La La Land
for some language.
Reviewed by: Jeremy Landes
CONTRIBUTOR
December 9, 2016 (limited)
December 16, 2016 (expanded)
DVD: April 25, 2017
pursuing one’s dream and the sacrifices involved
difficulties in getting your abilities noticed in Hollywood
dealing with disappointments and criticism in a healthy way
music and dancing in the Bible
TRUE LOVE—What is true love and how do you know when you have found it? Answer
CELEBRITIES’ VIEWS—What do “Hollywood” celebrities believe about spiritual issues? Find out
HOLLYWOOD DISCONNECT—Why is there a disconnect between “Hollywood” and the rest of America? Answer
CHANGE HOLLYWOOD—What is being done to change the values of “Hollywood”? Answer
| Featuring |
Ryan Gosling … Sebastian Emma Stone … Mia J.K. Simmons … Boss Amiée Conn … Famous Actress Terry Walters … Linda (Coffee Shop Manager) Thom Shelton … Coffee Spiller Cinda Adams … Casting Director (First Audition) Callie Hernandez … Tracy Jessica Rothe … Alexis Sonoya Mizuno … Caitlin Rosemarie DeWitt … Laura John Legend … Keith See all » |
| Director | Damien Chazelle—“Whiplash” |
| Producer |
Black Label Media Gilbert Films See all » |
| Distributor | Summit Entertainment, a division of Lionsgate Films |
For the first forty years after sound was introduced to cinema audiences, musicals were produced regularly, so it was normal for actors to break out into song and dance. This is so unusual in today’s American cinema, that a movie like “La La Land” seems stunning in its bold attempt to breathe fresh life into the genre. Actors Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone seem like they’re having a wonderful time playing Sebastian (a jazz pianist) and Mia (an aspiring actress) in one of the most beautiful depictions of Los Angeles I’ve seen. Filmmaker Damian Chezelle (“Whiplash”) and his choreographers, composers, production designer, and cinematographer have delivered an extraordinary film full of color, song, dance, and sets with glorious artificiality.
Though modern audiences are unaccustomed to musicals with actors interrupting their dialog to sing and dance, amplifying emotions, director Chezelle makes it work, because these flawed characters are people we want to watch fall in love, have successful careers, and enjoy a happily ever after. From its opening number, amid a Los Angeles traffic jam, to its fantasy sequence at the end, “La La Land” seems like a new kind of movie from filmmakers who adore musicals from the past and want you to love modern characters through a new lens and color schemes (Cinemascope!). Vibrant, dazzling, and foot-tapping are a few adjectives that come to mind, and I expect I’ve just seen the future Best Picture Oscar® winner of 2016.
If you’re concerned about the PG-13 rating and wonder if your teenage kids should see it, Sebastian utters “the F word” once in a way that’s meant to encourage Mia, so she’ll stop caring so much about what others think of her. Also, as their romance develops, it becomes clear that they choose to live together outside of marriage. Some of the dancers wear short dresses and expose a lot of leg. The movie could allow you to have some good discussion with your kids about what goes wrong and why between Sebastian and Mia. “La La Land” shows us how falling in love can cause someone to feel like they’re floating in midair and no one else matters, and this movie lets you explore highs and lows that come when two people try to stay passionate about both one another and their art. You could have a spiritual conversation about the movie, but because the movie strives to be so entertaining, it’s a little hard to take very seriously in a spiritually deep way.
The movie doesn’t uncover great new insights about relationships, and, though its music is catchy, I don’t think any particular song is a show-stopper, like “Do Re Mi” from “Sound of Music” or “This Is Your Song” from “Moulin Rouge.” I still predict that if you see “La La Land,” you may have a great time, maybe a few tears, and may consider it to be a favorite date movie.
Violence: Minor / Profanity: Moderate to Heavy—f-word (1), “God da*n” (2), “Oh my G*d” (4), “Oh G*d” (1), “My L*rd” (1), “Swear to G*d” (1), h*ll (2), d*mn (1), “a**hole” (1), “a**” (3), s-words (3) / Sex/Nudity: Moderate
See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.
The acting is superb, as is the music, which I loved, as I really like musicals and am glad they are still in vogue. They try to emulate the old movies by having “Cinemascope” at the beginning, and there are a lot of retro-type things in the movie, such as one of the main characters having a tape player in his car and having to fast forward, which is quite familiar to those of us who grew up in the 60’s and 70’s. See all »
Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 4½
With no mention of any religion at all, that is a non-issue. Yes, the couple seem to be intimate and possibly living together while not married, but there wasn’t a scene in this movie that I found objectionable. It was better than primetime TV in that respect. Language wasn’t too bad (worst was one “eff it” and a couple gd’s), decent film for most kids (with minimal parental guidance), but content probably most enjoyed by 15 year old+.
Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 4
Moral rating: Good / Moviemaking quality: 4
Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 5
The message is definitely not to find someone who will encourage you, because the relationship gets cut off. With more commitment to each other, both could have probably had their dreams in due time, just with more work.
Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 4
Perhaps the clear fantasy nature of this film is why there were fewer adverse comments about the non-marital living together than about some films, but this may reflect the way for many young people marriage and babies come after careers are established. And it is about Hollywood. There are temptations for the characters to sell out or give up, as well as “grow up” but really no evil-doing happens, which makes the film a feelgood experience.
Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 5
Do you think La La Land provides the same sensations of the old-school musicals? It seems to me that La La Land shows more of a sadder, yet accurate view of life, whereas others provide a more blissful story ending with a long awaited profession of love.
The movie is developed in a way in a way that emits a nostalgic and reminiscent feel, and just like you said, the music can keep the toes tapping. There is something about the “glorious artificiality” as you called it, that makes the movie extra special. You expressed it perfectly when you described the movie as having an old-school musical vibe that tells a more modern story. It tells a story that resonates with viewers in this day and age (motivate by and relevant to experience), and makes watchers feel something they can relate to.See all »
Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 5
Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 3
Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 2½
Moral rating: Good / Moviemaking quality:
It angered me that a film trying to resurrect a genre from cleaner days would incorporate modern romanticism into that.
Moral rating: Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 5
I thought it was a big letdown. I thought that the movie started sweet, with good potential and enjoyable music. But to make a musical, it has to be “cool” for the cynical Hollywood crowd, so at some point the couple gets into an argument that is totally out of character, and then the relationship just tanks, which again, is supposed to be a twist, but is really unexpected given that we never really had a reason to think these people were that compatible.
However, the two people have had a discussion about following the call of their hearts, and so, in the end, we see the female lead married to someone who she does not seem to really love, meeting the male lead and making him regret not treating her better, but he has followed his heart, so they smile, as if, deep down, they still have a deep connection, even though they never married.
It just seemed like a cynical Hollywood way of looking at marriage and relationships to me. Like I say, nothing morally offensive, but I think it reflected a cynical view of love.
Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 5
Moral rating: Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 2
Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: ½
PLEASE share your observations and insights to be posted here.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Excellent! / Moviemaking quality: 5