La La Land

[D-Fens]

It's a movie about Hollywood. Hollywood loves movies about Hollywood so it shouldn't be a surprise that it arrives on a wave of self-congratulatory hype.

It took me a while to get in to it, the first two scenes aren't really like anything else in the movie then I accepted what it was, a homage to classic Hollywood musicals.

If you appreciate that form then you'll get a lot out of it, if you want something more modern and cohesive then it won't work. I liked it in parts but the ending didn't work for me.

[raj101]

yeah I can see why this gets hate. The opening sequence is basically a Bollywood opening set in grumpy rather ugly LA, where money rules... no one knows their neighbour and that's because no one actually gives a flying monkey for anyone else. And that's the root of the problem. The sequence itself it good, but its just the antithesis of its location.

Then we get introduced to Hollywood diva Stone playing someone who works in a coffee shop (I'm no even going to say "Barista" - they are not Barista, they just make coffee, ok?) Its just WRONG to see someone like Stone playing someone serving drinks, its just not real. And then to add insult to injury, this struggling waitress then drives off in a PRIUS to a very decent flatshare. Oh come onnnn! How warped do you have to be to swallow this horseshyt?


Note to director - you need to make a film that the world can appreciate, not a rich Californian twentysomethings pipe dream. Make it at least some of degree of realistic, yeh? Or else it just rather stupid, like its been written by a 14 year old.

The 2nd problem is the movie takes way too long to get to its best set pieces, fudging through some terribly directed singing sequences in a flat followed by some middling dance sequences and some unbelievably bad singing from the lead guy that almost ruins a heavenly song and setting. Fortunately things improve after the scrumptious observatory star dance. Theres a,light fluffy feel to the movie after this. You have to ask, why wasn't this CGI type sequence more prevalent throughout the movie? What is the point, in the 21st century, of making a movie that's largely just a musical play on the screen - this is an opportunity for you to make something fizzly and fun with every screen effect you can muster. If you arent going to add something new then you'd be better off just screening an old Astaire Rodgers movie that this poor copy of that era.

3rd problem is the setting. Los Angeles is one ugly city, and the movie should have blatantly been set somewhere else (not withstanding a title change).

4th problem is the movie is way way too long for a slow drawn out, jazz tinged film. It sorely needs an edit.

5th problem is that leads are not really up to the job, as I mentioned earlier.

Theres some excellent content though - I mentioned the observatory sequence, but theres also a wonderful, recurring discussion on the nature of jazz music and some sound contributions from the genre to the soundtrack. Some of the floaty softness of the movie stays with you when you leave the cinema, you do feel like you are walking on air for a little while after on the way home.

3 stars. If you could edit the crup out it would actually be a really good movie.

[RandomHajile]

finally caught this today in a packed screen, its great, that ending should of won it best picture! colours looked great as it was shot on film :)

[Florence1]

I really liked this but then I do like musicals and love dance so this was right up my street. I thought the storyline was very good, often people have to make choices like this so made it quite realistic. Both leads were good but I did think that Emma Stone deserved her award and that the film could easily have won best pictures. Definitely worth seeing. 8/10

[alythonian]

Finally managed to catch this. Pretty story, and nice music. I'm not a big musicaks fan so this was much better for me, delighted there were no huge singing moments other then the opening which looked pretty but was a tad naff. Glad their singing was mediocre, that helped the film. Enjoyed thus as a pleasant but largely forgettable wee film.

[raj101]

2nd viewing, managed to finish it this time. No sympathy for the characters again but the music was enough to enjoy it (the lovely jazz, not the mediocre "musicals" singing). Without the jazz the movie is middling and not worth an Oscar in a million years of Sunday months.

[tonethestone]

Great film, fave of 2016, can't wait to own tomorrow 10/10

[sfancy]

When is it being released on DVD?

[Diamond1]

I was expecting something great and entertaining but was totally disappointed. I found it boring and banal and even uninteresting despite the undeniable good acting.

[CtheG84]

Enjoyed the opening number but found this film simply coasted it's way through. Not quite sure what the fuss is about with this film. Sometimes names get awards for being excellent at their job.