Step into La La Land, where dreams are made and love is real and big and beautiful.
This film pulls you in and toys with your emotions, be swept away by the beautiful aura of Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling.
The music will make your heart melt, it pulls you back in time to the 1950s which is rare in films.
I will watch this movie again, and then some more, and then when I think I am done with watching the film, I will watch it just once more, because this film is something more, it gives you a glimpse of something everyone is afraid of. That is love.
Another movie made to glorify Hollywood's 'illustrious past', hence the many nominations by the Academy who rather than look forward are keen on looking back.
This movie barely has a story and relies on the attractiveness of its lead man Ryan Gosling and the quirkiness of Emma Stone. Now the movie itself is well made, but in the end this is a half baked musical, half baked rom com.
In all honesty, I wanted to enjoy this, but I just found it boring. I'll sit through tons of movies other people might find boring and love them, but this just left me waiting for something to make me care. Some moment of frisson or magic that made me get involved, but I found myself finding it lackluster. I mean, the singing wasn't pretty in the least, the songs didn't move me. I mean, I'm not saying I don't respect that the actors used their own voices, but it just wasn't catchy to me at all. Nothing ever felt high stakes emotional, it was kind of dull. Did they delve into anything, really? Was there anything special here? I just don't see it. I couldn't relate to these characters for the most part. And, that sort of "what if" ending, what for? I mean, sure, it's humanly relatable, but it didn't strike me as special enough to be there.
All my other comments aside, I just had no enjoyment watching this. I kept waiting for just one thing that might sweep me off my feet. It could have contained 5 seconds of something special and I would probably have liked this movie, but I never got it. I felt like a depressed person watching this film, just staring at the screen expressionless for 2 hours.
I didn't hate this movie, I'd say I was pretty much apathetic to it. Which is extremely, extremely, rare for me.
I would say about 90% of it was just fluffy build up for the ending dream sequence. But the "feels" at the end were so overwhelming that it made it all worth it.
Although at least 50% of the buzz comes from Hollywood musical nostalgia and really beautiful LA porn, it's a nice movie with an overly-simplified but still working
and partially heartbreaking
love story which is crafted with some great visual and audial props including the songs, very good acting and a few inspired screenplay moments. I didn't think the singing/dancing of the main duo was great (not bad at all either) but I believe it's supposed to be that way. Because of the over-simplification, the story arc didn't make just enough sense to me at times but there's nothing much to complain about. I must say the movie is inspirational for young (maybe even older) people who has dreams about any branch of fine arts, and it's also touching for people who had experienced love with a similar fate; which are I believe two main reasons for many people to love it. 7,5/10
Emma Stone is infinitely watchable, but her performance and a few of the songs may be the most important part of this otherwise confused and clichéd melange of self-aware nostalgia.
Set in present day Los Angeles, La La Land purports to be a proponent of the ostentatious musicals of old Hollywood and -- through its characters -- seems to lament their passing. And yet its messages are shallow and oddly conservative for a city so tied to progressive ideals. Is La La Land a film about chasing your dreams at all costs, or a warning about that same hunt?
Are the characters failures for achieving a career while losing love?
Are they dumb for pursuing the shallow Hollywood lifestyle to begin with? The film --
through its cheap alternate-reality finale -- wants the audience to have it both ways.
Cowardice in screenwriting at its best.
Of course, La La Land tries to fend of these attacks about its confused messaging through its own characters who equally lament the passing of jazz music. Emma Stone's character -- playing across from a deeply dull Ryan Gosling -- even explicitly states about her own play "You don't think people will think it's too nostalgic?" The self-defence is palpable. Perhaps the screenwriter is allowing their own hopes and dreams to be paralleled as you watch that very film.
The classic movie references serve no purpose beyond cheap nostalgia, and a "look what I can do" sort of mentality -- this again confuses the film's point. Is it celebrating hollywood and celebrity culture or is it lamenting the lifestyle? It seems to be leaning toward the celebration of the lifestyle and that celebration seems tone deaf in today's world.
Nonetheless, La La Land has some wonderful merits. Firstly, it's fun. It's romantic. It's oddly sweet in clichéd ways. The gigantic set pieces are gorgeous and the costumes divine. It's large opening numbers have a refreshing exuberance, but none of the irony that you'd expect in something so unabashedly pro-celebrity.
A fine film, but someone needs to have a talk to the screenwriter about their point in writing this film. It's a mess, and frankly, a little offensive in its gushing over stars and how hard their lives must be.
It reminds you of the giltz and glamour of Fred & Ginger but with none the originality, depth and charm. By the way this movie was received, I expected to be blown off my socks. I wasnt impressed.
Did not like the first hour, but liked the second hour.
Songs were a bit weak (liked City of Stars but would love to see someone with a stronger voice singing it). Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling did have good chemistry together... part of me thinks it would have been better as a straight 'film' rather than the half-musical, half rom-com it was aiming for? (And I usually think musicals make everything great). But either way, wasn't blown away, more pulled back from 'dislike' at the first half to 'mild like' by the end.
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Comments 1 - 15 of 48
vfd88
I wanted them to start the film over the second it had ended. Magnificent.Carota
I wanted to hate it but I failed.catherinefrances
Step into La La Land, where dreams are made and love is real and big and beautiful.This film pulls you in and toys with your emotions, be swept away by the beautiful aura of Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling.
The music will make your heart melt, it pulls you back in time to the 1950s which is rare in films.
I will watch this movie again, and then some more, and then when I think I am done with watching the film, I will watch it just once more, because this film is something more, it gives you a glimpse of something everyone is afraid of. That is love.
mrjellow
Another movie made to glorify Hollywood's 'illustrious past', hence the many nominations by the Academy who rather than look forward are keen on looking back.This movie barely has a story and relies on the attractiveness of its lead man Ryan Gosling and the quirkiness of Emma Stone. Now the movie itself is well made, but in the end this is a half baked musical, half baked rom com.
Aniform
In all honesty, I wanted to enjoy this, but I just found it boring. I'll sit through tons of movies other people might find boring and love them, but this just left me waiting for something to make me care. Some moment of frisson or magic that made me get involved, but I found myself finding it lackluster. I mean, the singing wasn't pretty in the least, the songs didn't move me. I mean, I'm not saying I don't respect that the actors used their own voices, but it just wasn't catchy to me at all. Nothing ever felt high stakes emotional, it was kind of dull. Did they delve into anything, really? Was there anything special here? I just don't see it. I couldn't relate to these characters for the most part. And, that sort of "what if" ending, what for? I mean, sure, it's humanly relatable, but it didn't strike me as special enough to be there.All my other comments aside, I just had no enjoyment watching this. I kept waiting for just one thing that might sweep me off my feet. It could have contained 5 seconds of something special and I would probably have liked this movie, but I never got it. I felt like a depressed person watching this film, just staring at the screen expressionless for 2 hours.
I didn't hate this movie, I'd say I was pretty much apathetic to it. Which is extremely, extremely, rare for me.
orloffm
Beautiful form that lacks any substance underneath.masterbeer
So yeah, I watched this because of all the critical acclaim lately, hoping this movie would be something special.It wasn't.
I thought it was dull and boring with no depth to the story or characters at all.
dyin2live
I would say about 90% of it was just fluffy build up for the ending dream sequence. But the "feels" at the end were so overwhelming that it made it all worth it.Astragalus
Although at least 50% of the buzz comes from Hollywood musical nostalgia and really beautiful LA porn, it's a nice movie with an overly-simplified but still workingBeingtaki
No highs, no lows. Two hours of expressionless depression.frankqb
Spoilers throughout this review.Emma Stone is infinitely watchable, but her performance and a few of the songs may be the most important part of this otherwise confused and clichéd melange of self-aware nostalgia.
Set in present day Los Angeles, La La Land purports to be a proponent of the ostentatious musicals of old Hollywood and -- through its characters -- seems to lament their passing. And yet its messages are shallow and oddly conservative for a city so tied to progressive ideals. Is La La Land a film about chasing your dreams at all costs, or a warning about that same hunt?
Of course, La La Land tries to fend of these attacks about its confused messaging through its own characters who equally lament the passing of jazz music. Emma Stone's character -- playing across from a deeply dull Ryan Gosling -- even explicitly states about her own play "You don't think people will think it's too nostalgic?" The self-defence is palpable. Perhaps the screenwriter is allowing their own hopes and dreams to be paralleled as you watch that very film.
The classic movie references serve no purpose beyond cheap nostalgia, and a "look what I can do" sort of mentality -- this again confuses the film's point. Is it celebrating hollywood and celebrity culture or is it lamenting the lifestyle? It seems to be leaning toward the celebration of the lifestyle and that celebration seems tone deaf in today's world.
Nonetheless, La La Land has some wonderful merits. Firstly, it's fun. It's romantic. It's oddly sweet in clichéd ways. The gigantic set pieces are gorgeous and the costumes divine. It's large opening numbers have a refreshing exuberance, but none of the irony that you'd expect in something so unabashedly pro-celebrity.
A fine film, but someone needs to have a talk to the screenwriter about their point in writing this film. It's a mess, and frankly, a little offensive in its gushing over stars and how hard their lives must be.
Limbesdautomne
Ye, yep, fine, a bit less romance and more dancing sequences would have been even better.Read more in French on La Saveur des goûts amers and come all dance on my grave.
Earring72
Gorgeous looking musical. After a rough first 30minutes really enjoyed itdanisanna
It reminds you of the giltz and glamour of Fred & Ginger but with none the originality, depth and charm. By the way this movie was received, I expected to be blown off my socks. I wasnt impressed.JessicaMuse
Did not like the first hour, but liked the second hour.Songs were a bit weak (liked City of Stars but would love to see someone with a stronger voice singing it). Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling did have good chemistry together... part of me thinks it would have been better as a straight 'film' rather than the half-musical, half rom-com it was aiming for? (And I usually think musicals make everything great). But either way, wasn't blown away, more pulled back from 'dislike' at the first half to 'mild like' by the end.
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