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[y2dvd]

I really loved the soundtrack, but listening to it on Spotify doesn't really feel complete, you know?
The visuals, I feel, is what makes this film truly special so I feel more compelled to watch it again than listening to the OST.

I agree to a certain extent. The lack of certain expressions or sound outside the track doesn't hit the same. An example are the Lonely Island songs. There's the studio version and then there's the one that aired live with the crowds reactions, and I always vastly preferred to hear the latter.

But geez have I still jammed out to the ost on Spotify like every day. Saw the movie twice and can't wait to pick up the blu ray. Would honestly watch it again in theaters if anyone I knew wanted to see it haha.

 

[Jason's Ultimatum]

Good movie. For some reason I thought the entire movie was a musical before seeing it.

That ending though. Not your typical Hollywood happy ending.

 

[TheFlow]

Good movie. For some reason I thought the entire movie was a musical before seeing it.

That ending though. Not your typical Hollywood happy ending.

talking happens quite a lot in musicals.

 

[fleck0]

I'm rewatching Whiplash tonight because I love it just and got to J.K. Simmons saying Charlie Parker was nicknamed 'Bird' "because Joe Jones threw a cymbal at his head". In La La land Seb wants to name his club "Chicken on a Stick" because Charlie Parker was called 'Bird' after his love of eating chicken.

I haven't seen Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench yet - is this Damien Chazelle's calling card?

 

[Hexxen-Panda]

I got really upset when the fire alarm went off in the movie. I thought for sure that it was my theatre having an actual fire, and that we were not gonna finish the movie.

That would have sucked, and the fact that the characters didn't acknowledge it immediately made it worse.

 

[Beaniedude]

Just saw the movie. It was phenomenal. That ending sequence crumpled my tender little heart.

 

[GiantEnemyGoomba]

This movie was great. I think it should win best cinematography and soundtrack, but I think Moonlight deserves best director/picture/screenplay.

 

[Wensih]

Girlfriend and I saw it last week. We both agreed we'd rather be watching Bye Bye Birdie instead. We just weren't feeling it. I wasn't really sure why gosling and stone were in a relationship or why I should care and then when it did end I wasn't sure exactly why as they were already basically in a long distance relationship.

 

[Eidan]

Girlfriend and I saw it last week. We both agreed we'd rather be watching Bye Bye Birdie instead. We just weren't feeling it. I wasn't really sure why gosling and stone were in a relationship or why I should care and then when it did end I wasn't sure exactly why as they were already basically in a long distance relationship.

Did you miss most of the last 4th of the movie? It's pretty clear why their relationship ended.

 

[muteki]

Loved it.

So many pretty dresses.

 

[Rainy]

Just saw it and I was blown away.

One of my favorites of the year.

 

[Wensih]

Did you miss most of the last 4th of the movie? It's pretty clear why their relationship ended.

Because they still loved each other but couldn't bear to follow one another even though both were well off?

 

[bgbball31]

Quick take after seeing it once: I think it is a better movie than Whiplash, but I enjoyed watching Whiplash more.

That said, holy crap this is a great movie. I haven't seen Moonlight, Manchester, or Fences yet, but right now this is my favorite movie this year.

 

[UberTag]

It shouldn't win over Moonlight, a very very culturally relevant and needed movie.

It will probably win over Moonlight, a very very culturally relevant and needed movie.

Because it reminds the academy voters of their childhoods. I bet it sweeps.

That's the smart money bet. Moonlight fans will have to be content with its top movie of the year ranking on criticstop10.com, some token Oscar nominations and a decent chance for Mahershala Ali to win the best supporting actor prize in a weak year for male performances outside of Casey Affleck.

La La Land is going to steamroll. May well even land Movie of the Year honors on GAF whenever that thread goes up. I wouldn't doubt it given La La Land's inevitable awards push, heightened exposure and a very strong showing for Whiplash a couple years ago.

That said, La La Land remains outside of my Top 10 and I don't expect it to climb into that list the way Arrival did on second screening when I rewatch it later this week.

 

[Eidan]

Because they still loved each other but couldn't bear to follow one another even though both were well off?

Because the full pursuit and prioritization of their dreams ultimately was a wedge between them, and for their relationship to work, one of them would have to compromise on their ambitions.

 

[jorgejjvr]

LOVED IT

Wife did too surprisingly!

I need this on blu Ray.... That ending....

 

[shira]

May well even land Movie of the Year honors on GAF whenever that thread goes up. I wouldn't doubt it given La La Land's inevitable awards push, heightened exposure and a very strong showing for Whiplash

Gaf moty? Rofl it's good but gaf taste is more like Deadpool and civil war

 

[IAmtheFMan]

I liked it a lot. Don't know if it was my favorite of the year, but was still really good.

The musical numbers early on were really great though I wasn't as impressed with Emma Stone or Gossling, but I give that a pass considering the context of the movie. Plus the numbers basically being done almost in old classic MGM-fashion was a nice throwback. Visually, I thought it was probably more striking than musically; the use of vibrant primary colors reminiscent of those early technicolor musical to signify the "La La" aspect of the story, and Mia's eventual transition into more muted colors was well done. That being said, I think other movies were likely stronger this year.

It reminded me a lot of The Artist; intentionally a throwback and somewhat Hollywood self-important but still a very well done movie nonetheless.

 

[Maxim726X]

I should have hated everything about this movie, but I absolutely loved it.

Probably the best movie of the year. Most certainly is going to run away with best cinematography.

And I welled up at the end. My eyes almost sprung a leak.

 

[Wensih]

Because the full pursuit and prioritization of their dreams ultimately was a wedge between them, and for their relationship to work, one of them would have to compromise on their ambitions.

Yet this wasn't a problem 5 years later with Mia's family? It's cool different relationship and what not, but I still stick to my original point of I wasn't sure why they started a relationship to begin with, nor why I should be invested if neither were.

I didn't really find any songs that memorable or stuck in my head after watching. Same with choreographed numbers even if they were very flashy, opening bit felt like I was watching a coke commercial....

The more my girlfriend and I talk and think about it the more entrenched we are of how we dislike the movie. Left lukewarm and a few days later on the car ride back from the holidays we were somewhat fuming, meh. It'll win an award or two I guess.

 

[Mike Works]

I wasn't really sure why gosling and stone were in a relationship or why I should care and then when it did end I wasn't sure exactly why as they were already basically in a long distance relationship.

It's perfectly okay to not like the movie or not feel it, but it seems you're lacking a basic understanding of the film. All of this stuff is right there on the screen. I don't know how you could miss it.

Yet this wasn't a problem 5 years later with Mia's family?

Correct. Mia's husband was not attempting to open a Jazz Club in LA while she was beginning her film career in Europe.

 

[Wensih]

It's perfectly okay to not like the movie or not feel it, but it seems you're lacking a basic understanding of the film. All of this stuff is right there on the screen. I don't know how you could miss it.


Correct. Mia's husband was not attempting to open a Jazz Club in LA while she was beginning her film career in Europe.

I understand the plot.

Spoiler

Girl falls in love with boy because she hears him play piano, even though boy is an asshole. They have a great year or two fling, but she's a burgeoning actress and he's trying to save a dying musical genre. He starts to tour and become famous while she's still struggling. They fight because he wants her to follow his fame. They make up when he makes her dreams come true by not giving up on her. They break up because the distance will kill them, but they'll always love each other. 5 years later she has married and has a toddler, stumbles into the night club and wonders what her life could have been if only her and Seb tried, imagining they'd both be successful and have a family, but that's not what happened so she leaves with her husband.

I just didn't feel it.

 

[Wensih]

It reminded me a lot of The Artist; intentionally a throwback and somewhat Hollywood self-important but still a very well done movie nonetheless.

Spoiler

I really liked The Artist but thought the movie should have ended in his suicide, a bang and then transition to actresses and actors speaking, an end to an era.

 

[meltingparappa]

Spoiler

I really liked The Artist but thought the movie should have ended in his suicide, a bang and then transition to actresses and actors speaking, an end to an era.

The Artist spoilers:

I think that would have been wildly contradictory to the thesis of the film, which is how the legacy of a dying art of

Spoiler

pantomime lives on though choreography

. And then not the least of which, you'd miss the final note which gives you a glimpse of your inherent perception vs reality of

Spoiler

his voice

.

This makes it all the more frustrating in La La Land for me when Ryan Gosling is rewarded for

Spoiler

peing obstinate and refusing to adapt. I get that the director is perhaps a purist himself and made a bizarre strawman, but I find that his eventual success without compromise reinforces the ugly sense of entitlement I felt from him.

 

[BaraSailey]

Saw this earlier tonight and absolutely loved it. The cinematography was amazing and the use of color gave it such a classic feel to it. The songs were also very catchy, I'm actually listening to the soundtrack right now as I'm typing this; Mia and Sebastian's Theme is so beautiful, I could listen to it for hours. The ending was incredible, and had me tearing up a bit. It was very bittersweet. The movie was a great homage to classic musicals, and probably one of my favorites of the year.

 

[UberTag]

Gaf moty? Rofl it's good but gaf taste is more like Deadpool and civil war

You say that... and yet the last few Movie of the Year polls have wound up with respectable winners...

2015 - Mad Max: Fury Road
2014 - The Grand Budapest Hotel
2013 - Gravity
2012 - Django Unchained
2011 - Drive
2010 - Inception
2009 - Inglorious Basterds
2008 - The Dark Knight
2007 - No Country for Old Men

Two Nolan. Two Tarantino. Lots of sci-fi and lots of testosterone.
This year might actually be one of the more wide open contests we've had in some time.
The Top 5 will likely be some combination of Arrival, Deadpool, La La Land, Moonlight and Civil War/Rogue One.
But I'm legitimately befuddled on what will wind up ranked where.

 

[Eidan]

I understand the plot.

Spoiler

Girl falls in love with boy because she hears him play piano, even though boy is an asshole. They have a great year or two fling, but she's a burgeoning actress and he's trying to save a dying musical genre. He starts to tour and become famous while she's still struggling. They fight because he wants her to follow his fame. They make up when he makes her dreams come true by not giving up on her. They break up because the distance will kill them, but they'll always love each other. 5 years later she has married and has a toddler, stumbles into the night club and wonders what her life could have been if only her and Seb tried, imagining they'd both be successful and have a family, but that's not what happened so she leaves with her husband.

I just didn't feel it.

Nah, it doesn't sound like you understood the plot all that well. For example, I have no clue how you came to your conclusion on why they fight.

 

[killertofu]

Moonlight deserves the best picture award. I love La La Land but it really is just a good contemporary musical. Moonlight felt more honest. But considering how old the audience was in my screening...I'll be more surprised if la la land doesn't sweep

 

[Mike Works]

I understand the plot.

Spoiler

Girl falls in love with boy because she hears him play piano

Nope.

 

[Fidelis Hodie]

This movie broke me. That damn audition song had me in absolute sobbing tears. I can't stop listening to it, too.

I'm not sure if I would even recommend other people see this movie, even though it's a personal 10/10. Having been in LA for the past 8 years and struggling and not struggling and then struggling more.. it just hit every right note with me. Fuck. I need to see it again already.

 

[Wensih]

Nah, it doesn't sound like you understood the plot all that well. For example, I have no clue how you came to your conclusion on why they fight.

Spoiler

Maybe you could follow me on tour. No all my stuff is here I need to practice. Can't you practice anywhere? No. And then it escalates to.... You don't even like the music you play now. I'm doing it for you. I don't want you to etc etc. Leaves while food is burning. It's pretty clear that Seb's priorities for Mia aren't her becoming an actress first and foremost and now that he's somewhat famous wants her to follow him.

I understand the plot.

Spoiler

Girl falls in love with boy because she hears him play piano.

Nope.

I mean yeah... that is the whole catalyst to the relationship. Her hearing him play the piano.

 

[Wensih]

The Artist spoilers:

I think that would have been wildly contradictory to the thesis of the film, which is how the legacy of a dying art of

Spoiler

pantomime lives on though choreography

. And then not the least of which, you'd miss the final note which gives you a glimpse of your inherent perception vs reality of

Spoiler

his voice

.

This makes it all the more frustrating in La La Land for me when Ryan Gosling is rewarded for

Spoiler

peing obstinate and refusing to adapt. I get that the director is perhaps a purist himself and made a bizarre strawman, but I find that his eventual success without compromise reinforces the ugly sense of entitlement I felt from him.

Yeah I suppose that is more of a progressive and optimistic message that The Artist ended on than my head canon. Thanks for your thoughts.

Agreed with the ugly sense of entitlement from Gosling though.

 

[meltingparappa]

Agreed with the ugly sense of entitlement from Gosling though.

It really did out to me because Emma Stone worked her ass off and took a huge financial/emotional risk, whereas Ryan Gosling gets a bailout from his dad and complains about it.

The struggles they face aren't remotely on the same level.

 

[Merriweather]

I understand the plot.

Spoiler

Girl falls in love with boy because she hears him play piano, even though boy is an asshole. They have a great year or two fling, but she's a burgeoning actress and he's trying to save a dying musical genre. He starts to tour and become famous while she's still struggling. They fight because he wants her to follow his fame. They make up when he makes her dreams come true by not giving up on her. They break up because the distance will kill them, but they'll always love each other. 5 years later she has married and has a toddler, stumbles into the night club and wonders what her life could have been if only her and Seb tried, imagining they'd both be successful and have a family, but that's not what happened so she leaves with her husband.

I just didn't feel it.

That was pretty much my take on it. With some Manic Pixie Dream Girl & Boy tropes thrown in.

I liked it. Just not Movie of the Year liked it.

 

[greatestjediever]

It really did out to me because Emma Stone worked her ass off and took a huge financial/emotional risk, whereas Ryan Gosling gets a bailout from [/b]his dad[/b] and complains about it.

The struggles they face aren't remotely on the same level.

Huh? We never hear about Seb's parents at all. Do you mean his friend, Keith? (John Legends character)

 

[StoppedInTracks]

You say that... and yet the last few Movie of the Year polls have wound up with respectable winners...

2015 - Mad Max: Fury Road
2014 - The Grand Budapest Hotel
2013 - Gravity
2012 - Django Unchained
2011 - Drive
2010 - Inception
2009 - Inglorious Basterds
2008 - The Dark Knight
2007 - No Country for Old Men

Two Nolan. Two Tarantino. Lots of sci-fi and lots of testosterone.
This year might actually be one of the more wide open contests we've had in some time.
The Top 5 will likely be some combination of Arrival, Deadpool, La La Land, Moonlight and Civil War/Rogue One.
But I'm legitimately befuddled on what will wind up ranked where.

LLL will not win GAF MOTY because, I think, this movie is still too unkown. It needs more word of mouth (happening already but it is still behind Deadpools word of mouth) and better/ more advertising.

It absolutely should win MOTY IMO.

 

[Maxim726X]

Huh? We never hear about Seb's parents at all. Do you mean his friend, Keith? (John Legends character)

Haha seriously did we watch separate movies??

He did sacrifice his dream. He went on the road, played soulless music (by his standards), made money, then came back home to open the club.

Pretty sure at no point in the film did he take money from anyone.

 

[Haloid1177]

LLL will not win GAF MOTY because, I think, this movie is still too unkown. It needs more word of mouth (happening already but it is still behind Deadpools word of mouth) and better/ more advertising.

It absolutely should win MOTY IMO.

It still isn't playing locally around me. That's gonna be the ultimate reason I don't vote for it I imagine.

 

[StoppedInTracks]

Sebastian paid twice for his dream (jazz club):

1) by sacrificing his stance and doing tour with John Legend ("we have to grow up sometimes")
2) by sacrificing Mia's relationship

Pretty hefty price IMO. Cannot say he was 100% happy at the end of the movie when they exchanged looks with Mia. He had this longing in his eyes for something ultimately lost that was, in fact, in his reach before.

 

[Bruce Springsteen]

Sebastian paid twice for his dream (jazz club):

1) by sacrificing his stance and doing tour with John Legend ("we have to grow up sometimes")
2) by sacrificing Mia's relationship

Pretty hefty price IMO. Cannot say he was 100% happy at the end of the movie when they exchanged looks with Mia. He had this longing in his eyes for something ultimately lost that was, in fact, in his reach before.

The ending was a mutual dream between the two, but at the end he did what he wanted

 

[shira]

You say that... and yet the last few Movie of the Year polls have wound up with respectable winners...

2015 - Mad Max: Fury Road
2014 - The Grand Budapest Hotel
2013 - Gravity
2012 - Django Unchained
2011 - Drive
2010 - Inception
2009 - Inglorious Basterds
2008 - The Dark Knight
2007 - No Country for Old Men

Two Nolan. Two Tarantino. Lots of sci-fi and lots of testosterone.
This year might actually be one of the more wide open contests we've had in some time.
The Top 5 will likely be some combination of Arrival, Deadpool, La La Land, Moonlight and Civil War/Rogue One.
But I'm legitimately befuddled on what will wind up ranked where.

A list is a list is a list.
If there was a mandatory GAF vote Thor 2 would win every time

 

[idwl]

Watched it last night due to gafs positive reviews on it and I loved it . It felt so magical , loved the songs. Wish they showed more of her room mates though .

 

[Eidan]

Spoiler

Maybe you could follow me on tour. No all my stuff is here I need to practice. Can't you practice anywhere? No. And then it escalates to.... You don't even like the music you play now. I'm doing it for you. I don't want you to etc etc. Leaves while food is burning. It's pretty clear that Seb's priorities for Mia aren't her becoming an actress first and foremost and now that he's somewhat famous wants her to follow him.

Spoiler

The exchange is literally both of them pushing the other to compromise on their dreams (or what they perceive as their dream) for their own interest. Mia wants Sebastian to leave the band, which he believe is the only realistic dream he could achieve, not only because she thinks he's sacrificing his true ambition, but because his distance is eroding their relationship. Sebastian also feels the distance is eroding their relationship, and wants to Mia to give up practicing efficiently to be near him on the road. It has nothing to do with following him because he is famous.

 

[Wensih]

Spoiler

The exchange is literally both of them pushing the other to compromise on their dreams (or what they perceive as their dream) for their own interest. Mia wants Sebastian to leave the band, which he believe is the only realistic dream he could achieve, not only because she thinks he's sacrificing his true ambition, but because his distance is eroding their relationship. Sebastian also feels the distance is eroding their relationship, and wants to Mia to give up practicing efficiently to be near him on the road. It has nothing to do with following him because he is famous.

Which is what I said started the fight he was pushing her to follow his fame.

 

[ZackieChan]

Really enjoyed this, but it's no whiplash. Loved the jazz music in this one more than the "jazz ensemble" music of whiplash, though. Really wish Emma Stone and Gosling were better singers. That was pretty disappointing. Gosling was just so fun to watch, though. Between this and The Nice Guys, he's becoming one of my new favorites. Many of the criticisms brought up in this thread are true, but they don't really diminish my enjoyment of the film. They just make it so I'm not jizzing all over it like some. Not really a fan of musicals, though, so I have some bias.

 

[ronaldthump]

Sebastian paid twice for his dream (jazz club):

1) by sacrificing his stance and doing tour with John Legend ("we have to grow up sometimes")
2) by sacrificing Mia's relationship

Pretty hefty price IMO. Cannot say he was 100% happy at the end of the movie when they exchanged looks with Mia. He had this longing in his eyes for something ultimately lost that was, in fact, in his reach before.

I think you missed the point of the final act.

the final act is about how its not a happy ending and how life gets in the way. Which also mirrors what she talks about in her song audition.

She gets that movie role, she goes away to Paris, she becomes a famous actress and that path took her into the arms of her husband and she got herself a new life as a leading lady and mum.

There's a serendipty also/parallel where a traffic jam (start/end bookended) took her to his club.


+

wanted to just add; the whole time I wondered if Gosling played the piano for real

 

[Ohwiseone]

I saw this middle of December and its still on my mind.

I also consider "A Lovely Night" and "Another Day in The Sun" Two of the best sequences of 2016. (Moreso Lovely Night).

I cannot wait for this to be released. I want to see it again, and am going to try to here in a week or so.


I am hoping Lionsgate pulls the trigger and Released a UHD version for home release. I keep only reading Blu Ray only releases.

 

[shira]

wanted to just add; the whole time I wondered if Gosling played the piano for real

He played for real, but

Spoiler

the audio was all pre-recorded Randy Kerber

 

[Rainy]

What's everyone's favorite song from the movie?

wanted to just add; the whole time I wondered if Gosling played the piano for real

Yeah he played for real. In a BTS he said that he practiced around 3-4 hours a day for 3 months to learn how to play everything.

 

[IAmtheFMan]

What's everyone's favorite song from the movie?



Yeah he played for real. In a BTS he said that he practiced around 3-4 hours a day for 3 months to learn how to play everything.

As a pianist, he was pretty on point. There were runs that you could tell that weren't exactly lining up but overall he did a good job. Reminded me of Geoffrey Rush in Shine, though Gosling actually did better.