La La Land

[NZBOY2]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBUXcNTjviI

what do you think ?

[rosscoe(au)]

Looks really good, can't wait early December opening 

[HorseTears]

This looks so intriguing and [potentially] enchanting.  I say that despite being one of seven people who thought Whiplash was a mess.  

[hork]

I thought Whiplash was a masterpiece so I'm very excited about this movie. 

[rosscoe(au)]

HorseTears said: "This looks so intriguing and [potentially] enchanting.  I say that despite being one of seven people who thought Whiplash was a mess.  

 

"

Add me to the list that didn't like Whiplash, thought it was a nasty vile movie 

[icecreambenjamin]

rosscoe(au) said: "HorseTears said: "This looks so intriguing and [potentially] enchanting.  I say that despite being one of seven people who thought Whiplash was a mess.  

 

"

Add me to the list that didn't like Whiplash, thought it was a nasty vile movie 

 

"

Can you explain your reasoning?

 

[willep]

A nasty vile movie? Really? I'm curious to hear the reasoning here as well...

 

As for La La Land, I'm excited!

[HenryTDobson]

I don't know if I would call the movie as a whole a nasty vile film, but definitely JK Simmon's character. I know that was the point, but I know many music students who swear they have never experienced such an incredibly inhumane teacher. It was pretty revolting to watch.

I have high hopes for La La Land though! Huge fan of both Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling.

[ColorTheHours048]

I am deliriously excited for this. An original movie musical starring two of our most charismatic, lovely film actors (one of whom who is semi-fresh off a searing Broadway debut), directed by one of the most promising young directors in the industry? Perfection in the making. Is it December 2nd yet?

[SueBee06]

It's getting huge raves out of TIFF with a ton of Oscar buzz. I'm so totally looking forward to it.

[Steve C.]

This continues to get awards and very good word of mouth.Some of these visuals should look pretty good in Cinemascope. From today's NYT; big article...

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/06/movies/la-la-land-stars-ryan-gosling-emma-stone-and-los-angeles.html?hpw&rref=movies&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region&region=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well&_r=0

[Mister Matt]

I know that was the point, but I know many music students who swear they have never experienced such an incredibly inhumane teacher.

I was a music student who did experience such teachers and environments.  I switched majors after two semesters.

[Wilmingtom]

I saw a screener and the picture is fantastic!  A serious contender.

[10086sunset]

This film is beautiful...

Reminded me of Moulin Rouge in many ways...

[MichelleCraig]

My most anticipated end-of-the-year movie. Something that might make me see in Los Angeles what I saw here many years ago, and subsequently lost...

[rosscoe(au)]

Stunning, original, purely joyous in places, and the last 30 or so minutes are brilliantly heartfelt. I left on a cloud of whimsy.

[hork]

10086sunset said: "This film is beautiful...

Reminded me of Moulin Rouge in many ways...

 

I'm not sure why. Other than being musicals and love stories, they're nothing alike. In fact, they're polar opposites in many ways,

 

[henrikegerman]

Moulin Rouge and La La Land are very different films but both are highly romantic and unusual musicals about performing artists or writers.  Also, visual effects in the Observatory scene might remind many of certain scenes in Moulin Rouge. 

Although the first half hour left me cold and the music and lyrics are very uneven, La La Land turns out to be an extraordinary and transporting movie.  

So over awards.   Comparing Moonlight to La La Land or either to Manchester?   Comparing what Emma Stone does in La La Land to what Isabelle Huppert does in Elle?  Why?  There's a point where work is so strong that contests are silly.  Why can't we put more effort into just loving great filmmaking and less into the sweepstakes mentality?

[GreasedLightning]

Could this work on stage? 

[Jordan Catalano]

I don't think there's any way it could work on stage. There's just too much that requires film and editing to make it work. 

[GreasedLightning]

Good to know, Jordan. I haven't seen it yet, so it was just a curiosity question because all I keep hearing is how spectacular it is. So of course a theatrical adaptation came to mind given the subject matter. 

[sabrelady]

I very much enjoyed this. A tribute to the old style movie musicals while also doing its own thing,  Lots of little tips o the hat to the genre The original music is wonderful , I esp loved Seb & Mia's love theme.  The cinematography was breath taking-  Linus Sandgren should def receive a nomination, sadly his camera man ( steadicam operator) Dan Sasaki  can't be nominated but deserves to be nominated for something, really his camera is like another character in the story. Those long unbroken takes of dance sequences! Heaven! His colour saturation stopped just short of being too much so again- perfect.

Stone and Gosling are lovely too. ( OK I got a lil tired of  the segueing into a song w a quiet soft little voice but I'm nit picking) I know Gosling had an indie band( and yes the House of Mouse) but he did have to learn to play jazz and he did it very well.  Her singing is a not as strong but is still good. The dance sequences!!!! OMG!! The traffic opening number,  Mandy Moore did a fee nom inal job.

Justin Hurwitz's song were clever and charming( some of the rhymes freezingand sneezing?!)  and  the 80's cover band stuff was a hoot!

The ending- worked- really only ending possible. ( OH the fantasy other timeline came close to being OTT but again just stopped short)

Definitely buying the sound track and the film when avail- thi is something I could see again!

I recommend seeing this.

 

 

[YouWantitWhen????]

I loved it. 

A family friend was Gosling's piano teacher - I let her know that he was convincing.  For the record, she said he was lovely to work with.

It was gorgeous to look at.

I may go see it again.

 

[Auggie27]

Just back from in on the big screen, rather than a screener (I was literally begged to resist the screener.) It's beautiful, it's stunningly designed and edited, and the leads a charmers. But (a naysayer) at 2 hours 8 minutes, it's a little love story stretched a long way.

(SPOILERS)  The "If/Then" ending provides a emotional third act. But for me it's more of an exercise in homage and reinvention of form than a satisfying or believable love story, particularly in light of the plot reason why the couple hits troubled waters, rendered with acute naturalistic stakes. The turn that happens at a romantic dinner was hard for me to accept as likely between an actor and musician, both of whom know well the trade-offs in the business, the way geography, touring and location-dictated separation come with the territory. They seem blindsided, as if such exigencies are about selling out. (Surely one of them, the very next day, would call and reconsider. But not, it's final.)  I thought it weakened Stone's character -- he basically gets her the big gig when she exits the business -- driving to Nevada, out front of her parents' home yet -- yet she schools him about selling out ... to tour with someone on  the caliber of John legend? You'd think he was signing on as an Elvis impersonator, not a musician getting a lucrative offer to tour with a talented singer. She seems inflexible, and pointlessly so.  

But it's all style, and the dancing and romantic old school ambiance are hypnotizing. Having problems with the story will not be popular, starting with this post.   

[sabrelady]

Having problems with the story will not be popular, starting with this post.   

Not by me- sections of the film certainly were less than others 

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

 the play and it's poor turn out. Really, none of her friends could bring a date or other friends? but I get the epic fail is more striking. Less real but moves the story forward.

 

[Auggie27]

Sabrelady:


MINOR SPOILER.

Yeah, her actual show we never see, by the way, though it looks like Parker Posey's at the end of "Best in Show," one of those self-indulgent one-person pieces that reek of vanity. It seemed as if the film wants us to believe she's a "real"-er actress, putting on her own autobiographic material (No working knowledge of theater? Odd.) Had she simply been cast in a 99 seat house production of a regular play, and cajoled a film rep to see her, it would've been twice as believable.  But of course, the movie-within-the-movie has 3 months of improvisation and then a shoot, with the actor contributing to her role, so it had to be an Altman-like experience so that she'd be needed.  Again, I wouldn't nitpick if the overall sweep of the story felt more believable. The big fight in the third act just felt contrived to drive them apart. Even as they profess their love. (My grown son said, "why would she object to him touring with a singer like Legend, to pocket some money?  When she worked in a coffee place to pay her bills?"  He was supposed to turn down money to open a jazz club, or starve? It's ludicrous.