Going Down in La-La Land

By: Amos Lassen

"Going Down in La-La Land"

Looking at Hollywood

Amos Lassen

Several months ago I posted a note that Casper Andreas has a new film coming and I just saw it. I am glad to say that it lived up to all my expectations and further solidified Andreas's place in the top echelon of GLBT film. "Going Down in La-La Land" is based on Andy Zeffer's novel of the same name (see review here) and it gives us a look at Hollywood unlike any other. We have all heard stories about how some stars their way into show business and now we see this by watching Adam and how he will do anything to make it in Tinseltown. Adam moved to Hollywood from New York with great hopes and teamed up with Candy who spends her time at the gym and rich husband hunting. As we can imagine, Adam has a rough time in the beginning but soon manages to get a job at a film production company. Before he realizes it, he meets directors (those who have not been too successful of late) and closeted actors and soon discovers the world of addiction.

I have seen all of Andreas's films and am glad to say that he really nails this one. The cinematography is beautiful and the direction is excellent. The cast turns in remarkable performances.

Candy (Allison Lane) and Adam (Matthew Ludwinsky) are perfectly cast as two friends who met in film school and are working Hollywood as they look for fame and fortune. While some of the subplots are not new, the film handles them in a way that avoids comparison to others like it. The film, aside from making it in Hollywood, looks at a love affair skidding toward disaster. Candy and Adam face the reality of too many actors for too few roles but they are also looking for something else (and herein is where the movie differs from other "making it in Hollywood movies). Our actors are looking for roots and family. However, in a world where physical appearance is the most important thing, they both find it difficult. Adam being good looking quickly discovers that there are big bucks in the escorting business and becomes a hustler.

What I really found interesting is that as I watched the film I would see-saw between loving Hollywood and hating it and I am sure that this is the way many who live there feel. As "want to be" actors strive to find a place there, many end up in the sex trade which is tempting to say the least. And as I vacillated between love and hate for Hollywood, I realized that Adam and Candy represent those dual feelings. Adam has honest intentions of fulfilling his dreams and works at that while Candy does have that same motivation and would be satisfied with a rich husband who would let her shop and gossip all day long. Yet it is Candy who convinces Adam to join her gym for the purpose of networking. It is here that Adam meets Nick (Andreas himself) who tells him about a job as an office assistant that has come open. It just so happens that the job is with a company that does porn. It did not take long for Adam to begin escorting. He meets John, a closeted TV star, and the rest is for you to see for yourself.

Like Hollywood itself, behind the glitz and slick production values of the film, there is something we find beneath the surface and that is the themes of the film- fame, fortune, love and obtainment. Casper Andreas handles with humor and with seriousness and we get a film that makes us laugh at times as it looks at the dark side of life in Hollywood. Keep your eyes open for cameo appearances by Judy Tenuta, Alec Mapa and Bruce Vilanch.