L.A. Times 25 Best L.A. Films of Last 25 Years

The city of Los Angels takes the spotlight in today's edition of the L.A. Times which published its pick of the top 25 L.A.-focused films of the last 25 years. The selection process which involved Los Angeles Times writers and editors had two ground rules: The movie had to communicate some inherent truth about the L.A. experience, and only one film per director was allowed on the list. Notable L.A.-based movies "Blade Runner" and "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" were automatically excluded from consideration because they were released some 26 years ago now.

The L.A. Times 25 Best L.A. films of the last 25 years are:

1. L.A. Confidential (1997)
2. Boogie Nights (1997)
3. Jackie Brown (1997)
4. Boyz N the Hood (1991)
5. Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
6. The Player (1992)
7. Clueless (1995)
8. Repo Man (1984)
9. Collateral (2004)
10. The Big Lebowski (1998)
11. Mulholland Drive (2001)
12. Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
13. Training Day (1991)
14. Swingers (1996)
15. Devil in a Blue Dress (1995)
16. Friday (1995)
17. Speed (1994)
18. Valley Girl (1983)
19. To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
20. L.A. Story (1991)
21. To Sleep with Anger (1990)
22. Less Than Zero (1987)
23. Fletch (1985)
24. Mi Vida Loca (1993)
25. Crash (2004)

Man on Wire

Kenneth Turan awards "Man on Wire" a critics' choice:

This intoxicating documentary about Philippe Petit's 1974 walk between the twin towers of New York's World Trade Center delivers exactly the film you're expecting when you look at photographs of this amazing event. A rare double winner of both Sundance's jury prize and its audience award, this picture is made with the human interest of a psychological drama, the "You Are There" factor of a classic documentary and the pace of a thriller.

Synopsis "Man on Wire"

On August 7th 1974, a young Frenchman named Philippe Petit stepped out on a wire illegally rigged between New York's twin towers, then the world’s tallest buildings. After nearly an hour dancing on the wire, he was arrested, taken for psychological evaluation, and brought to jail before he was finally released. Following six and a half years of dreaming of the towers, Petit spent eight months in New York City planning the execution of the coup. Petit was faced with numerous extraordinary challenges: he had to find a way to bypass the WTC’s security; smuggle the heavy steel cable and rigging equipment into the towers; pass the wire between the two rooftops. James Marsh’s documentary brings Petit’s extraordinary adventure to life through the testimony of Philippe himself, and some of the co-conspirators who helped him create the unique and magnificent spectacle that became known as “the artistic crime of the century.”

Director: James Marsh
Genres: Biography, Law & Crime, Culture & Society, Performance Art Opened July 25, 2008 Runtime:1 hr. 30 min. PG-13

Frozen River

Kenneth Turan awards a critics' choice to "Frozen River"

As the summer heats up, let this bracing drama wash over you and allow the intensity of its acting to restore your spirits. Starring Melissa Leo and misty Upham as two women who end up unlikely partners smuggling illegal immigrants over the Canadian border, "Frozen River" not only won the grand jury prize at Sundance, it deserved it (Read Kenneth Turan's review of Frozen River)

Synopsis "Frozen River"
Two days before Christmas in rural upstate New York, Ray Eddy’s husband has left her in an impossible situation—not only is he gone, but he has gambled away all of the family’s meager savings. Ray’s single wage at the Yankee One Dollar Store can’t make the house payment, and the situation forces Ray to feed her two sons popcorn and Tang every day. When Ray strikes out to search for her husband, she encounters Lila Littlewolf, a tough, street-smart Mohawk woman who is dealing with her own struggle to make ends meet. But Lila has found a way to do it—smuggling illegal immigrants into the States. The tribal elders disapprove and attempt to stop Lila by forbidding anyone to sell her a car. Ray has a car, and although the two women don’t trust each other, they team up and share Ray’s Dodge Spirit to make a run across the frozen St. Lawrence River.

Opened August 1, 2008 Runtime:1 hr. 37 min. R - some language
Cast: Melissa Leo, Misty Upham, Charlie McDermott, Michael O'Keefe, Mark Boone, Jr.
Director: Courtney Hunt
Genres: Drama, Family Drama, Slice of Life

Boy A

Gary Goldstein (a new face at the LA Times?) ranks "Boy A" a critics' choice award, writing:

No deed, good or bad, goes unpunished in the excellent British drama about a young man once anonymously dubbed "Boy A" by the press, who is released from juvenile prison 14 years after his involvement in an unspeakable childhood crime.

Synopsis Boy A
After spending most of his youth in prison for a brutal murder, an ex-convict (Andrew Garfield) re-enters society and tries to live a normal life.

Opened July 23, 2008 Runtime:1 hr. 40 min.
Cast: Andrew Garfield, Peter Mullan, Shaun Evans, Katie Lyons, Jeremy Swift
Director: John Crowley
Genres: Psychological Drama, Drama

Showtimes in you zip from Fandango