Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling play frustrated artists who are chasing their dreams in Los Angeles. Emma Stone works at a coffee bar but dreams of being an actress. Ryan Gosling plays Christmas songs on a piano in a crowded restaurant but wants to open his own jazz bar and play Real Jazz. Both characters make compromises that both bring them together but later drive them apart. If you like singing and dancing, LA LA Land provides plenty of that. But, my only quibble is that I wish the music in the movie was more memorable. It’s pleasant music, but very forgettable once you walk out the theater. Hopefully, the success of LA LA Land at the box office and at the Golden Globes will cause more good, original musicals to be produced. GRADE: A-
From what I read the main problem with this musical is that neither lead can sing! Pass!
And what’s this guff about monitoring my comments? The nerve!
Bob, remember when someone hacked your comments? WORDPRESS is just trying to protect you.
Not monitoring, moderating! If you can’t trust me, who can you trust?
Bob, I trust you completely. I just don’t trust your enemies.
Exactly. Maybe after the success of this one, Hollywood will attract some better song writers.
Patti, it’s been a long time since Hollywood produced a musical like LA LA LAND. There wasn’t a lot of support for it in the beginning. Now, that it’s getting Oscar buzz and some decent box office numbers, Hollywood might make more musicals in the years ahead.
I’m still traumatized by Peter Bogdanovich and Woody Allen’s appalling attempts at movie musicals, but I’m sure we’ll see this in Florida. The reviews I’ve read have all had similar things to say about the music.
Jeff, I think you and Jackie will enjoy LA LA LAND. Just keep your expectations low.
I’m really looking forward to La La Land.
Right now I’m obsessed with the Kelly Clarkson version of It’s Quiet Uptown. I have no interest in Hamilton (hip-hop – really?) but I got the Hamilton Mixtape CD just for the Clarkson song. Tonight I’ll listen to it at the bookstore.
If the rest of the music is that good, I may have to change my mind.
Beth, I found the music to HAMILTON to be uneven. Much of it is “narrative” music that advances the plot. But the Kelly Clarkson version of “It’s Quiet Uptown” shows that there are some really good songs on that HAMILTON MIXTAPE.
Hamilton is great. Remember, it’s a play, not a musical per se, so yes, much of the content moves the plot along. And Beth, it’s not all hip-hop, and it’s not the heavy, explicit stuff you might hear blasting out of cars. I’m not a big fan of hip-hop, but I love Hamilton.
As for La La Land, I agree in the hope that it gets filmmakers thinking about making musicals. But the great songwriting teams are long gone in this music age.
Rick, you’re right about the great teams like Rodgers & Hart and the Gershwins don’t exist anymore. New artists will have to learn their craft from scratch.
I really enjoyed LALA Land. I disagree about the leads not being able to sing well, but I am a bit tone deaf, and even enjoyed Pierce Brosnans vocals in Mama Mia. They were, at least, enjoyable. I went with nancy, her mom and her moms caregiver. Nancy and I both would have preferred a different ending. But as much as I like Ryan Gosling, I thought Ryan Reynolds should have won the Golden Globe for Deadpool. I did like the music, but agree there was nothing I came out of the theater humming. Hopefully it will spur more musicals.
I’m hoping to get to see Hamilton when it comes here, but it might be another sellout to subscribers only. I donated to planned parenthood (again) to enter the contest to win 2 tickets to 3 different venues to see Hamilton. (NYC, Chicago and IIRC San Francisco) If I win, I’ll take you to Chicago one, Beth.
I’ve liked the music I’ve heard from Hamilton. I find while I detest rap, I often like hip hop. (In Empire, I love Jamal’s music and don’t at all like Hakeem’s)
Maggie, you would probably enjoy the HAMILTON MIXTAPE CD. Very different interpretations of the music from the musical HAMILTON.
I am NOT a fan of mix tapes!
OMG – seriously? Pierce Brosnan’s singing was an abomination.
Jackie’s mother loved musicals and took them to see all of them, even if from the top of the balcony. We are big Sondheim fans, at least to a point, and have seen many of his shows multiple times. But Jackie’s favorite musical is probably Guys and Dolls. We’ve seen mant Rogers and Hammerstein shows. The Lincoln Center SOUTH PACIFIC production was wonderful.
If Gosling can’t sing, I guarantee I am not going to be forgiving.
Jeff, Gosling mostly tickles the keys.
I liked La La Land considering I am not a fan of musicals. Would recommend Aimee Mann as a possible songwriter for a future musical. She had some very good songs in Magnolia.
When I was a kid I got dragged to some musicals by my mom since my dad would not go. This has caused a lifelong hatred of South Pacific, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and especially Sound of Music.
Too bad, those are all terrific musicals.
Steve, my mother and father loved musicals. ANNIE GET YOUR GUN and OKLAHOMA were favorites. My mother bought the soundtracks to BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S and CAMELOT and I played them until I wore them out!
I’d forgotten about my hacker! Didn’t he make better comments than me?
Bob, some people were completely taken in by your hacker!
Just found this in my favourite British newspaper (written after Trump’s inauguration …):
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jan/21/ryan-gosling-la-la-land-every-bad-date-you-had
Not very nice on the male lead …