La La Land — Page 11

I, too, felt the movie was pleasant but not worth a lot of the hype. The production design, cinematography, and direction were good. Emma and Ryan were an attractive couple. The opening two group numbers were creative but the vocals were so soft and lacking in individuality that the movie didn't engage me until it focused on the couple.. I liked Emma's audition song, probably because I was engaged in her story by that time (and it did remind me of "Rainbow Connection".

My wife did not like it much at all:

Regardless, I am sure it will do well at the Oscars. Hollywood loves movies about itself.

petewk87 said: "Has anyone seen it in IMAX? Wonder if it's worth checking it out in that format...

I watched it in a Dolby screening room at a theater in Times Square last night. The screen was very large, I don't think it needs to be seen in IMAX, that may be too big. The sound was a bit intense in this theater. During some of the audio, pre-movie, my chair would vibrate with the sounds. Made for hearing the piano parts nice but some of the other music was like "whoa!".

Since the Dolby room had the lounge chairs, I had to pick seats beforehand and I think I sat too close (unfamiliar with venue and not expecting the screen size). That coupled with the sound, I joked with friends I went with that La La Land has rendered me blind and deaf!

It was a different movie experience than what I've seen in recent years. I can't remember the last musical I saw at the movies, Grease?????

EDITED: Chicago. I saw that at the movies.

Updated On: 1/18/17 at 05:01 PM

I just saw it in IMAX but can't really tell what difference it makes. Had the same sound mix issues as disneybroadwayfan22. All through Another Day of Sun I was straining to hear the lyrics and had to check them up online afterwards.

The movie itself I found cute and ultimately underwhelming. The music is hummable but with very wispy vocals from Emma Stone most of the time, and the less said about Gosling's singing the better. As a fan of his, it also pains me to say he generally sleepwalked through this role. Yes, he won the GG but so did Lady Gaga. Actingwise, his good role was in The Nice Guys. In my opinion, neither of the leads should be winning Oscars this year against the competition.

Agree with the accolades about the cinematography and production. Liked the ending, it makes up for some of the issues with the story and script. It may be a vestige of the "homages" approach, but at this time the white guy savior trope is more than tired. Girl apparently lost her smartphone so the agent couldn't get in touch with the 11th hour offer, or she screened all her calls or whatever, so let's pretend the plot twist Guy saves Girl isn't anachronistic?

Thank you Mister Matt, that list was terrific.

petewk87 said: "Has anyone seen it in IMAX? Wonder if it's worth checking it out in that format..."

Contrary to what BrightLights3 posted above, I thought La La Land was even more glorious in IMAX. The aspect ratio is the same as the regular theatrical release (2.55:1) but the increased visual definition makes the colors really pop -- seriously, it's gorgeous -- and the sound was incredibly sharp and detailed.

I guess it depends on how good your local IMAX theater is, but I would highly recommend seeing it in that format. (You've only got another day, however, as Vin Diesel will be taking over, and IMAX will be going back to highlighting explosions, gunfire, and action hero antics.)

I LOVED the pre-recorded tracks. This is what creates some kind of "better than reality" quality, which lifts the scenes and emotions. I cried almost 7 times during the film, just because of the sheer beauty. There is a scene where they sing "live" and that one actually took me out of the film, because suddenly it felt like I saw 2 actors struggling with the material and feeling uncomfortable. That scene was too literal. While the rest of the film is a triumph of the fantasy, which is what this artform should be.

I also loved the moments that has no specific reason, other than just conveying a certain mood/feeling, such as the opening number, the scene in the hills on the bench, certain montages, the scene on the pier, it kind of reminded me of Disney classics like "Sleeping Beauty". Where scenes as Gifts of beauty, I wonder/do you hear that' have the same kind of approach. It was extremely refreshing to see a film that dared to go there and embrace that. Taking a moment to appreciate the beauty instead of constant action, oneliners or throwing every moment away with a joke. This approach really supported the way the pre-recorded tracks worked so well.

It was a triumph of the fantasy and therefore it felt very raw, real and emotional. That is how this artform works.
I have missed this understanding in most recent (musical)films.

In addition to that, I thought it was very well acted, there were so many clever nuances in their scenes and loved the "could have been" montage and that (spoiler) even though they don't end up together, some bonds in life are different and good in another way. I loved the ending. And then the whole story of the struggle to achieve your career goals, the whole film actually was the opposite of a classic hollywood film.

I really hope other directors of future musicalfilms learn something from this.



Edit: I do agree with the wispy singing/lack of individual voices singing comments. What saved them is the pre-recorded tracks I think. I think it would have been even better with stronger singing, to elevate the scenes even more. And it would have been (a lot) worse with live singing. Mainly because the magic and emotion is created by the illusion.

Updated On: 1/30/17 at 06:51 AM

After years of trash with the deepest point being the Les Miserables tragedy, approaching this artform from the complete opposite, wrong way, because of directors that do not at all understand the importance of the fantasyworld of sung thoughts and filmic editing, it is extremely refreshing and very welcome to see a director who understands the art of musical filmmaking.

criminally under-appreciated? they won the Golden Globe and gave the speech for Best Song themselves without the composer saying anything. i assume they will win the oscar as well.

I agree that the songs are wonderful.

Dave28282 said: "After years of trash with the deepest point being the Les Miserables tragedy, approaching this artform from the complete opposite, wrong way, because of directors that do not at all understand the importance of the fantasyworld of sung thoughts and filmic editing, it is extremely refreshing and very welcome to see a director who understands the art of musical filmmaking.


I'm usually in agreement with you about movie musicals, so I'm surprised you were so taken with this one, since I don't think Chazelle understands the art of musical filmmaking at all. He definitely doesn't understand the importance of filmic editing, judging by his choice to not use any during most of the musical numbers. The opening number is especially misguided, I feel, since everything that's "impressive" about it occurs behind the camera rather than in front of it. Sorry, I'm still not over how sloppy and ham-handed this movie turned out to be, in my opinion.

I should have seen this before the hype because it's hard not to be a little disappointed. I enjoyed the acting performances (particularly Emma Stone) and it was a cute/sad/honest story (I found the extended montage of her replaying her life with Gosling's character particularly moving) - even if it felt a bit like Once at times - but I don't quite 'get' why it was even a musical. I realise it is probably exactly what they were going for, but it feels like a pre-R&H era musical with frivolous dancing and singing for the sake of it (I doubt I can think of any better example than the incredibly pointless "Another Day of Sun".

It's interesting because it managed to be both dramatic, emotional and moving at times while also at other times being completely frivolous, shallow, candy escapism.

For me, musicals have evolved from the times that La La Land is nostalgically trying to tap into. If that is your kind of thing though, I guess I can see why you'd enjoy it.

If this opened as a stage musical in 2017 it would have been trashed here for sure.

A bit off-topic, but for those who were debating whether the character of Sebastian would have worked better if cast with an African-American actor, you might be interested in Damien Chazelle's first film, the low-budget musical 'Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench' (talk about the Umbrellas of Cherbourg references). I haven't seen it, but that film does have a black performer (trumpeter Jason Palmer) as the jazz musician and love interest in an interracial romance - http://www.theverge.com/2016/12/15/13966180/la-la-land-director-other-musical-guy-and-madeline-on-a-park-bench. Seems it's on iTunes, for anyone curious enough to give it a try.

Yes they only did the lyrics. Justin Hurwitz did the music, as well as the rest of the score.