The best (that is "hottest") scene in Laurel Canyon is when Sam (Christian Bale) and Sara (Natasha McElhone) are sitting in Sara's car telling each other how they feel.
"I don't really know you," Sara says. "I feel connected to you. I feel safe with you. Like it's okay to be honest. I'm attracted to you. And it's not just that I think you're incredibly sexy."
[Got that right!]
"I think you're incredibly attractive, too," Sam says. "I think about you. A lot."
"How do you think about me?"
"How do I think about you?"
"Do you think about having sex with me?"
"Yeah."
"How?"
Okay, you have to watch it to get his answer... It's very sexy.
He asks later, "Do I get to work on you for a while, or do we just fall asleep?"
There's nothing sexier (outside of actual physical contact) than two people talking openly and vulnerably about sex. You can feel the emotional pull that's going on. Even Napolean Hill of "Think and Grow Rich" writes about the power of sex emotion:
"The emotion of sex brings into being a state of mind."
And, "Sex desire is the most powerful of human desires. When driven by this desire, men develop keenness of imagination, courage, will-power, persistence, and creative ability unknown to them at other times."
This is important. This is a key to my campaign: How to save the romantic comedy. Honest, realistic, credible, vulnerable situations like this one are more compelling than the fluff and contrivances of today's Hollywood romantic comedy.
Laurel Canyon is not a romantic comedy, though some scenes are truly funny. (Not least of them the very last scene when Sam is in the pool on the phone with Sara, trying to deal with his mother, his own feelings, his work, his girlfriend, his mother's boyfriend, etc. and Ian glides by pulled by a remote-controlled motor boat. It's hysterical.)
Anyway, no "everything is based on a lie or hidden agenda, or dishonest intentions." In fact, the one time Sam lies to his girlfriend Alex seems harmless enough, but you know it's so out of place in his relationship. It's a little lie, but shocking in a way. It shows trouble is brewing...
Alex's behavior is a little less credible, but the point is, you don't have to go to extremes to make up improbable situations to pull together a love story with yin and yang, with people showing their good side and their bad. With misunderstandings and mess ups. With emotional conflicts and sexual tension.
So, my campaign is Hope for the Romantic Comedy. First, bring in credible, believable stories and situations. Second, and this is important: People can actually learn something from romantic comedies. They can learn to be honest, to express themselves, to be responsible, and to act appropriately. This second piece I am injecting into my stories and scenes as I write them. (Lord knows, I had to learn my lesson!)
So, God Save the Romantic Comedy in America!
P.S. And yes, I did watch Laurel Canyon strictly because I have a crush on Christian Bale. (Though I am 5 months older than Frances McDormand, so old enough to be his mother!)
