La La Land (Damien Chazelle, December 2nd 2016) Movie • Page 12

It is okay. It is an empty experience, but at least it does not intentionally make absurd philosophical arguments beyond the surface. There are all these bizarre pieces on the film, which misses the point that this is a film solely designed to win a lot of awards by aping the film style that the 80 year old Oscar voters remember from childhood. It is very similar to The Artist in that regard; a decent piece of nostalgia that is the equivalent of empty calories.

 

jeez i really liked the movie.

 

I loved it. If it had come out in the UK last year it would have been my favourite of the year.

 

I also love this movie, totally deserving of the praise it's gotten.

 

Saw it today with my whole family and while I thought it was slightly too long and I wasn't into the section where they're flying in the observatory, the rest was fantastic. Really lived up to the hype for me, I enjoyed all of the musical numbers besides the one I mentioned even though I'm usually not into musicals at all. The ending was also incredibly well done

 

Hmm, well...might as well throw my two cents in. Keep in mind losing Debbie Reynolds right after Carrie Fisher fucked me up pretty bad and I'm writing this after seeing the film once last year and then again this past week. I think it was cute, fun. I cried. It was visually stunning. But I also think think Emma and Ryan made me yearn for Debbie and Gene...or Broadway musical players. And fwiw the second time I watched it Sebastian came off really douchey at points. I'm still processing, but something in the music, or the delivery, or the choreography just didn't speak to me. I echo the criticism of representation, especially because I think that if we are to pay homage and remember fondly of art in the past we must also come to terms with its shortcomings. I think a large portion of what is lost in awards shows (at least to me) is that I really don't think art shouldn't be compared to other art. If any comparison is to be made it should be made between the audience and the art, both as individual members and as groups of members. For sure, one hundred percent Moonlight was my choice for best of last year, but that's very much influenced by my identity. I don't fault one piece of art for not speaking to me in the same way as another. tl;dr I'm glad a discussion is being had.

 

The observatory was the one scene I wasn't a fan of too, ha.

 

Just finished it and what a bummer ending! Liked it all except what someone mentioned above with the opening dance number and Mia and friends getting ready dance number not really fitting. With this and The Nice Guys (one of if not the best of 2016) Gosling is really knocking it out of the park this year.

 

I love the Observatory scene ha. That moment when the music soars as they're waltzing across an astronomic landscape gets me every time. I can see why people wouldn't care for it, though.

 

I loved it too, it was gorgeous and made me say wow

 

Imo, calling it the 2016 "The Artist" is woefully underselling a film that includes the audition scene and the final scene in the club, both of which say far more about the price of chasing a dream than that film said about anything. Moonlight was a better overall film and tackled a more profound question of identity, and Manchester was both better written and acted. (I throw those out as really the only other 2016 'nominee' movies I've seen thus far.) But I'm not sure anything in either of those movies was as emotionally resonant to me as the final twenty minutes or so of this one, and while that alone probably doesn't make this as good of a movie as those, it absolutely elevates it above empty nostalgia exercise and at least somewhat deserving of the awards it is going to collect in droves over the next couple months.

 

Imo calling it the 2016 The Artist is an insult to The Artist.

 

If I had to watch one of them again, I would prefer The Artist. That one at least had a really strong sense of humor.

 

Whether you think the movie deserves the praise it is getting (I do) or not, Emma Stone certainly deserves the praise she's received from this. Good for her!

 

just saw this last night. loved it. the cinematography was stunning, performances were great. as much as you want it to work out in the end I loved how it ended. they loved each other but had to go their own way and achieve each of their dreams. definitely one worthy of seeing on the big screen and not just in your home (though I will be buying it). it's definitely an homage and love letter to the old musical films, but it's core story and style is still very modern so I don't think it gets held up completely on nostalgia. Emma Stone's audition song blew me away. love that she never opens up fully vocally till that scene. need to see it again.

 

I couldn't find any way to be sour about a film that exuded as much joy as this one did. Of course, I also loved the Artist. I guess I'm the big mushy target for these.

 

Saw this last night and I just wanna see it again and again. An absolute joy.

 

That final act was so beautiful yet devastating to watch.

 

The thing is The Artist has had very little impact in the five years since winning Best Picture (and I really liked it when I saw it).

 

saw it again this weekend. still love it. may pick the soundtrack up on vinyl.

 

(this thread, basically)

 

Especially because her friends disappear for the rest of the movie...they seem like they should be a semi-important part of her life but not so much.

 

Neat.

 

I really hope La La Land is a jumping off point that gets people into Demy and Gene Kelly.