Architecture on Film

L.A. Story Recap

Thanks to everyone who attended the first movie in the series. Everything went smoothly and the movie was great. It's exactly the type of low-key entertainment that feeds creativity and thoughtfulness. While not as visually stunning as some of the films in the summer series, it's acute commentaries are extemely relevant to the design world. Steve Martin surprised me with his level of wit and the supporting cast was great. I could have done without the walking through the Hollywood neon-holding hands-turning into children montage. Otherwise, the movie really does have a lot of commentary on planning and architecture, along with a lot of memorable images of LA’s built environment. Some of the best jokes were about the McMansions and car culture.

LA Story is not completely an indictment of bad planning, bad architecture or urban sprawl (even though they are all repeatedly mocked), because, in the end, it actually seemed like a valentine to the city. The LA depicted in LA Story isn’t a city seething with crime, racial tension, isolation or turmoil – it is a city of possibilities – it is a city of love. Albeit sappy love drenched in late 80's cinematography.. This is a very narrow view of a city with a lot of blight - in all senses of the word. Maybe the most perverse illustration of the film’s tendency to overlook the real problems caused by LA’s car culture, is that the voice of God (or, at least, Fate) speaks through a Highway sign and ultimately brings two people together. In doing so, the film almost seems to say “See this traffic and pollution isn’t so bad". I mean he does make it to work in record time by tearing apart infrastructure.

Here's a list of some of the buildings and landmarks that appeared in the movie,
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (through which Steve Martin’s character rollerskates)
The Museum of Contemporary Art
The now demolished Ambassador Hotel (the trendy restaurant)
The old Bank of America building (where Martin reviews his finances in an attempt to obtain a restaurant reservation)
The Tail of the Pup (the iconic hot dog stand)
The Gilmore Service Station, both represent the lost Golden age of Hollywood

posted by sonocolor @ 6/07/2006 11:26:00 PM