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La La Land
Finally watched this film.
It was... better than I thought it'd be. This review is the one that I remembered, so I wasn't expecting to be swept off my feet.
I don't want to sound down on it, as it was a perfectly nice film, but the main thing it left me with was regret for what it could have been. You can see it in glimpses (especially at the end), but overall it's just... less than it ought.
This trailer is a perfect illustration, because it's a trailer for the potential it had:
And under the cut, the Honest Trailer, which is... perfect. <333
Mind you, we watched it with Impish Girl, who observed that Sebastian and Mia (the leads) reminded her of Darcy and me. (And not just because Seb is a jazz musician who spends a good part of the movie trying to explain to Mia why jazz matters...)
Note: I don't hate jazz. But Darcy recently took me to a jazz club and although I can admire the skill, it does absolutely nothing for me. I just sort of stopped listening, as it kinda rambles on and there's nothing to hook me. Apparently that means that I don't have a soul, but hey, I'm ok. ;)
It was... better than I thought it'd be. This review is the one that I remembered, so I wasn't expecting to be swept off my feet.
I don't want to sound down on it, as it was a perfectly nice film, but the main thing it left me with was regret for what it could have been. You can see it in glimpses (especially at the end), but overall it's just... less than it ought.
This trailer is a perfect illustration, because it's a trailer for the potential it had:
And under the cut, the Honest Trailer, which is... perfect. <333
Mind you, we watched it with Impish Girl, who observed that Sebastian and Mia (the leads) reminded her of Darcy and me. (And not just because Seb is a jazz musician who spends a good part of the movie trying to explain to Mia why jazz matters...)
Note: I don't hate jazz. But Darcy recently took me to a jazz club and although I can admire the skill, it does absolutely nothing for me. I just sort of stopped listening, as it kinda rambles on and there's nothing to hook me. Apparently that means that I don't have a soul, but hey, I'm ok. ;)
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Thanks for that.
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although I can admire the skill, it does absolutely nothing for me. I just sort of stopped listening, as it kinda rambles on and there's nothing to hook me.
I feel the same way about jazz. We can be soulless together.
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I didn't realise that jazz would do it... :(
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Although Giselle is easier to avoid.
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The last ten minutes or so are AMAZING. Alas.
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Yup. Very pretty.
I feel the same way about jazz. We can be soulless together.
See below, Kita is coming to our rescue...
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That said...it's a beautiful film and a lovely homage to old movies, so I can totally see why people loved it. I know people who did.
My favorite bit -- was the audition song Emma Stone sings towards the end. That's the best song in the film. Much better than City of Stars.
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I think it's the constant improvisation of jazz that bores me. I mean, no matter how talented the musician, 90 percent of firsts drafts of a song will be mediocre... just like 90 percent of first drafts of all novels, plays and poems are crap. Producing something memorable takes work and crafting and refinement. It's pretty damn rare that any musician will pluck a great song out of thin air while just jamming.
And sometimes, they play stuff that is really dissonant. I mean, yes, you're obviously very technically proficient, but what tune is that?
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Ooooh, yes, good point. It's sort of... shapeless. And I really TRIED to listen, but it was like white noise. (I sat and worked on the plot for one of my stories instead, so it was fine. *g*)
And sometimes, they play stuff that is really dissonant. I mean, yes, you're obviously very technically proficient, but what tune is that?
I'm sure Darcy dearest could give you a long and heartfelt answer. But then he also loves Captain Beefheart, so...
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It's just weird. They must have had endless money, why couldn't they spend some on good music and a choreographer etc?
That said...it's a beautiful film and a lovely homage to old movies, so I can totally see why people loved it. I know people who did.
One of my co-workers adores it. She was ill, watched it about five times and just adores it. And I can see it being amazing 'comfort food'.
My favorite bit -- was the audition song Emma Stone sings towards the end. That's the best song in the film. Much better than City of Stars.
*nods* You should read the article I link to, it pin points that scene as the most important in the whole film. <3
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The people who loved it -- stated that was pretty much the point. Two average folks (if you can call Gosling and Stone
average) dancing and singing, when they aren't that talented. The film sort of falls into the category of hyper-realism or post-modern revisionist (?), I think.
You can see it in the final montage -- which is a homage to An American in Paris and Singing in the Rain, where the characters dance and sing in this beautiful dream-scape. Except, here it is a dream and not real. A sort of --- commentary on the Hollywood ending. Which would not have worked if there had been great choreography or songs. It takes away from the "hyper-realism" or the idea of grounding the film firmly in reality. (A counter-point to the classic Hollywood musicals which are not grounded in reality and fantastical.)
I'm not much of a fan of hyper-realism either in one-two dimensional art (such as paintings and sculptures) or in film/television. I find it dull at times, and sort of depressing. Lost in Translation is another example of hyper-realism.
*nods* You should read the article I link to, it pin points that scene as the most important in the whole film. <3
I need to check that out. The Audition song...I'd agree is the most important in the film, because it sort of goes to the underlying motivation in both characters and their pursuit of artistic success...
Oh, the film is also a commentary/critique on romantic love and how it doesn't often work out like it does in the movies. Which the Audition song comments on as well. That song reminds me a little of the song "Life is a Cabaret" from Cabaret.
Escape a more depressing and potentially realistic commentary on it.
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(Oh and Bojack. <3)
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Except the Observatory scene where they fly off and dance amongst the stars is full-on magical musical. So I'm not giving them a pass. Highlighting the difference between the drab reality and the star-studded glamour is a great idea, they just... got it wrong. Simple as that.
Lost in Translation is another example of hyper-realism.
Lost in Translation is amazing and brilliant and works beautifully. Five stars.
I need to check that out. The Audition song...I'd agree is the most important in the film, because it sort of goes to the underlying motivation in both characters and their pursuit of artistic success...
It talks about how that one scene transcends all the rest.
Oh, the film is also a commentary/critique on romantic love and how it doesn't often work out like it does in the movies.
Oh totally. They just didn't do it as well as they could have. Which is a shame.
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Eh Lost I'd give one star. Put me to sleep and don't get the appeal at all. Sort of similar to how you feel about Jazz, actually. ;-)
I don't know if I'd say they got it completely wrong on La La Land...the magical realism sequence at the Observatory was part of the dream, they were in love, and everything is a dream when you are in love....
I think, while I didn't like La La Land or it didn't work for me, I can see how it worked for others. So I think our views really are subjective here? It just didn't work for us. Similar to Lost in Translation? It didn't work for me. Or Jazz? I love Jazz, but not crazy about Opera.
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Heh. Well, it'd be a boring world if we all liked the same things. :)
I don't know if I'd say they got it completely wrong on La La Land...the magical realism sequence at the Observatory was part of the dream, they were in love, and everything is a dream when you are in love....
Mmm, I guess. Still, they should have done... more. More juxtaposition. More with Emma Stone's character.
So I think our views really are subjective here? It just didn't work for us. Similar to Lost in Translation? It didn't work for me. Or Jazz? I love Jazz, but not crazy about Opera.
I see what you mean, but I'm not sure I quite agree. The jazz night Darcy took me to didn't do anything for me, but it was easy to tell that the musicians were excellent at what they did. Some things I love, even if they are not perfect, and it's easy to pin point the flaws. So, I stick by my opinion - La La Land was nice, but they could (and probably should) have done more with it.
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And yes, Emma Stone almost created Mia out of wholecloth because the movie was WAY more interested in Ryan Gosling's character. People act like Mia was so great but she's only great in comparison to the female characters in the director's previous films who... were either non-existent or had about two scenes.
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IKR? The beginning was good, but then... ♥
And yes, Emma Stone almost created Mia out of wholecloth because the movie was WAY more interested in Ryan Gosling's character.
Going into it knowing that, was a good thing, actually. I wasn't expecting much. And she did a lot with very little, so here's to Emma Stone!
People act like Mia was so great but she's only great in comparison to the female characters in the director's previous films who... were either non-existent or had about two scenes.
That does not surprise me. (It was SUCH a straight, white movie too. Was there more than one named black character in a speaking role? And no LGBT ppl at all.)
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Indeed, she really deserved that Oscar, and I don't often say that.
It was SUCH a straight, white movie too. Was there more than one named black character in a speaking role? And no LGBT ppl at all.
Like I said to one of my colleagues at work, there was no reason they BOTH had to be white. Sebastian in particular would have been more bearable/sympathetic as a MOC (whether black/Latino/Asian-American). And as I also said to her, the fact it was a musical tribute to musicals with NO queer characters was really weird.
I had the same problem with the new Blade Runner movie as well - it's supposedly set in a future LA yet the film has barely any POC and it's really really straight.
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This. It's SO Hollywood. Which makes it all the stranger that it wasn't better.
My cousin's fiancée, who is into Media Production ADORES it so I figure I'll have to see it sooner or later.
Well, it's pleasant enough. And I can see why people like it, but it should have been so much more.
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As the article says, that final audition is just amazing. <3
Sebastian in particular would have been more bearable/sympathetic as a MOC (whether black/Latino/Asian-American).
When they were sat watching the (all black?) jazz band playing, and Seb was going on about how amazing jazz is, I literally pointed at the screen, going 'WHY ISN'T HE BLACK?'
And as I also said to her, the fact it was a musical tribute to musicals with NO queer characters was really weird.
... Yeah. They should've gotten John Barrowman in there. *g* (Love him in The Producers.)
I had the same problem with the new Blade Runner movie as well - it's supposedly set in a future LA yet the film has barely any POC and it's really really straight.
Haven't seen it, but yeah, weird. This is why we need more diversity behind the camera as well!
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I think it could have been more musical wise, but I liked the story and characters. For me, I had no issue with Gosling's character not being black. I thought Emma Stone was good. I don't necessarily think it was best actress worthy, but it wasn't as much of a head-scratcher as Sandra Bullock winning for The Blind Side.
Jazz is definitely one of my least favorite music genres.
Stacey
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One of my co-workers adores it, and it's perfectly sweet. Like, there's nothing to dislike as such - it's more about not living up to the potential inherent in it, but it's hardly the only film to suffer from that problem. ;)
I thought Emma Stone was good. I don't necessarily think it was best actress worthy, but it wasn't as much of a head-scratcher as Sandra Bullock winning for The Blind Side.
The article I link to above makes a good case for why she deserved to win. <3 (Although to be fair, I have no idea who any of the other nominees were.)
Jazz is definitely one of my least favorite music genres.
Heh. I don't even hate it. It's just sort of white noise...
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I know right?
They should've gotten John Barrowman in there.
Yes! If only as part of a dream sequence. Would have been amazing. Although he can sing and would have shown them up a little bit. ;)
This is why we need more diversity behind the camera as well!
Absolutely! (I made another entry on my LJ, two in two days!)
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I didn't really see the other nominees either (can't even remember who most of them were) so I can't say she beat out anyone more deserving, it just wasn't a performance that moved me.
Stacey
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*snerk* True though.
Absolutely! (I made another entry on my LJ, two in two days!)
Oooh, I shall check it out!
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I haven't seen La-La Land and am not in any hurry to, either.
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Yup, that's it. :D
Oddly, though, I enjoy when rock or pop artists employ elements of jazz in their music. I guess I'm fickle and/or inconsistent. : )
It's funny, because in La La Land there's a scene where Ryan Gosling's character is performing with a band, and he starts off on his eyes, playing a keyboard - and then suddenly the whole band joins in and the singer, and it's not jazz at all but rather funky, modern soul. And I loved it! (I think we're supposed to be sad that he's sold out, but damn. Fun!)