La La Land

[Sparkle Fabulosa]

I really liked it. It was very whimsical and the choreography was wonderful. While neither Emma Stone or Ryan Gosling had strong vocals, their voices were still pleasant.

I didn't care for the ending though.

This was my favourite scene.

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[Hugo Rune]

In short, rather derivative, rearview mirror film making, with both it and its characters desperately attempting to hold onto laboured and reductive views/morals, whilst skipping around through a neo-art-deco landscape.

It was fine, but I couldn't latch onto the rose tinted romanticisd views of the protagonists and, more importantly for a musical, nothing made my foot tap nor earworm into my brain.

Enjoyabe fluff, but most certainly nowhere near on par with the films it was attempting to recapture, and frankly less enjoyable than the likes of Sing Street that aslo came out in 2016, but sunk under the radar. No dancing, but plenty of great original songs and witty coming of age story.

No doubt we will no see a glut of musicals in the future as the likes of Miramax and the major studios attempt to capitalise on this films success. I'm conflicted by that as, generally, I enjoy the genre and we could do with more original films that aren't just a modern update of an old theatre classic. But, look what happened when Hollywood ran with the Vampire motiffe, or the YA distopian literature frenzy...

6/10

Hugo - guess I'll see you in the movies

 

[Starkers]

About a third of the way through I realised I was smiling. Then I realised I'd been smiling for some time and I pretty much continued to smile all the way to the end (even if that smile became quite melancholic at times).

Basically I loved it. Loved that Gosling and Stone weren't polished singers/dancers and I loved what it had to say about films (reminded me so much of the Artist on many levels). I liked as well that however romanticised it was, it was more honest about romance than most films are (in this it reminded me a lot of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind). I can see why people don't like the ending, but for me it fitted perfectly with the rest of the film.

@Hugo Rune I would tend to agree about the songs, though City of Stars is lodged in my head now and I suspect repeat viewing might cement a few more. I think the sign of a great musical is one where you kinda forget it is even is a musical.

 

[sbk1234]

I thought it was a good flick. Not a great flick, but good. I never saw it as a Best Picture contender. But it was an enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours.

 

[Gaith]

I also loved it. What a movie! It's hard to go wrong with tap-dancing in long takes, no matter the decade. Grade: A-! Now, about that ending...

Spoiler

That the leads don't end up together doesn't bother me one bit, in large part because I'm clearly far more of a type with the guy Mia does settle down with than I am a Sebastian/Gosling. More Mia/Emma Stone types for me! (He's successful and the ladies adore him; he'll be fine.)

But for them to lose touch so completely that she had no idea he'd opened a successful club with her suggested name and logo, to boot? Maybe she'd heard about it, but had forgotten where it was. I'll go with that... Regardless, it worked in dramatic terms, also.