I need to get around to seeing La La Land, but I just can't muster any excitement for it whatsoever. It's weird; I like Gosling, Stone, and Chazelle. I like musicals. But this just seems like a hard pass for me.
Fully expect it to sweep the Oscars, too. As has been mentioned, Hollywood just LOVES movies about show business (Hollywood).
It definitely helps to have the story couched in Hollywood, but as no doubt many have already stated, La La land is a deconstruction of the Hollywood myth. And it has more to do with the pitfalls of following your dreams - a reason why the Hollywood setting makes sense.
I defy anyone to hold up another movie that can even come close to matching the ending of la la land*. I doubt anything recent (and not done by Chazelle) finishes with such a flourish. It leaves stronger than it starts. And it starts strong.
It's a masterclass in direction at the same time as it's a high wire act, balancing the fantasy musical elements with the grounded drama.
*Arrival had the biggest gut punch of all the movies I saw, but it was at/near the end of the second act. Manchester was a real devastating film but it's huge reveal was presented matter-of-factly - it's somber tone dulled the effect just a bit too much. Moonlight was punching at Manchester's level, had me in tears twice, at the end of act one and the beginning of act three, but it ended gently, gracefully. Hacksaw was probably the movie that ended nearly as strong as La la land, but even then.. without going into spoilers.. la la land was juggling two endings at the same time, and it stuck the landing hard.
There's no reason to be upset if la la land wins best picture. It's just that good.
But I wouldn't be upset if Manchester, Moonlight, Arrival, Hell or High Water, or even Hacksaw wins. I just don't think any other movie was aiming as high, or executed as effectively, as La La Land.
