Los Angeles Plays Itself

I highly recommend this intelligent, insightful and tremendously entertaining documentary. For years this has been on many "100 best documentariesever made" type lists, (e.g. it's #37 on Sight and Sound's 2012 "50 Greatest Documentaries Ever Made" critics Poll) and yet it's very nature (it's made entirelyhundreds of clips from almost as many different feature films) made getting the rights to release this a gargantuan task. I'm amazed they pulled it off.(I hope the story of that part of the film's history is covered in commentary or extra features)In the meantime, this terrific, unique film has been relegated to occasional museum and classroom screenings, and low quality bootleg copies.Indeed often those classroom screenings were often still off VHS tapes. The blu-ray, while far from perfect visually, is a huge step up in quality.Obviously the quality of the clips themselves is very variable, depending on their age and source, they range from some that look they were takenfrom VHS sources, to many that are quite gorgeous - probably sourced from blu-ray masters. There also an occasional odd jumpiness in a fewof the clips that looks like there were issues in transfers and frame rates. This occasional stutter is annoying, but rare enough that it's far froma deal breaker. This is probably still the best "Los Angeles Plays Itself" has ever looked.The film is a remarkable documentary, charting the history of how Los Angeles is portrayed in the movies. In the process itreveals much about the L.A.'s real history, it's politics, its architecture, its culture. It shows us how how movies distort andeven create reality, the cities sense of itself altered by its on screen persona.Smart, and never boring despite it's 2:49 running time. Often funny, with a dead-pan, witty narration constantly helping us see both films and the city in new ways.If you love films, or have an interest in how cinema intersects with real life -- each effecting the other, this is a can't miss experience.Update: Cinema Guild, which put out this film now has announced it will also distribute Anderson's almost equally effective"Red Hollywood" (made in a similar way - full of clips - so never before available). That too is a terrific, if slightly less heralded film,and is now available for pre-order here on Amazon, or directly from the Cinema Guild web site.

This is the best documentary about Los Angeles, completely using clips from films to illustrate the use of the City of Angels as a stand-in for locations everywhere.

Watched several times on Netflix... and...poof...gone.Of course, the rights and clearances (hundreds, in this case) for DVD/bluray are not till the end of time, either. This will soon be out of print. Act fast!Once you own a hard copy - of any media, it's yours. Why be at the mercy of short term licensing agreements between studios and content services?Grateful that this is finally available on bluray. Looks fantastic, although it doesn't have subtitles(?!?!) They would be especially welcome because there is so much to process, both visual and aurally.Also, given that hundreds (thousands?) of clips are ultilized, it's likely that the rights and licensing fees will expire - rendering this bluray out of print sooner than later.The other five star reviews are dead on. Great doc for film lovers.

Los Angeles plays itself is divided into 2 parts (it's almost 3 hours long). The first half was fantastic, it showcased somegreat landmarks and buildings that appeared in various movies, The Bradbury Building, The Ennis House and old downtownand the blu ray quality was very good. As for the second half it just seemed to be a bunch of coming attractions for moviesshot in L.A. It had an excruciatingly long number of scenes of "Chinatown", way to long versions of "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" and"Blade Runner". Overall I really enjoyed it, and would have given it 5 stars, but the second half knocked it down.

As an LA enthusiast I was expecting a bit more energy out of this, after all it's over 300+films that were packed into a single documentary. The result is... So so. Only for the aficionado.

I've never been to LA, but have always been fascinated by LA (and it's sister heathen city, NYC) portrayed in film, particularly in the 80s, 90s. I was thus, naturally drawn to this well-thought out video essay. The 'perversion' of Los Angeles in film has sculpted a rather large chip on the city's native, Mr. Andersen. From the first ten minutes of the film, his choice of words leave no doubt, being quite comical at times. It is nearly 3 hours in length, being split into sections.. so have your day planned around the viewing. Absolutely delectable, in an Indy, nerdy, movie-hound sense. Also, I'm hoping Mr. Andersen will find the need for a reprisal. This is nearly 15 years old, and there have been many more Los Angles films made since his video essay. I'm sure he has a bone to pick with no less than a few..

As a native of Los Angeles, I found *Los Angeles Plays Itself* an EXCELLENT anthology of movies in which the city has appeared in various guises, all spread throughout time. Contrary to what some reviewers of this movie have stated, there is atmosphere and culture peculiar to Los Angeles, and those facets of the atmosphere and culture are what make movies using the city as an uniquely identifiable place. Los Angeles has a multifaceted history unlike that of any other city and any given movie can capture only a small glimmer of it at any time. Here is where I see the great merit of this particular anthology; it brings a large number of the facets of Los Angeles' history and culture together in one place where the non-Angeleno and perhaps the younger native Angeleno can appreciate the mosaic of the city. May I suggest the importance of reading the 20+ page pamphlet included with the disk?

Fantastic doc on a fascinating city. Additionally, my disc arrived sealed but with an empty box, but seller responded immediately and sent replacement disc by fast mail - much appreciated!

Un film construit sur de très nombreux extraits de films ayant en commun d'avoir été tournés à Los Angeles. Ce n'est pas juste un documentaire mais une œuvre hybride qui pose un regard esthétique et idéologique sur l'évolution de la ville et de sa culture. A voir

I have watched the first hour of the documentary and I find it fantastic.As a true lover of the City of Los Angeles and of the art of cinema, I am thrilled with my purchase.Highly recommended !

Wonderful collection of film noir clips of parts of LA now demolished. And loved the Frank Lloyd Wright houses shown in movies at the time. Have only viewed the first half

Los Angeles incroyablement décortiqué à travers Hollywood. C’est tellement passionnant et enrichissant, qu’à peine a-t-on fini de le voir, que l’on a envie de le revoir…