L.A. Without a Map (1999)
An aspiring Hollywood actress, on a visit to a charming North England town, has a brief fling with the town undertaker, who also writes obituaries for the local paper. Returning home, where she works as a waitress at a Japanese restaurant, she tells everyone about the handsome "writer" she met on her trip. Unfortunately, he decides to follow her back to Hollywood, setting up the expected light romantic comedy with asides as the newcomer gains experience about the goings on in Hollywood.
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Just so...so bad
Better Late Then Never
I gave this film a 9 out of 10, because it was exactly what I expected it to be.
It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film
Very poorly written & directed, I laughed a few times, fast forwarded it a few times and mainly kept watching it because Vincent Gallo kept popping up. There's more chemistry between him and David Tennant than there is between Tennant and Ms. Shaw. It would have been more interesting as a buddy movie with Tennant and Gallo getting into mischief than a poorly played out romantic comedy. Julie Delpy has the worst fake American accent I've heard in a long time. Tennant in his boxers isn't too bad.For fans wanting to check out Tennant in something other than Doctor Who, I'd recommend Blackpool or Learners. Einstein and Eddington was pretty good, but Tennant was sort of... cardboard in it & Casanova was extremely silly. For people wanting to check out a movie like this, but done much better I'd recommend True Romance (1993- Christian Slater & Patricia Arquette) or the cult classic Valley Girl (1983- Nicolas Cage in his first lead role and Deborah Foreman).
Aki Karusmaki or his equally brilliant brother Mika directed and wrote this stunning piece of Europeana. Or Finneana. I love it when these European amateurs poke fun at Hollywood while they themselves aren't capable of making one good movie per decade. Besides, Hollywood is such an obvious and all-too-easy target, and this sort of thing has been done a zillion times before, and mostly much better. The gags are primitive, unfunny, badly directed or written, and the movie has to be endured instead of enjoyed. So trite, the way they yet again use the unfunny, stone-faced Leningrad Cowboys as some kind of sorry comic relief. Many familiar faces in small roles (Saskia Reeves - with about three seconds of screen time, Delpy - as a ridiculously overplayed dumb blonde, Gallo - ridiculously overplaying an L.A. "dude", Depp - "re-doing" his "Dead Man" character as an obvious tribute to Karusmaki's infinitely more talented pal Jarmusch, etc.); these actors probably appeared for nothing, thereby pretentiously supporting Le Europeanne Cinematique Arte-te-te that way. If the Karusmakis are one of the current leaders in Europe's Filmlandschaft then Continental Europe must be in the worst shape than it's ever been. Politically and morally anyway.
So interesting to see the cultural differences between English and Americans. I like people in California in general, but sometimes something about their attitude makes me sad. This movie shows some points why I feel sad. It is very important that Americans are recognized that and made it funny of it. That's why I can not hate American people.Vincet is quite interesting actor. I like him and his films. This film is one of the best he was in.I recommend this film to people who is interested in to see Californian culture and British culture. By the way, the Japanese title for this movie is "Go Go LA". Interesting, hum?I miss California so much. I wanna live there again someday.
In Bradford, England, the undertaker Richard (David Tennant) meets the American aspirant actress and waiter Barbara (Vinessa Shaw) and they spend some time together. Richard love movies, his great idol is Johnny Depp and he likes to write novels and obituaries. His girlfriend Joy (Saskia Reeves) is the daughter of a wealthy man. Barbara returns to Los Angeles, and Richard decides to look for her, without having her address. He finds her and decides to stay in Los Angeles, becoming friend of Moss (Vincent Gallo) and Julie (Julie Delpy). While working cleaning swimming-pools with Moss, Richard tries to become a writer and has to fight for the love of Barbara against the young and arrogant director Patterson (Cameron Bancroft), who wants only to have sex with her. 'Los Angeles Without a Map' is a lovely and delightful cult-movie, with the participation of many well-known persons. A highly recommended entertainment, having many funny situations. My vote is eight.Title (Brazil): 'Absolutamente Los Angeles' ('Absolutely Los Angeles')