| Sunset Strip | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Adam Collis |
| Produced by | Art Linson John Linson |
| Screenplay by | Randall Jahnson Russell DeGrazier |
| Story by | Randall Jahnson |
| Starring | Jared Leto Adam Goldberg Anna Friel |
| Music by | Stewart Copeland |
| Cinematography | Ron Fortunato |
| Editing by | Bruce Cannon Angus Wall |
| Studio | 20th Century Fox |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
| Release date(s) | August 18, 2000 |
| Running time | 95 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Sunset Strip is a 2000 American comedy-drama film directed by Adam Collis for 20th Century Fox. Randall Jahnson wrote the story, who previously examined the rock scene in his scripts for The Doors and Dudes, and he and Russell DeGrazier adapted the story into a screenplay.
This comedy takes place in 1972, during one 24-hour period on Los Angeles's famed Sunset Strip, where the lives of a group of young people are about to change forever. Jared Leto stars as Glen Walker, an up-and-coming country rocker. Anna Friel co-stars as Tammy Franklin, a clothing designer, and Nick Stahl plays Zach, a novice guitarist; Simon Baker, Adam Goldberg, Rory Cochrane and Tommy Flanagan also feature.[1] The film began shooting on November 9, 1998, and ended on January 11, 1999.[2]
Contents |
Sunset Strip tells the story of a number of music industry artists, all in the span of 24 hours on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood. Michael secretly pines for Tammy. She is busy sleeping with the up-and-coming country rocker Glen Walker and the rock star Duncan. Zach and his band are opening at the Whisky a Go Go for Duncan Reed and the Curb. In these 24 hours, they all cross paths pursue their dreams.[3]
Anna Friel is Tammy Franklin, a costume designer with a shop situated near the legendary Whisky a Go Go, which allows her to have sex with the country rocker Glen Walker, played by Jared Leto, and Duncan Reid, played by Tommy Flanagan, a rock star who is influenced by Jim Morrison and David Bowie.[4][5] Adam Goldberg is Marty Shapiro, a fast-talking record producer from the Valley.[4] Nick Stahl is Zach, a novice guitarist who believes that he is the Jimi Hendrix successor.[4][5] Rory Cochrane is Felix, a troubled songwriter whose dream is die of a drug and alcohol overdose.[4] Simon Baker is Michael Scott, who photographs Tammy Franklin and the musicians.[4][6] Other cast are Darren E. Burrows as Bobby, John Randolph as Mr. Niederhaus, Stephanie Romanov as Christine, Mary Lynn Rajskub as Eileen, Maurice Chasse as Nigel, Mike Rad as Badger, Josh Richman as Barry Bernstein , Sebastian Robertson as Busboy, Dori Brenner as Doctor, Krista Allen as Jennifer, Matthew Frauman as Hobbit, Justin Ashforth as Joel, Robin Moxey as Ronny, Rainbow Borden as Butch, Marques Johnson as Toussaint, Andre Roberson as Leroy, Dave Lafa as Malcolm, Garland Spencer as Darryl, Ron De Roxtra as Vito, Turtle as Turner's Counter Clerk, Kellie Waymire as Mary, Brian Gattas as Production Assistant, Michelle Beaudoin as Girl with Frizzy Red Hair, Anna Berger as Older Waitress, Judy Greer as Younger Waitress, Paul Weiss as Guitar Counter Clerk, Rhino Michaels as Doorman at Duncan's, Jimmie F. Skaggs as Guitar Center Owner, Ralph P. Martin as Motel Pool Man, Linda Lawson as Mrs. Canter, Nowldar Alexander Winterhawk as Guitar Store Clerk, David Cotton Fisher as Angry Motorist, Marcus Johnson as Toussaint, Kirsten Maryott as Diner waitress, Emmy Collins as Rock and Roll Cowboy, Scott Corr as Whiskey Clubgoer, Stacey Hayes as Groupie, Noel Thurman as Groupi chic.[7]
Stewart Copeland was approached by director Adam Collis to assemble the score for the film.[8] Copeland recorded a slew of vintage songs.[6] The music, some scored by Stewart Copeland, some written and selected by Robbie Robertson, is made in a bygone style that sometimes consciously mimics the multicharacter 1970s dramas.[4]
On August 18, 2000, Sunset Strip opened to the public in limited release at a theater in Los Angeles and another in New York,[9] where the film grossed $3,926 in three days.[10] After two months, on October 12, 2000, the film was screened at the Austin Film Festival and was received positively.[9] Writing in Variety, Robert Koehler said "Interesting structure provides pic with plenty of opportunities for social satire, human comedy and chance encounters, but few setups are ever dramatically fulfilled."[4] Kevin Thomas in Los Angeles Times said "Moves smoothly amid a near-perfect period evocation, captured in an array of shifting moods."[6] Writing in Mr. Showbiz, Kevin Maynard praised the film, saying that it "has its funky charms."[11] Cheryl DeWolfe of the Apollo Movie Guide said "This modestly successful drama follows a young ensemble cast through the ups and downs of the music business in all its stages of stardom."[5]
Sunset Strip was released on VHS on February 13, 2001,[12] and was re-released on September 4, 2001.[13] The film was distributed by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment and FS Film Oy only in Finland.[14] On June 1, 2004, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment released a DVD for region 1.[15] The DVD release includes the fullscreen and the widescreen.[16]