Support NeoGAF

[Replicant]

Just saw it again for the 2nd time and I feel that the movie flows better this time around.

Also, what Seb did during the dinner scene just reminded me of how some men have this awful, awful tendency to assume what another person wants out of them, even though that other person doesn't even expect that. I mean, is it hard to ask?

At no point did Mia ever ask Seb to join the band or abandon his dream to have a more stable job. But he just assumed she does based on a phone convo between her and her mom.

It's really annoying that when it comes to other people, Seb seems to have this ability to convince them to trust their vision but Seb himself had this air of self-doubt about himself.

All in all, this movie hit home a bit more than I thought it did.

 

[Helmholtz]

Just saw it again for the 2nd time and I feel that the movie flows better this time around.

Also, what Seb did during the dinner scene just reminded me of how some men have this awful, awful tendency to assume what another person wants out of them, even though that other person doesn't even expect that. I mean, is it hard to ask?

At no point did Mia ever ask Seb to join the band or abandon his dream to have a more stable job. But he just assumed she does based on a phone convo between her and her mom.

It's really annoying that when it comes to other people, Seb seems to have this ability to convince them to trust their vision but Seb himself had this air of self-doubt about himself.

All in all, this movie hit home a bit more than I thought it did.

Really good observation, I never really picked up on this after my first viewing. Makes it seem even more tragic.

 

[lightskintwin]

So after being critical of their voices after listening to the soundtrack, pretty much agreeing with a lot of the cultural and racial critique that's been going on with this film, I finally got a chance to watch the film last night and still believe all of the criticism is still valid, but...

I fucking loved it, and everything works within the context of the film. LOL It's a really enjoyable, entertaining, technically impressive shot film.

 

[Fuu]

So after being critical of their voices after listening to the soundtrack, pretty much agreeing with a lot of the cultural and racial critique that's been going on with this film, I finally got a chance to watch the film last night and still believe all of the criticism is still valid, but...

I fucking loved it, and everything works within the context of the film. LOL It's a really enjoyable, entertaining, technically impressive shot film.

good observations on the racial subject:

Satchbag's Goods - La La Land Isn't Racist.

 

[lightskintwin]

good observations on the racial subject:

Satchbag's Goods - La La Land Isn't Racist.

I mean I've already listened to that, and really don't think he provides a compelling argument on any of the intellectual critiques that have been written about it tbh. It came across like, "I disagree with this critique of this thing I really, really like". LOL

 

[Fuu]

I mean I've already listened to that, and really don't think he provides a compelling argument on any of the intellectual critiques that have been written about it tbh. It came across like, "I disagree with this critique of this thing I really, really like". LOL

Originally Posted by Fuu
Fair enough, haha. I do think he has a good point about people nitpicking negatives while distorting and ignoring the good a product does.

 

[lightskintwin]

Fair enough, haha. I do think he has a good point about people nitpicking negatives while distorting and ignoring the good a product does.

Well, I've never been a fan of people who think something is either or and try to argue for or against, when in fact as in most cases it can be both.

Regardless of any valid criticism, within the context of the film; it all works... exceptionally well if I might add. And Emma Stone's and Ryan Gosling OK singing and dancing works too and adds to the sense that they're just regular people trying to live their dreams.

 

[LionPride]

What is the racial criticism around this movie?

I just saw it last night and loved it, and I haven't seen anything about racial critique surprisingly

 

[Fuu]

Well, I've never been a fan of people who think something is either or and try to argue for or against, when in fact as in most cases it can be both.

Regardless of any valid criticism, within the context of the film; it all works... exceptionally well if I might add. And Emma Stone's and Ryan Gosling OK singing and dancing works too and adds to the sense that they're just regular people trying to live their dreams.

Indeed. Mind that even though I think he makes good points I'm not trying to discredit those critiques. When I left the session I was actually telling a friend that I would have liked it even more if Sebastian's character was played by a black actor. I agree that it's bad to be dismissive and having an either/or stance is rarely ideal.

 

[lightskintwin]

Indeed. Mind that even though I think he makes good points I'm not trying to discredit those critiques. When I left the session I was actually telling a friend that I would have liked it even more if Sebastian's character was played by a black actor. I agree that it's bad to be dismissive and having an either/or stance is rarely ideal.

Ironically, I think Sebastian's character works because he's White and his worship of primarily Black Jazz legends and his idealism, and perhaps naivete' or arrogance, of what jazz should be.

It reminds me of that suburban White kid telling people what's "real hip hop". LOL

 

[JSevere]

man this movie is the full package. great visuals, great music, great performances, and a goat ending. was iffy on it near the beginning but it came into its own later on and absolutely stuck the landing. Chazelle poured his heart and soul into this movie and it really shows

 

[SeanC]

I do think he has a good point about people nitpicking negatives while distorting and ignoring the good a product does.

Honestly, that's internet armchair film criticism in a nutshell. People love to nitpick, but they rarely make good points while doing so. They just point, say "well what about that?" without context and then call it a day.

Pointing out flaws and explaining why they're bad is one thing, but when I see "well he could sing/dance a little better" is pretty weak.

 

[msdstc]

Honestly, that's internet armchair film criticism in a nutshell. People love to nitpick, but they rarely make good points while doing so. They just point, say "well what about that?" without context and then call it a day.

Pointing out flaws and explaining why they're bad is one thing, but when I see "well he could sing/dance a little better" is pretty weak.

You can mKe just about anything ever fit a particular narrative.

 

[Grenouille]

This movie seemed tailor made for me at first -- the director of Whiplash, jazz background, romance, struggling artist story, Gosling...

So even though it was decent, I couldn't help feeling a bit disappointing just because I did not love it to death.

 

[Black_Red]

Loved the movie, I tought it was a little longer than it should have been but I stil was with a smile on my face the whole time.

It was the first time I go to a theater to a "romantic" movie (I HAD to go with Emma Stone and Whiplash director), and most of the people liked it ( 2 louds "awwww" when

Spoiler

Sebastian was wating for Mia on the theater

and when

Spoiler

they show Seb's logo

.

Also I loved the

Spoiler

"I ran"

scene

 

[Garmonbozia]

I really liked the movie. Great performances by both leads and amazing production design.

"City of Stars" is pretty catchy but "The Fools that Dream" is imo the best song in the movie.

 

[aparisi2274]

I finally got around to seeing La La Land last night and I thought it was fantastic. The soundtrack was awesome, and I loved that there was this awesome Jazz beat to the movie. This will go down as one of the best movies from 2016 for me, but I do have one big issue with the movie, and I am not sure if others will agree with me or not, but here it goes...

Spoiler

When we get to Winter +5yrs, and Mia is famous we learn that she went back with her original BF, Greg, and they had a kid together. We then learn that Sebastian opened his club and called it Seb's, just like Mia suggested, but then we find out that the two of them have not spoken in the 5yrs from when she made that movie in Paris to now. Why? DId I miss something? When they were talking in the park, before the 5yr jump they both say to each other that they're going to love each other forever, so what happened? Why were they no longer speaking? I can't see her coming back from her shoot in Paris and not reaching out to him, not keeping some sort of dialogue open, and then when she pictures her life with him from that first moment she saw him in the club around Christmas, it shows she clearly loves him too. So what happened???

 

[shira]

I finally got around to seeing La La Land last night and I thought it was fantastic. The soundtrack was awesome, and I loved that there was this awesome Jazz beat to the movie. This will go down as one of the best movies from 2016 for me, but I do have one big issue with the movie, and I am not sure if others will agree with me or not, but here it goes...

Spoiler

When we get to Winter +5yrs, and Mia is famous we learn that she went back with her original BF, Greg, and they had a kid together. We then learn that Sebastian opened his club and called it Seb's, just like Mia suggested, but then we find out that the two of them have not spoken in the 5yrs from when she made that movie in Paris to now. Why? DId I miss something? When they were talking in the park, before the 5yr jump they both say to each other that they're going to love each other forever, so what happened? Why were they no longer speaking? I can't see her coming back from her shoot in Paris and not reaching out to him, not keeping some sort of dialogue open, and then when she pictures her life with him from that first moment she saw him in the club around Christmas, it shows she clearly loves him too. So what happened???

Spoiler

My interpretation is that going back to Boulder City was her reality check. The rest of the movie was a dream. I mean she's a 26 yo failed actress who gets a callback from a one night play that was made up of 10 people and becomes a movie star? I mean that's up to you to decide if that's possible.

If you take everything that happens literally there are so many little hints that you can take either way, he asks her if she loves jazz, he says she has to put everything in her acting, and of course he loves jazz more than he loves her.

*Greg is the original boyfriend, David is the husband with the kid in the end so she's not completely awful.

 

[lenovox1]

I finally got around to seeing La La Land last night and I thought it was fantastic. The soundtrack was awesome, and I loved that there was this awesome Jazz beat to the movie. This will go down as one of the best movies from 2016 for me, but I do have one big issue with the movie, and I am not sure if others will agree with me or not, but here it goes...

Spoiler

When we get to Winter +5yrs, and Mia is famous we learn that she went back with her original BF, Greg, and they had a kid together. We then learn that Sebastian opened his club and called it Seb's, just like Mia suggested, but then we find out that the two of them have not spoken in the 5yrs from when she made that movie in Paris to now. Why? DId I miss something? When they were talking in the park, before the 5yr jump they both say to each other that they're going to love each other forever, so what happened? Why were they no longer speaking? I can't see her coming back from her shoot in Paris and not reaching out to him, not keeping some sort of dialogue open, and then when she pictures her life with him from that first moment she saw him in the club around Christmas, it shows she clearly loves him too. So what happened???

Spoiler

Facebook is a thing, so the last bit would have never happened.

You just have to go with for what it is.

Spoiler

My interpretation is that going back to Boulder City was her reality check. The rest of the movie was a dream. I mean she's a 26 yo failed actress who gets a callback from a one night play that was made up of 10 people and becomes a movie star? I mean that's up to you to decide if that's possible.

If you take everything that happens literally there are so many little hints that you can take either way, he asks her if she loves jazz, he says she has to put everything in her acting, and of course he loves jazz more than he loves her.

*Greg is the original boyfriend, David is the husband with the kid in the end so she's not completely awful.

Spoiler

Can you take any of the story line literally if you're deciding that the last bit isn't real? The entire film is one fantasy sequence after another.

 

[msdstc]

Spoiler

My interpretation is that going back to Boulder City was her reality check. The rest of the movie was a dream. I mean she's a 26 yo failed actress who gets a callback from a one night play that was made up of 10 people and becomes a movie star? I mean that's up to you to decide if that's possible.

If you take everything that happens literally there are so many little hints that you can take either way, he asks her if she loves jazz, he says she has to put everything in her acting, and of course he loves jazz more than he loves her.

*Greg is the original boyfriend, David is the husband with the kid in the end so she's not completely awful.

wait really? I didn't get that at all... in fact I think that completely destroys the entire story for me.

 

[JehutyRunner]

"City of Stars" is pretty catchy but "The Fools that Dream" is imo the best song in the movie.

No lies detected. At that point, Emma Stone stole the film for me with that, putting Gosling in second place in terms of performances in the film.

 

[YesManKablaam]

One thing that did bother me a bit about the film was Gosling getting top billing. Mia's character was the emotional core for me, and she's the one that actually has to overcome odds to try and achieve her dream. To me it was established pretty quickly that Seb is an accomplished and respected musician that's slumming it out of his own stubborness. He has opportunities that he purposefully casts aside, until he eventually sucks it up. He's not actually at risk of 'failing' so I didn't think there was much investment in his arc for me. Mia is at risk of having her entire life crumbling down, her lifelong dream failing and having to admit defeat. Just a small thing though, not enough to truly affect my viewing.

Because holy hell, at times it dazzles. There's a slight dip in the middle and with pacing issues for me, but when it works it's a trip. Much like Whiplash, that entire ending sequence is a virtuosic piece of filmmaking. Heart in my mouth, tears in my eyes stuff, just a beautifully emotive and captivating sequence. Chazelle is making the best endings in cinema right now.

 

[shira]

wait really? I didn't get that at all... in fact I think that completely destroys the entire story for me.

It works on different levels.

One thing that did bother me a bit about the film was Gosling getting top billing. Mia's character was the emotional core for me

Yes, this is another very divisive topic. The ending shapes the way you relate to who was the more "real" or the "main character"

If you related more with Seb or Mia the ending provides different emotional responses. I related more to Sebastien so it made sense to me that he was billed first.

Spoiler

Can you take any of the story line literally if you're deciding that the last bit isn't real? The entire film is one fantasy sequence after another.

Spoiler

The way I think it works is that the beginning is very sunny and we are at the most realistic (shitty dead end jobs) and as we get later in the film with more and more dark/night scenes they are the most dreamy and artificial (jazz club scene, planetarium).

 

[Joeku]

Oh, good lord. That ending.

:'(

 

[Replicant]

How does the instrumental part of "Someone In The Crowd" is rhythmically happy but at the same time carries a hint of sadness?

 

[jett]

Damien Chazelle is too young to be this talented.

Damned whippersnapper.

This was just great and the ending was absolute genius.

 

[cj_iwakura]

How does the instrumental part of "Someone In The Crowd" is rhythmically happy but at the same time carries a hint of sadness?

Probably because

Spoiler

You're thinking of when it plays in the epilogue.

 

[Replicant]

Probably because

Spoiler

You're thinking of when it plays in the epilogue.

Ugh, that is right. Its use during that scene to tore your heart apart is fantastic.

 

[legend166]

I finally got around to seeing La La Land last night and I thought it was fantastic. The soundtrack was awesome, and I loved that there was this awesome Jazz beat to the movie. This will go down as one of the best movies from 2016 for me, but I do have one big issue with the movie, and I am not sure if others will agree with me or not, but here it goes...

Spoiler

When we get to Winter +5yrs, and Mia is famous we learn that she went back with her original BF, Greg, and they had a kid together. We then learn that Sebastian opened his club and called it Seb's, just like Mia suggested, but then we find out that the two of them have not spoken in the 5yrs from when she made that movie in Paris to now. Why? DId I miss something? When they were talking in the park, before the 5yr jump they both say to each other that they're going to love each other forever, so what happened? Why were they no longer speaking? I can't see her coming back from her shoot in Paris and not reaching out to him, not keeping some sort of dialogue open, and then when she pictures her life with him from that first moment she saw him in the club around Christmas, it shows she clearly loves him too. So what happened???

Spoiler

It's a lot easier to say you'll keep in touch than it is to actual follow through. I don't find it too unbelievable for both of them to think they couldn't keep in touch because it would be too painful.

Of course, I'm actually the type that thinks a loving, fulfilling relationship trumps career aspirations basically every single time, so it was an interesting movie to watch. I couldn't figure out where it came down on whether Mia did "the right thing". I mean I guess that's the point, there isn't always a "right thing".

 

[Freyjadour]

Damien Chazelle is too young to be this talented.

Damned whippersnapper.

This was just great and the ending was absolute genius.

Just saw it for the third time and absolutely this.

I'm on board with anything he makes day one from here forward after this and Whiplash.

 

[The Outsider]

Oh, good lord. That ending.

:'(

Pretty much where I'm at. I saw it a week ago and just thinking about it tugs on my heartstrings. Great film.

 

[nachum00]

Saw it yesterday. I enjoyed it, actually liked it more than I thought I would. But I honestly had no emotional attachment to the characters, maybe because its a musical, I don't know.

But yeah Damien Chazelle has a bright future ahead of him.

 

[Kodiak333]

Pretty much where I'm at. I saw it a week ago and just thinking about tugs on my heartstrings. Great film.

That did destroy me as well...fuck.

 

[shira]

Saw it yesterday. I enjoyed it, actually liked it more than I thought I would. But I honestly had no emotional attachment to the characters, maybe because its a musical, I don't know.

It always felt like I was watching Emma Stone and not Mia. I guess Hollywood actors are really good at playing actors.

 

[Helmholtz]

Damien Chazelle is too young to be this talented.

Damned whippersnapper.

This was just great and the ending was absolute genius.

Yeah this kid is 2 for 2. Given time La La Land might be perceived as a classic honestly. If he keeps this up... we might be witnessing a legendary filmmaker in the making. Kind of exciting tbh

 

[tagrat]

Did anybody pick up the soundtrack on vinyl? I currently have the standard one on order, but it seems the reprint of the blue vinyl is getting released next week. Just wanted to know how the audio quality is and if I can hope that the black one is better.

 

[shira]

Did anybody pick up the soundtrack on vinyl? I currently have the standard one on order, but it seems the reprint of the blue vinyl is getting released next week. Just wanted to know how the audio quality is and if I can hope that the black one is better.

I think in this thread

Dan-o
kingocfs
metsallica
JMizzlin
Bruce Springsteen

seem to have bought it. PM them?

 

[Dan-o]

I ordered a signed copy. Still haven't received it. No shipping info yet.

 

[shira]

I ordered a signed copy. Still haven't received it. No shipping info yet.

I guess metsallica lucked out, was in before the hypetrain got rolling

 

[mm04]

Pretty much where I'm at. I saw it a week ago and just thinking about it tugs on my heartstrings. Great film.

That did destroy me as well...fuck.

The thing that really got me was after we saw

Spoiler

Mia and her new life,

I was expecting to see

Spoiler

Seb with his new GF/wife/child after that in turn. Instead, it was just him, cooking for himself. Solitary lifestyle in his modestly upgraded apartment.

Seb obviously had less loftier goals, but I guess that's what makes the ending so memorable. I prefer bittersweet to saccharine.

 

[WascallyWabbit]

god I loved this movie, these two need to make as many romantic movies as they can, just incredible chemistry

 

[LionPride]

Like, the movie is pretty good, but not Phenomenal as everyone has been saying.

 

[Kodiak333]

Spoiler

Yeah, just after the "fake" flashback and then he's done with his piano part killed me. I'll probably never forget that certain scene. I've certainly done things like that with past relationships, so it hit me hard.

 

[Bjoern the Smexy]

Okay, so I just saw the movie in my local theater.
I knew nothing about this movie.
Nothing.
A friend recommended it to me, saying it was a musical starring Emma Stone and that it's probably his movie of the year already.
My friend has very good taste in movies (or at least a similar taste to my own) so I trusted him.
And I did good in trusting him.

Oh boy, where do I start.

The cinematography is amazing. It's a 1926 movie painted in the colors of 2016.There is only classic camera work done here, nothing fancy. No shaky cams, so extreme close-ups, no fast camera turns (except for one scene, where it really works), everything is just good old old and trusty camera work.

Then the music. My god, what an amazing soundtrack. I love the songs. All of them. Especially "A Lovely Night" and "City of Stars". I'm a big fan of this movie's depiction of jazz. Everything sounds amazing. I could catch the biggest fishes with my ears because of all the earworms I got from this movie's soundtrack.

The story is okay. It's a love story about an aspiring actress and a broke jazz pianist. It's Lady and the Tramp with humans, more or less. Nothing that special, but it works to fill the frame and make a beautiful picture.

And this is exactly what La La Land is in essence:
It's beautiful. Like, seriously. There are so many scenes which could just as well be a painting. That painting tells everything which is going on in that scene.
It's warm. It's a feel good movie,

Spoiler

even though this movie doesn't have a happy ending

.
I came out of the theater humming and whistling the songs I heard, because of the aforementioned earwormyness.

I was surprised by just how good Emma Stone can sing, considering she apparently has/had some issues with her vocal cords (I think, it's what I've been told by my friend who knows a lot more about her than I do). I mean, she really did an amazing job here.
As did Ryan Gosling. If he played only half of the stuff what we see in this movie for real then hats off to him. At least his fingerwork is amazing and makes it look realistic.

I really wanna talk more about this movie but... I can't. This is all I can say about it. It's a masterpiece.

EDIT: Oh shit, 1001st post, hello page 11/21.

 

[shira]

Happy 1000 posts. Hopefully more to comes as theaters are finally getting their premiere and the inevitable post-Oscar film run

Also a friendly reminder that the Academy Award nominations will be announced live at 5:18AM PST on Tuesday

I would expect LLL to have all alot of nominations

I was surprised by just how good Emma Stone can sing, considering she apparently has/had some issues with her vocal cords (I think, it's what I've been told by my friend who knows a lot more about her than I do). .

Yeah she has vocal nodes, which gives her that rough voice.
Justin Timberlake had them too (took a year off recovering from the surgery)

god I loved this movie, these two need to make as many romantic movies as they can, just incredible chemistry

Not sure if you mean Chazelle&Hurwitz or Stone&Gosling. If you are talking about the former, the both of them are in a really strong position. If Chazelle wins Best Director he'll be the youngest ever Oscar winning director by like 200 days. The closest modern equivalent being Sam Mendes for American Beauty - he kinda fizzled out and is doing Bond movies now. Tarentino was also around 32 for Pulp Fiction but he didn't win. Aronofsky is another young director that took the arthouse route and it was 12 years till he finally won for Black Swan.

Chazelle's next movie is the Neil Armstrong biopic with Gosling and we know he likes scifi as he helped write Bad Robot's 21 Cloverfield Lane.

So does he go the arthouse route like Aronofsky and Tarantino and make cool movies every 2-3 years or does go blockbuster route like Nolan and Cameron?

 

[Lights and Waves]

I think this just might be my favorite movie of all time. I've seen it three times now and I'd love to see it again. I bawled the first time and I've cried every subsequent time too. The finale of this film is easily one of the best endings to a movie. Ever. Period.

 

[WrenchNinja]

I saw it a few days ago. Didn't really do anything for me. I was trying to figure out why, but Jeff Cannata from the Slashfilmcast summed it up pretty well in the Hidden Figures episode. Mainly, the ending just feels disingenuous.

Also maybe it might have been the leads. I just couldn't buy it. Maybe if they were unknowns I could.

 

[Ohwiseone]

I saw it a few days ago. Didn't really do anything for me. I was trying to figure out why, but Jeff Cannata from the Slashfilmcast summed it up pretty well in the Hidden Figures episode. Mainly, the ending just feels disingenuous.

Also maybe it might have been the leads. I just couldn't buy it. Maybe if they were unknowns I could.

How so? I am honestly curious, because I mostly think the ending is beautiful yet, a gut-punch.

 

[Lights and Waves]

I saw it a few days ago. Didn't really do anything for me. I was trying to figure out why, but Jeff Cannata from the Slashfilmcast summed it up pretty well in the Hidden Figures episode. Mainly, the ending just feels disingenuous.

Also maybe it might have been the leads. I just couldn't buy it. Maybe if they were unknowns I could.

Um, what? The ending is critically acclaimed because it is so genuine and not typical

Spoiler

Hollywood happy ever after

.

 

[mm04]

Um, what? The ending is critically acclaimed because it is so genuine and not typical

Spoiler

Hollywood happy ever after

.

I think it's because in the age of social media etc, people expected

Spoiler

Seb and Mia to be FB friends or something and know exactly where each other are in their lives etc.

I don't agree, but that ending will stay with me forever. Damien Chazelle is a friggin' genius.