Fictional Reality

I'm about half-way through the 3hr documentary "Los Angeles Plays Itself", which is a video-essay of the city of Los Angeles using 191 movie clips to show the evolution and degradation of Los Angeles.



The picture above is of Bunker Hill in Los Angeles. LAPI documents the deterioration of the neighborhood from its idyllic family area of the 1940's in films like Shockproof, to the noirs of the 1950s like Kiss Me Deadly, with the area ending up as the post-apocalyptic wasteland of The Omega Man. It also shows the history of LA landmarks like the Pan-Pacific from its height hosting sporting events and presidential speeches and its appearance in movies like Suspense and Johnny Eager to its destruction, which is on display in Xanadu until, in the movie, it is resurrected as a roller disco. From this -



to this -



Thom Anderson, the creator, is real upset about the portrayal of his city and his bitterness really adds to his narration. Worth seeing if you can find a copy.