Sunset Strip (film)
Encyclopedia
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. The film began shooting on November 9, 1998, and ended on January 11, 1999.
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.
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
. Adam Goldberg
is Marty Shapiro, a fast-talking record producer from the Valley. Nick Stahl
is Zach, a novice guitarist who believes that he is the Jimi Hendrix
successor. Rory Cochrane
is Felix, a troubled songwriter whose dream is die of a drug and alcohol overdose. Simon Baker
is Michael Scott, who photographs Tammy Franklin and the musicians.
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.
was approached by director Adam Collis to assemble the score for the film. Copeland recorded a slew of vintage songs. 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.
at a theater in Los Angeles
and another in New York
, where the film grossed $3,926 in three days. After two months, on October 12, 2000, the film was screened at the Austin Film Festival
and was received positively. 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." Kevin Thomas in Los Angeles Times
said "Moves smoothly amid a near-perfect period evocation, captured in an array of shifting moods." Writing in Mr. Showbiz
, Kevin Maynard
praised the film, saying that it "has its funky charms." 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."
Sunset Strip was released on VHS on February 13, 2001, and was re-released on September 4, 2001. The film was distributed by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
and FS Film Oy only in Finland. On June 1, 2004, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment released a DVD for region 1. The DVD release includes the fullscreen and the widescreen.
Adam Collis
Adam Collis is an American filmmaker and actor. He attended the Duke University from 1986 to 1990 and the University of California, Los Angeles from 2007 to 2010. He also studied cinema at the University of Southern California from 1991 to 1997. Collis first work was the assistant director for the...
for 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
. Randall Jahnson
Randall Jahnson
Randall Jahnson is an American writer, director and producer. His works include Dudes, The Doors, The Mask of Zorro, Sunset Strip, and episodes of the HBO TV series Tales from the Crypt. Jahnson also directed music videos for Stan Ridgway, Henry Rollins, Black Flag, and Minutemen. In the 1987, he...
wrote the story, who previously examined the rock scene in his scripts for The Doors
The Doors (film)
The Doors is a 1991 biopic about the 1960s-1970s rock band of the same name which emphasizes the life of its lead singer, Jim Morrison. It was directed by Oliver Stone, and stars Val Kilmer as Morrison, Meg Ryan as Pamela Courson , Kyle MacLachlan as Ray Manzarek, Frank Whaley as Robby Krieger,...
and Dudes
Dudes (film)
-Plot:Two punks from the big city , traveling across the country in a Volkswagen bug, embrace the western ethos when they must take revenge against a group of rednecks for killing their friend in this lighthearted road movie...
, and he and Russell DeGrazier
Russell DeGrazier
Russell DeGrazier is an American writer, director, producer and actor. His works include the comedy-drama Sunset Strip, the award-winning short film Mad' Boy, I'll Blow Your Blues Away. Be Mine, and a role in the series Friday Night Lights....
adapted the story into a screenplay.
This comedy takes place in 1972, during one 24-hour period on Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
's famed Sunset Strip
Sunset Strip
The Sunset Strip is the name given to the mile-and-a-half stretch of Sunset Boulevard that passes through West Hollywood, California. It extends from West Hollywood's eastern border with Hollywood at Harper Avenue, to its western border with Beverly Hills at Sierra Drive...
, where the lives of a group of young people are about to change forever. Jared Leto
Jared Leto
Jared Joseph Leto is an American actor, director, producer, occasional model and musician. Leto has appeared in both big budget Hollywood films and smaller projects from independent producers and art houses. He rose to prominence for playing Jordan Catalano in the teenage drama My So-Called Life...
stars as Glen Walker, an up-and-coming country rocker. Anna Friel
Anna Friel
Anna Louise Friel is an English actress. She rose to fame in the UK as Beth Jordache on the Channel 4 soap Brookside.-Early life:...
co-stars as Tammy Franklin, a clothing designer, and Nick Stahl
Nick Stahl
Nicolas Kent "Nick" Stahl is an American actor. Starting out as a child actor, he gained recognition for his performance in the 1993 film The Man Without a Face and then embarked on a successful career as a child actor...
plays Zach, a novice guitarist; Simon Baker
Simon Baker
Simon Baker is an Australian actor. Since 2008, he has starred in the CBS television series The Mentalist.-Early life:...
, Adam Goldberg
Adam Goldberg
Adam Charles Goldberg is an American actor, director, producer, and musician.-Early life:Goldberg was born in Santa Monica, California, the son of Donna and Earl Goldberg, a former lifeguard. His father is Jewish and his mother is a "lapsed" Roman Catholic of Irish, French, and German descent...
, Rory Cochrane
Rory Cochrane
Rory Cochrane is an American actor. He is known for playing Ron Slater in Dazed and Confused, Lucas in Empire Records, and Tim Speedle in CSI: Miami.-Early life:...
and Tommy Flanagan
Tommy Flanagan (actor)
Tommy Flanagan is a Scottish film and television actor.Flanagan was born in Glasgow, Scotland, the 3rd of five children. Flanagan's first television roles were in Screen One, 1992 and Taggart in 1993. Flanagan worked in Robert Carlyle's Raindog Theatre for three years before being cast in Braveheart...
also feature. The film began shooting on November 9, 1998, and ended on January 11, 1999.
Plot
Sunset Strip tells the story of a number of music industry artists, all in the span of 24 hours on the Sunset StripSunset Strip
The Sunset Strip is the name given to the mile-and-a-half stretch of Sunset Boulevard that passes through West Hollywood, California. It extends from West Hollywood's eastern border with Hollywood at Harper Avenue, to its western border with Beverly Hills at Sierra Drive...
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
Whisky a Go Go
The Whisky a Go Go is a nightclub in West Hollywood, California, United States. It is located at 8901 Sunset Boulevard, on the Sunset Strip.-History:...
for Duncan Reed and the Curb. In these 24 hours, they all cross paths pursue their dreams.
Cast
Anna FrielAnna Friel
Anna Louise Friel is an English actress. She rose to fame in the UK as Beth Jordache on the Channel 4 soap Brookside.-Early life:...
is Tammy Franklin, a costume designer with a shop situated near the legendary Whisky a Go Go
Whisky a Go Go
The Whisky a Go Go is a nightclub in West Hollywood, California, United States. It is located at 8901 Sunset Boulevard, on the Sunset Strip.-History:...
, which allows her to have sex with the country rocker Glen Walker, played by Jared Leto
Jared Leto
Jared Joseph Leto is an American actor, director, producer, occasional model and musician. Leto has appeared in both big budget Hollywood films and smaller projects from independent producers and art houses. He rose to prominence for playing Jordan Catalano in the teenage drama My So-Called Life...
, and Duncan Reid, played by Tommy Flanagan
Tommy Flanagan (actor)
Tommy Flanagan is a Scottish film and television actor.Flanagan was born in Glasgow, Scotland, the 3rd of five children. Flanagan's first television roles were in Screen One, 1992 and Taggart in 1993. Flanagan worked in Robert Carlyle's Raindog Theatre for three years before being cast in Braveheart...
, a rock star who is influenced by Jim Morrison
Jim Morrison
James Douglas "Jim" Morrison was an American musician, singer, and poet, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band The Doors...
and David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
. Adam Goldberg
Adam Goldberg
Adam Charles Goldberg is an American actor, director, producer, and musician.-Early life:Goldberg was born in Santa Monica, California, the son of Donna and Earl Goldberg, a former lifeguard. His father is Jewish and his mother is a "lapsed" Roman Catholic of Irish, French, and German descent...
is Marty Shapiro, a fast-talking record producer from the Valley. Nick Stahl
Nick Stahl
Nicolas Kent "Nick" Stahl is an American actor. Starting out as a child actor, he gained recognition for his performance in the 1993 film The Man Without a Face and then embarked on a successful career as a child actor...
is Zach, a novice guitarist who believes that he is the Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
successor. Rory Cochrane
Rory Cochrane
Rory Cochrane is an American actor. He is known for playing Ron Slater in Dazed and Confused, Lucas in Empire Records, and Tim Speedle in CSI: Miami.-Early life:...
is Felix, a troubled songwriter whose dream is die of a drug and alcohol overdose. Simon Baker
Simon Baker
Simon Baker is an Australian actor. Since 2008, he has starred in the CBS television series The Mentalist.-Early life:...
is Michael Scott, who photographs Tammy Franklin and the musicians.
Other cast are Darren E. Burrows
Darren E. Burrows
Darren E. Burrows is an American Actor / Director.Burrows was born in Winfield, Kansas, the son of actor Billy Drago. Burrows is best known for playing Ed Chigliak in the television series Northern Exposure...
as Bobby, John Randolph
John Randolph (actor)
John Randolph was an American film, television and stage actor.-Early life:Randolph was born Emanuel Hirsch Cohen in New York City, the son of Jewish immigrants Dorothy , an insurance agent, and Louis Cohen, a hat manufacturer...
as Mr. Niederhaus, Stephanie Romanov
Stephanie Romanov
Stephanie A. Romanov is an American model and actress, best known for playing Lilah Morgan on Angel.-Career:She first began modeling in Europe and was discovered at 15 by Elite Model Management founder, John Casablancas. Her first professional modeling job was in Europe, shooting fashion layouts...
as Christine, Mary Lynn Rajskub
Mary Lynn Rajskub
Mary Lynn Rajskub is an American actress and comedian, best known for her leading role as Chloe O'Brian on the Fox action-thriller 24.-Early life:...
as Eileen, Maurice Chasse as Nigel, Mike Rad as Badger, Josh Richman
Josh Richman
Josh Richman is an American actor, writer, producer and director. He is best known for his work with Guns N' Roses.- Career :His first acting job was a minor role in the science fiction television show V: The Series....
as Barry Bernstein , Sebastian Robertson as Busboy, Dori Brenner as Doctor, Krista Allen
Krista Allen
Krista Allen is an American actress. She is best known for her work in the television series Days of Our Lives, Baywatch Hawaii, and What About Brian; and in the Hollywood films Liar Liar, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Anger Management, and The Final Destination...
as Jennifer, Matthew Frauman as Hobbit, Justin Ashforth as Joel, Robin Moxey as Ronny, Rainbow Borden as Butch, Marques Johnson
Marques Johnson
Marques Kevin Johnson is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA, playing for the Milwaukee Bucks , Los Angeles Clippers , and Golden State Warriors ....
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
Kellie Waymire
Suzanne Kellie Waymire was an American actress.Waymire was born in Columbus, Ohio. She attended Southern Methodist University , graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater, and later earned a Master's degree in Fine Arts from the University of California, San Diego in 1993.Waymire died on...
as Mary, Brian Gattas as Production Assistant, Michelle Beaudoin
Michelle Beaudoin
Michelle Beaudoin is a Canadian actress best known for her role as Jenny Kelley in the ABC sitcom Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.-Early life:Beaudoin was born in Edmonton, Alberta, the daughter of Maurice and Lorraine Beaudoin....
as Girl with Frizzy Red Hair, Anna Berger as Older Waitress, Judy Greer
Judy Greer
Judy Greer is an American actress, known for portraying a string of supporting female characters, including Kitty Sanchez on the Fox series Arrested Development and Cheryl on the animated comedy series Archer...
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
Stacey Hayes
Stacey Hayes is an English television infomercial spokesperson, comedienne, actress, model and one-time competitive ice-skater...
as Groupie, Noel Thurman as Groupi chic.
Music
Stewart CopelandStewart Copeland
Stewart Armstrong Copeland is an American musician, best known as the drummer for the band The Police. During the group's extended hiatus from the mid-1980s to 2007, he played in other bands and composed soundtracks...
was approached by director Adam Collis to assemble the score for the film. Copeland recorded a slew of vintage songs. The music, some scored by Stewart Copeland, some written and selected by Robbie Robertson
Robbie Robertson
Robbie Robertson, OC; is a Canadian singer-songwriter, and guitarist. He is best known for his membership as the guitarist and primary songwriter within The Band. He was ranked 59th in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time...
, is made in a bygone style that sometimes consciously mimics the multicharacter 1970s dramas.
Release and reception
On August 18, 2000, Sunset Strip opened to the public in limited releaseLimited release
Limited release is a term in the American motion picture industry for a motion picture that is playing in a select few theaters across the country ....
at a theater in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and another in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, where the film grossed $3,926 in three days. After two months, on October 12, 2000, the film was screened at the Austin Film Festival
Austin Film Festival
The Austin Film Festival was started in 1994 in Austin, Texas and is claimed to be "the first organization of its kind to focus on the writer’s unique creative contribution to the film and television industries"...
and was received positively. Writing in Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
, 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." Kevin Thomas in Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
said "Moves smoothly amid a near-perfect period evocation, captured in an array of shifting moods." Writing in Mr. Showbiz
Movies.com
Movies.com is a website in the Fandango family, operated by Comcast. It was acquired from Disney in June 2008. It is the second-most visited movie-related website, second only to IMDb. The website has information about movies, upcoming movies, and theater information...
, Kevin Maynard
Kevin Maynard
Kevin R. Maynard is a television writer. He has written for the Showtime series Dexter. Maynard was nominated for a Writers Guild of America Award for best dramatic series at the February 2008 ceremony for his work on the first season of Dexter. He is married to Krista Vernoff, the head writer for...
praised the film, saying that it "has its funky charms." 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."
Sunset Strip was released on VHS on February 13, 2001, and was re-released on September 4, 2001. The film was distributed by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment is the home video distribution arm of the 20th Century Fox film studio. It was established in 1976 as Magnetic Video Corporation, and later as 20th Century Fox Video, CBS/Fox Video and FoxVideo, Inc....
and FS Film Oy only in Finland. On June 1, 2004, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment released a DVD for region 1. The DVD release includes the fullscreen and the widescreen.