La La Land — Page 9

I think you're both right I would have liked a little more build-up to 'A Lovely Night', particularly some broader hints beforehand that Sebastian was interested in Mia, and wasn't a complete jerk. However, it was still my favourite number. I think it 'did some work' in progressing the characters' relationship somewhat throughout the course of the number. The other numbers were nice, but IIRC they generally had the characters just baldly elaborating on things that they already felt, and knew that they felt. The song itself also mitigates its slight out-of-nowhere-ness to some extent by making that part of the joke - "We don't even care, we barely know each other, so why would we do a big song and dance - oops, here we go". It is a bit random, but sometimes initial attraction is indeed random and doesn't make rational sense, so whatever.
I think it's also a bit thrilling to see our leads sing and dance alone/together for the first time in that number. Not because they're the greatest triple threats ever, but because we're seeing that meeting one another is metaphorically making them sing and dance, even though they don't consciously realise it yet.
(Just thinking about it now, I realised it's a bit of an 'If I Loved You'-lite moment, complete with bench - and it seems that's what Pasek and Paul were going for - http://www.lamag.com/imagining-l-a/story-behind-music-la-la-land/.)
Incidentally, despite my defense of this number, I do agree with a lot of the criticisms mentioned in this thread. The movie is pretty to look at, the actors are likeable, the plot is meh. (Although, a few of the revered classic movie musicals' plots were pretty perfunctory as well.)

I just love this director. I think he would be amazing for the Miss Saigon movie too.

(Although, a few of the revered classic movie musicals' plots were pretty perfunctory as well.)



Oh like any of the Mickey & Judy films?

How about the plot to The Band Wagon? Or or Cover Girl? Singing In The Rain? compared to Yolanda and the Thief?

Those shows were of their time and good or great comparatively speaking to other musical comedies.(YOLANDA!) ( Astaire famously insisted all song and dance routines be seamlessly integrated into the plotlines of the film. Instead of using dance as spectacle as Busby Berkeley did, Astaire used it to move the plot along.

Many of the musical comedies did not abide by this rule the ones that did ( American in Paris, Gigi, et al) we consider these were the standard ( ah That's Entertainment what hast thou wrought?) and not exception which is not really accurate, percentage wise.

If u don't like La La Land dislike it on it's own terms NOT because its not the 2nd coming of An American in Paris or West Side Story or whatever. It isn't and It's never claimed to be that.

wonkit said: "I love musicals and movies and had heard such wonderful things about this movie. Went to see it yesterday and lasted about 20 minutes. Bland music, predictable characters and situations (left at the time of introduction of the sarcastic sister), and choreography similar to every other piece of choreography in beach blanket movies. I am happy for you if you enjoyed this, but it was painful from the opening moments. Just not my cup of tea - and perhaps my expectations were too high."

Wow! 20 whole minutes! Do you think you're entitled to some kind of "I'm-much-more-intelligent-insightful-and sophisticated-than-the rest-of you" merit badge?

I can dialogue with those who didn't love this movie. I might not agree with them, but at least I respect the fact that they SAW THE WHOLE G-DAMNED THING. But 20 minutes? You didn't even make it to the point where the characters meet up!

Bland music? You heard precisely two songs. (Neither of which are bland, but why bother arguing with YOU -- who obviously knows all and is so far above the rest of us?)

Choreography on the level of beach blanket movies? I find it hard to recall a single Beach Blanket movie that featured a single-take, 10 minute shot staged on an L.A. Freeway -- but maybe you can enlighten me?

Also, why post about your inability to sit on your ass for 2 hours in order to make an informed, intelligent critique? To be able to actually discuss characterization, musical motifs, film technique, thematic content, etc.

Obviously, it's because you're such a rare, precious flower and that we peons should only tremble at the touch of your hem.

THANK YOU FOR SHOWING ME THE LIGHT! Obviously the 3 times I've seen La La Land so far has been due to the Devil's work and the fact that all my school studies in musical film & theater were for naught. I only needed your supreme guidance to show me the error of my ways! And it only took you 20 f***ing minutes!

Updated On: 1/8/17 at 01:03 AM

hork said: "Why do some people take such offense to folks walking out of a movie or play and then commenting on what they saw and why they left? You sound insane, PepperedShepherd. Nothing in wonkit's post suggested any sense of superiority. Methinks you have some issues you need to work out. "

No issues to work out here. But thanks for your concern.

But I do have an issue with someone who watches 20 minutes of something (be it play, musical, movie, or TV show) and then proceeds to tell the rest of us that we are somehow wrong in our assessment of the piece.

P.S. I'm not insane. If anyone is, it's the person throwing that out..

Updated On: 1/8/17 at 01:18 AM

hork said: "Point me to the part where he/she says you're all wrong, and I'll agree with you. But that part doesn't exist."

Sorry, my bad. I just think that someone who posts --

Bland music, predictable characters and situations (left at the time of introduction of the sarcastic sister), and choreography similar to every other piece of choreography in beach blanket movies.

-- after watching 20 minutes, has put his/herself in a position of superiority to the rest of us.

Updated On: 1/8/17 at 01:33 AM

My favorite part of that review was that they left the movie because of the introduction of a character that had no other lines in the movie and only appeared in two other scenes for like ten seconds.

I once watched 20 minutes of The Room. I turned it off because the acting and directing and writing were terrible. Am I not allowed to say that on a public message board, but rather must keep it to myself forever? Please. What the hell difference does it make?

I made no claim of superiority, and I also made no attempt to convince anyone that I was "right." I merely stated my opinion that I didn't like the movie and that after 20 minutes I saw no reason to wait it out.

I would like to thank hork for reading what I actually wrote - what a nice relief from the immediate negative reaction that characterizes BWW lately. I totally understand that others like this movie - it is certainly getting a lot of critical and awards season attention. But I do think I am entitled to an opinion on even the first 20 minutes. I am not, after all, a paid reviewer who has to sit through something and explain my reaction to the reading public.

I went to see HIDDEN FIGURES instead, btw, and thought it had many strong points and a few weak ones. And I stayed for the whole thing.

wonderfulwizard11 said: "I...I did see the film. That's why I made the post. I was joking about the amount of lines they have, but I would not call that sequence an extended one at all. I don't even think she gets his name by the time she starts singing, does she? How is that enough of a relationship to have an elaborate dance sequence?

Let's see...she recognizes him, mocks him by requesting a song she knows he will hate, they have a dialog in which they express antipathy to each other and indicate that they will probably never speak again, then in desperation she calls on him for help, which he gives. That forces them to walk out of the party together leading up to a song that begins with a lyric about how unattracted they are to each other.

No, she may not know his name but that is a much longer sequence leading up to a dance than is seen in many films and stage musicals. It is actually quite a bit longer than the sequences leading up to most Astaire-Rogers dances.

hork said: "I once watched 20 minutes of The Room. I turned it off because the acting and directing and writing were terrible. Am I not allowed to say that on a public message board, but rather must keep it to myself forever? Please. What the hell difference does it make?



If you think the acting in Room was terrible, please tell me what your definition of good acting is. "

Updated On: 1/8/17 at 10:51 PM

Congratulations to LA LA LAND for sweeping the Golden Globes! I saw i today and didn't love it. Didn't hate it either though. I think the reason I didn't love it was the ending. I thought for a second / had hoped it ended this way instead:

But, I loved the choreography and the cinematography. Ryan Gosling tap dancing was definitely my favorite bit. If someone asks me if I recommend it, I'd say no.