10 Years Later, You Can Finally Buy The Best Documentary About L.A.

Los Angeles Plays Itself is a report of how L.A. has been portray on screen , its thesis unfolding through hundreds of iconic movie cartridge holder . But the biggest reason that Thom Andersen ’s fabled documentary has reached a near - cult status is that , due to copyright issues , the motion-picture show has never been decent released in theaters or on DVD . Until now .

The distribution caller Cinema Guildtweeted todaythat they ’ve acquired rights to four of Anderson ’s films , include Los Angeles play Itself , and will be free them on DVD , in all likelihood this fall . Update : It ’s available for pre - order now ( DVD , Blu - ray ) , liberation date is September 30 .

If you have n’t seen it before , Los Angeles Plays Itself is innately entertaining as a cinematic experimentation , even to the Angeleno - agnostic . Narrated with Andersen ’s own commentary , the infotainment feature over200 clips from filmsabout Los Angeles , examining everything from the stereotypes surrounding the city ’s automobile culture to an oftentimes - echo dissertation that villains hold up in modernist houses ( below ) . In unforesightful , it ’s plausibly the most important medium study ever conduct on the urban center — perhaps any city!—and no one has been able to see it .

Yes , clip can be found on YouTube , although they ’re often momentary as they get yanked for one reason or another . And Andersen does hold semi - regular showing of the film at art house house , mostly around L.A. But now pic yellowish brown will be able to cradle their own copy in their videodisc player ( and hopefully on their hard drives , too ) and observe this chef-d’oeuvre over and over and over .

How Cinema Guild was able to empty the effectual hurdle race and convince dozens of studios to bring in the clip of their picture will be a captivating story to take heed , but at a tenth day of remembrance screening in 2013 , Andersen vaguely hint thathe was work on it : “ I was , am , and will be capable to use [ the clips ] under fair use . No copyright proprietor were harmed in the making of this film . ”

While the absolute best part about Cinema Guild ’s acquisition is that people will in reality be able to see this film , the news also foreshadow well for other artists or movie maker who have used heaps of film magazine in their work . Christopher Marclay’sThe Clock , for lesson , assembles shots from movies and TV that show clock time ticking on pin grass into a exclusive 24 - hour movie . I ca n’t wait for that to issue forth out on DVD , too . [ LAist ]

Hostinger Coupon Code 15% Off