Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
From its distinctive neighborhoods to its architectural homes, Los Angeles has been the backdrop to countless movies. In this dazzling work, Andersen takes viewers on a whirlwind tour through the metropolis' real and cinematic history, investigating the myriad stories and legends that have come to define it, and meticulously, judiciously revealing the real city that lives beneath.
Los Angeles Plays Itself is a singular, obsessive essay film that uses found footage from decades of Hollywood productions to construct a layered, politically charged portrait of the city itself. Its 'plot' — the argumentative, essayistic structure Andersen builds — is genuinely remarkable in its intellectual rigor and scope, earning a high mark. As a documentary composed almost entirely of clips, traditional acting is not a meaningful category, landing low by default. The cinematography is largely archival and borrowed, functional but not a showcase. Novelty is exceptionally high: this is a one-of-a-kind work with an utterly distinctive voice and conception — no other film does quite what this one does. The ending is satisfying but doesn't reach the heights of the film's best passages.