Why 'La La Land' is exactly the movie we need right now
Do yourself a favor and go see La La Land when it comes to your city.
You don't need to be told that the world is a mess anymore -- the evidence is everywhere, from TV screens to social media and yes, out in the actual streets and where we live. For that, movies are an escape. Buying a ticket is an implicit agreement to two hours away from cable news and your Twitter feed, and La La Landis the perfect movie to run away to.
It's hard to pinpoint exactly what works for La La Land, because it is so many things that do. It isn't the first movie musical, the first story of struggling artists, the first romanticized depiction of hustle in L.A. or even the first pairing of Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling. But there is a zeitgeist-crushing combination at work here, a carefully crafted cross-section of all the things that make great cinema all working together at any given moment in the film.
SEE ALSO:The 8 most Bollywood things about 'La La Land'For me, La La Landharkened to the carefree joy of Indian Bollywood movies that I grew up with. Writing and acting (which La La Landexecutes deftly) weren't as important as pure, unbridled entertainment in those stories. They were a reminder that it's important to sing and dance and feel a little silly, to dream bigger than life would have you and spread that feeling around.
Music and musicals have always brought people together, but accessibility is a glaring divider. Even with maximum hype, many won't see Hamiltonor Cursed Childor even go to the cities that host those works -- but a trip to the movies always has leveled the playing field a bit, if only for a few hours. Just look at the success of Disney's Moanaor network television's live musicals.
As Hollywood dives into awards season, La La Landis every jury's kryptonite; It has promising young talent (including Damien Chazelle, the 31-year-old director), an old-school blend of different artistic disciplines, and it's about show business, which people in show biz love to see. Add in a puppy and that's the same formula that worked for The Artistin 2011.
Back then, it was hard to find someone who hated The Artist, yet its Best Picture win felt like cheating, like awards should go to what makes us think and hurt -- even if a the best endorsement for any piece of art is that it elevates awareness of your own existence.
There's a part of La La Landthat launches into a fantasy sequence, a "what if" scenario for the characters if their lives had followed a different path. But after just a few moments, it doesn't feel like a fantasy; It feels so tangible and real that surely, in some universe, that is the reality playing out on the world's stage. Maybe that's the case for all our hypotheticals. Maybe there's a world just a song away from here where he didn't win the election, where innocent people weren't shot, where people you cared about didn't die.
La La Landis a visual and emotional masterpiece. It's buoyant and beautiful and you will leave the theater humming its irresistible music. As it picks up momentum, it's bound to have it's detractors, the way everything does as it gets "too mainstream." It's also part of an exceptional crop of prestige films this year, from Barry Jenkins' stirring Moonlightto the heart-wrenching true story of Lion, films that will undoubtedly face off with La La Landin a matchup that's like comparing apples to freaking kiwis.
But right now, it's the simplest joy you'll experience at the movies, and maybe outside it. So go see it, enjoy it, and don't feel guilty about unplugging and escaping for a couple hours. The world will be waiting when you get back.
La La Land is in theaters in NY and LA now and will open wide Dec. 16
TopicsFilm
-
Cyrix: Gone But Not ForgottenRaducanu in no rush to find new fullChina urges North Korea to comply with U.N. resolutions over threat of nuke warhead testFollowing in footsteps of his grandfatherAirPods Pro 3 and AirPods 4 may get revealed at the Apple September eventSeoul envoy to U.N. warns of tougher sanctions for additional N.K. provocations选购增科新选丝苗1号增城丝苗米,认准这10家经销商Rangnick wants to improve 'everything' as consultantWe Asked GPT Some Tech Questions, Can You Tell Which Answers Are Human?加强重点单位重要部位安全保卫
下一篇:21 Caves That Offer Otherworldly Experiences
- ·If aliens harnessed solar power, could we detect them? NASA investigated.
- ·After Kennedy's retirement, are we entering 'Handmaid's Tale' territory?
- ·China's premier says diplomacy can maintain regional stability
- ·Gov't beefs up railway security amid North Korean threats
- ·'Black Myth: Wukong' PS5 review in progress: A potential masterpiece
- ·Ferrari 'won't lose heart' despite Imola set back
- ·Man City let Real off the hook in seven
- ·Defense Ministry dismisses N.K.’s missile claim
- ·Scientists detect water sloshing on Mars. There could be a lot.
- ·Twitter's ongoing strategy? Video, video, video.
- ·UN grants sanctions exemption for video reunions of separated families
- ·养猪“大跃进”后遗症:多省跌入6元区间!2024年猪企或面临这三大考验
- ·How to trademark your TikTok phrase and protect your brand
- ·YouTuber Casey Neistat says goodbye to vlogging
- ·Obama's statement on immigration leaves a bit to be desired
- ·Google is removing its 'In the news' label due to the fake news nightmare
- ·Scientists detect water sloshing on Mars. There could be a lot.
- ·Meet Yasmeen: Namibia’s star cricketer
- ·Ferrari 'won't lose heart' despite Imola set back
- ·Sanders praises Trump for North Korea peace efforts
- ·Pressure boost squeezes out more hydrogen from artificial leaves
- ·吃桂圆享团圆!高州年货好物主打一个“甜蜜”
- ·'Vietnam an example for North Korea'
- ·Rangnick wants to improve 'everything' as consultant
- ·A Global Tour of Bakeries With Fascinating Histories
- ·Boris Becker jailed in Britain over bankruptcy
- ·“新丰味”喜获中国首届县域品牌擂台赛十大营销创新品牌
- ·A college course about Frank Ocean comes to UC Berkeley this fall
- ·Gov't beefs up railway security amid North Korean threats
- ·市民:商品房质量保修有什么规定?
- ·N. Korea test
- ·Gov't beefs up railway security amid North Korean threats
- ·'Vietnam an example for North Korea'
- ·Ancelotti says Real Madrid history an advantage
- ·Campbell highlights Washington Declaration amid security concerns over Putin
- ·吃桂圆享团圆!高州年货好物主打一个“甜蜜”