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Los Angeles Plays Itself
User Score
7.8 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 11 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 11
  3. Negative: 2 out of 11

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  1. Mark
    May 8, 2005
    3
    The video quality is terrible. It's way too long and toward the end he drones on and on about racism. It's like a bad PBS show, only more liberal. I'm not surprised the critics love it.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. CraigJ.
    Apr 3, 2005
    9
    Amazing, funny, sad and very moving.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. RichardR.
    Aug 1, 2004
    2
    Very interesting for an hour as it details the use of LA architecture such as the Bradbury building and the Ennis Brown house. Then goes downhill with a boring analysis of LA in balck and white B movies. It goes off the rails completely after an hour and a half, turning into a boring and pretentious student essay. Concepts such as high and low tourist are introduced out of left field and the droning commentator attempts to extol the virtue of arty rubbish from the late 60s early 70s including a dreadful gay porn film. Badly filmed, poorly shot indies from 40 years ago are **** no matter how arty you pretend they are. At the interval - which feels like 4 hours into the film yet there is still an interminable hour left - I had to abandon the cinema. Shame the great intro, utilisiing an interesting mix of films should degenerate into incoherent student pap.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  4. adamg.
    Mar 21, 2005
    8
    Could use a little editing, especially toward the end, but overall lovingly-crafted, insightful and authoritative.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  5. LenW.
    May 8, 2005
    9
    I have to admit this was a bit long, but was amazingly thought-provoking. Fascinating study of the ways Los Angeles is used and protrayed in the films of American and international directors. More information here than many college-level film courses. You'll find yourself thinking about this film for days after you see it.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  6. JohnN.
    Sep 16, 2004
    6
    Film too long.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  7. KellyP.
    Mar 29, 2006
    10
    if you have any interest in film or cities you must see this film.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
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Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
85 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 18 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: Peter Rainer
    80
    What gives Los Angeles Plays Itself its extraordinary density is the way Andersen transforms a cliché into a metaphysical truth that encompasses far more than L.A.
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  2. Variety
    Reviewed by: Robert Koehler
    90
    Los Angeles may be the most photographed city in the world, but it has never have been captured with such complex layers of meaning and fascination as in Thom Andersen's remarkable Los Angeles Plays Itself.
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  3. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Scott Tobias
    90
    Dazzling cinema-essay.
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