The film tends to fizzle out, like the bright lights of Hollywood for the main character, Bradford undertaker Richard (David Tennant), but the movie is still worth viewing. I enjoyed it, especially the drab lighting in Bradford turning to the neon colors of Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and actress wannabe Barbara (Vinessa Shaw), and then blending to black and white. The two don't stand a chance of working out together, but they do. The character development is shallow and much in the film is predictable enough to draw from it greatness, but the contrasting views (European and America, rich and poor, dreams and reality) give the film just enough spice to make this a good film. Vincent Gallo's character, Moss, is funny, and the cameo appearance by Johnny Depp is good--his poster eyes talk--and should have been played out along with Barbara talking with her dead father. (7/10)
15 Reviews
Pleasant
JPM_Floreffe20 April 2001
Definately worth watching for any Vincent Gallo fan.
brownrainjacket26 June 2002
Although the box may have JOHNNY DEPP & VINCENT GALLO in big letters, both actors play minor parts. Some very magical Depp cameo moments. Gallo is amazing and funny as hell the whole time he's on film. Any fan of his will definately want to see this. There's also a main love story that tries desperately to be charming but just ends up boring and lame. (I already know L.A. is fake--I just wanna hear more philosophy from Vincent Gallo.) This movie is supposedly hard to find. Maybe you can get a pirated copy.
Date, a bit, but still a nice romcom; Tennant is wonderful
inkblot112 January 2018
Richard (David Tennant) is a Scottish undertaker who dreams of being a screenwriter. To his amazement, the woman of his casting dreams, aspiring actress Barbara (Vinessa Shaw) meets him unexpectedly as a tourist in his native land. She is flattered by Richard's immediate attentions and the two spark up a friendship until its time for Barbara to go home. End of story? Not quite. Richard decides to take an extended vacation and travel to Los Angeles in search of his true love. After all, maybe his yearning to make it as a screenwriter will be better realized in Hollywood, too. His initial landing in the city is humorous as he goes to the bad part of town and is the target of scorn by the tough guys. Yet, a man rescues him, takes him to a vacant apartment and gets him a job as a pool boy. Now, Rich must make an entrance at the fancy restaurant where Barb works and see if she missed him. It's a surprise and surreal reunion. There are also complications as Barbara has a boyfriend with many connections in the movie business. How can she dump her current beau for Richard, when she is just about to "make it" in Tinseltown? Can she get good advice from Julie (Julie Delpy) , a zany co-worker at the eatery? This sweet film is definitely enhanced by Tennant's winning ways and handsome face. He is a charmer and quite funny. Shaw is beautiful indeed but somewhat of a cold fish. Delpy has her moments while, most importantly, Johnny Depp makes a cameo that is side-splitting. The scenery, costumes, script and direction are all above average. For romcom fans, like me, there is always an endless pursuit to find hidden gems like this movie of 25 years ago.
I liked it pretty much
Bored_Dragon22 June 2018
an unintentional comedy of mediocre proportions
force2322 March 2001
There's a mystery at the heart of this abberation...why on earth did somebody of Johnny Depp's talent chose to cameo in this debacle? Unsympathetic characters, dodgy editing, bland caricatures and a plot line you'd have trouble filling a matchbook with. Our 'hero', Tennant is about as interesting to watch as a lobotomy on a gnat. To say he's uninspiring is a gross injustice to flat performers the world over. So here it is: Bradford undertaker decides to follow LA chick back to her homeland...and?...motivation?...development? That would be asking too much. Question: Vincent Gallo, Julie Delpy, what on earth were you thinking of? This insipid piece of self indulgent flatulence should have been strangled in the editing room, I say editing room loosely. It feels like the producers shipped the editing duties out to a first term film student...there are plenty of bad films out there, thankfully this one has been hidden in amongst the other dross on cable pay TV. The likes of Gallo, Delpy and Depp must cringe whenever this one is half remembered.
Embarrassing to watch, but Vincent Gallo is funny
mushroom_pants12 January 2009
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).
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).
Unusual and charming love story, likeable characters
jörg k.16 November 2000
I realize that I should not comment on other peoples comments, but sometimes it just p***es me of how low the rating is.
L.A. Without a Map is not really a "romantic comedy" a la Meg Ryan/Sandra Bullock, but it IS very romantic and sometimes funny and sad. The main character is a pretty strange man, and the female character is far from being "a good girl". I would catalogize it as Tragic comedy/Drama. This movie is probably an example of how "non-standard" films are unpopular with many people. DO NOT watch this movie if you like Jennifer Love Hewitt.
The lighting here is dark and realistic almost like a documentary at times. The characters are real characters with depth. Tennant and Shaw are great. Unlike a "romantic comedy" the ending is not retarded and predictable. Tennant is the last person you would expect as the "hero" of a "romantic comedy". He gives the movie depth and realism. All characters of the move are actually anti-heroes. The movie is still funny and positive and deeply human.
L.A. Without a Map is not really a "romantic comedy" a la Meg Ryan/Sandra Bullock, but it IS very romantic and sometimes funny and sad. The main character is a pretty strange man, and the female character is far from being "a good girl". I would catalogize it as Tragic comedy/Drama. This movie is probably an example of how "non-standard" films are unpopular with many people. DO NOT watch this movie if you like Jennifer Love Hewitt.
The lighting here is dark and realistic almost like a documentary at times. The characters are real characters with depth. Tennant and Shaw are great. Unlike a "romantic comedy" the ending is not retarded and predictable. Tennant is the last person you would expect as the "hero" of a "romantic comedy". He gives the movie depth and realism. All characters of the move are actually anti-heroes. The movie is still funny and positive and deeply human.
A Lovely and Delightful Cult-Movie
claudio_carvalho2 November 2004
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')
Title (Brazil): 'Absolutamente Los Angeles' ('Absolutely Los Angeles')
a gentle romantic comedy that makes you want to laugh and cry at the same time
AeonFlux-424 April 1999
LA without a map was for me, the high point of this year's Singapore Film Festival (99). This modern day fairy-tale may come across as 'clich-ed' to some - especially the last bit - but it made a nice and interestingly pure change to the 'my ship is bigger than yours' crazy budget films out there right now. It's a raw and engaging film that puts a certain warmth in your heart when you leave the cinema. It's about love, dreams, loss, the fragility of life (and love) and it can be damn funny when it wants to be... the acting ain't bad either. :) Vinessa Shaw looks set to be the next big thing.
A delightful love story...
Rislakki16 February 1999
I saw this film at the Brussels International Film Festival. The Finnish director, Mika Kaurismäki, participated also in this "special screening". The film is a nice, delightful love story. There's this Scottish boy who falls in love with a girl who comes from Los Angeles. Eventually, the boy follows her to the City of Angels.
Half comedy, half romance. A nice film.
***/*****
Half comedy, half romance. A nice film.
***/*****
English and American
slk27 March 2005
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.
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.
Vincent Gallo is a genius
jmorency_au30 April 2001
This movie is worth seeing.......Vincent Gallo is hilarious. If you don't need a lot of action, if dialogue satisfies you then this movie will suit your taste. Bizarre, quirky, if you liked Swingers, Go, Very Bad Things...L.A without a Map, will be a favorite of yours.
A plot less comedy about a writer and other dull characters.
fedor831 December 2006
Warning: Spoilers
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.
Just like looking at a huge white wall.
EAT Alex2 October 1999
As a director, Mika Kaurismäki is definitely not as talented as his brother Aki, the drawer of great films like La vie de bohéme and Drfiting Clouds. L.A. Without a Map has nothing in it, and proves with "Condition Red" and "Last Border" that Mika Kaurismäki has lost his touch of directing. With "L.A." M. Kaurismäki tries to make a some sort of a satire of Hollywood, and connects it to a love story of a british undertaker and a lovely waitress from Hollywood. David Tennant and Vinessa Shaw play the main characters with out any kind of charisma. When Tennant's undertaker wants to be a writer and Shaw's waitress wants to be an actress in any cost, their relationship in Hollywood seems to be an impossible thing to work out.
Vincent Gallo and Julie Delpy make a charming couple in the film, but their chracters are very poorly sketched. Johnny Depp and Jerzy Skolimowski make funny cameos.
L.A. Without a Map won't make you laugh when it's supposed to, trust me. But it's not as bad you might expect, it's not a pathetic picture. Kaurismäki has only made a film that will easily erase from memory. And because of that, you can safely watch it. But that's not much.
Vincent Gallo and Julie Delpy make a charming couple in the film, but their chracters are very poorly sketched. Johnny Depp and Jerzy Skolimowski make funny cameos.
L.A. Without a Map won't make you laugh when it's supposed to, trust me. But it's not as bad you might expect, it's not a pathetic picture. Kaurismäki has only made a film that will easily erase from memory. And because of that, you can safely watch it. But that's not much.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
