Dogs.
Bosch, but a TV show.
Blade Runner
don’t let the internets opinion of LA be your interpretation. 97% of people on the internet who’s said disparaging things about LA have never stepped foot in California.
I’m glad to see this comment on this thread. LA has its dicey areas like any big city does. And there are amazing things about this city, and I love it here
I love LA. There’s a vibe there I haven’t felt elsewhere. If it wasn’t for the insane traffic I’d definitely be living there right now.
Falling down
Drive.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
To live and die in L.A
The Long goodbye
White Men Can’t Jump
Grand Theft Auto 5
It’s basically a movie.
Valley Girl is a great snap shot of early 1980's LA with a lot of great locations. Specially Club Central/The Viper Room.
Funny enough... Constantine had a dope depiction of LA
Los Angeles plays itself, good documentary, used to be on Netflix
This, all day long. Watched the whole thing transfixed.
Definitely worth watching
Boogie Nights
Once Upon A Time In Hollywood
Pulp Fiction
Straight Outta Compton
Drive
The Karate Kid
Heat and Collateral
Mulholland Drive
Swingers
Fast and furious
Blood in blood out
Rush Hour!
LA story
Has anyone mentioned The Big Lebowski?
No one captures LA night vibes like Michael Mann with the likes of Heat and Collateral.
L.A. Story staring Steve Martin
Predator 2. The city is almost it's own character.
End of Watch and (not a movie) True Detective S2
Mulholland Drive.
Not a movie but Curb Your Enthusiasm does the LA vibe so well and you see Larry and Suzie's New Yorkness clashing with it.
Falling Down.
The traffic jam at the beginning. The heatwave.
I love you man
Inherent vice
Under the Silver Lake
Get Shorty
Falling Down
Heat
Blood In Blood Out, Colors
If you like older film noir, Criss Cross (1949) with Burt Lancaster. One of my favorites of noir.
Scrolling and scrolling but haven’t seen it mentioned: 500 Days of Summer
End of Watch
I always tell people that San Diego looks more like the LA that they imagine. That being said, here are some movies that show LA as it was/is.
To Live and Die in LA : This film shows the desolate downtown and warehouse district of LA circa 1985
Repo Man : Ditto /SAA circa 1984
Falling Down : A fantastic and pretty realistic tour of various sections of the city - 1993
How it ends: This film captures the groove vibe of living in LA more bohemian districts -2021
Night Teeth: Strange choice but this Vampire flick navigates varied and different areas of Los Angeles, very well- 2021
Celeste and Jesse Forever
The Big Lebowski
Under the Silver Lake
Friday
LA story. Fast times at Ridgemont high. Kiss kiss bang bang. Ford Fairlane.
LA Story from 1991 with Steve Martin. It's a comedy, it's hilarious
Repo Man (1984)
It's like a piece of hate mail to L.A. .
L.A. Story
It's a documentary!
LA Story
L.A. Story
L.A. Story
L.A. Story
Don’t forget the comedy classic LA Story from Steve Martin.
L.A. Story - 1991, I believe.
An absolute gem of a film, Steve Martin's love letter to that strange place. One of the best endings to a film EVER.
La story
Collateral
Might be unpopular but Battle: Los Angeles.
Not sure why Battle:Los Angeles isn't up higher. It's become one of my default DVR background movies.
Came here for this. It may not be Godfather or Schindlers List but it’s a hell of an entertaining movie and I love rewatching it.
Heat.
You asked for movies but Bosch deserves a mention. His house overlooking the city is as big a characteristic of the show as jazz. They really leaned into the noir feel. The cast is outstanding too.
La La Land and I think night crawler are both films that do a really good job of capturing the modern LA aesthetic. One has a more romantic depiction of the city than the other but both do a really good job capturing how the city feels today. I think Drive also takes place in LA if I'm not correct?
Into The Night. Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Pfeiffer, all-star cameos & stunt casting. And LA overnight.
Colors
LA Story, Get Shorty, and Escape from LA are probably the three that capture what LA is actually like.
A lot of the others are great movies that capture a romanticized version of the city. But the three above really capture what it’s like being there on any given day.
Only one…
To Live And Die In L.A.
City of Industry, Playing God
Heat
Swingers
La La land
The Big Lebowski
... and LA Story
The Nice Guys, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Lebowski
LA Story
As someone who has lived in LA for 10 + years the most accurate depiction of LA is Nightcrawler.
Most of the time movies paint LA as glitz and glam shiny, or dark and gritty.
The truth is it’s both at the same time. Some of the dirtiest streets ever and some of the most beautiful horizons ever.
La La Land. The scenes outside Griffith Observatory are exceptional.
HEAT!!!!!!!
Blade Runner
Jackie Brown
Chinatown
Fallout
Chinatown.
Barbie. Not joking. It's used as a caricature of "the real world" but it is fully playing itself, from Venice Beach to Century City. As other people on here have said though, if what you want to see is hazy sunshine and urban jungle it has that 100 times over. It's a massive, sprawling city and every other mile or so has something completely different.
L.A Story
Baby Boy
Collateral