La La Land reviewed by Mark Kermode
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- Опубликовано: 12 янв 2017
- Mark Kermode reviews La La Land. Jazz pianist Sebastian falls for aspiring actress Mia, as they both try to find their break in Los Angeles.
Please tell us what you think of the film -- or Mark’s review of the film - below. We love to include your views on the show every Friday.
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Not afraid to admit I teared up at the end. What a lovely, gorgeous film.
killerkirill yup. the end was rough.
SPOILERS: I think, ultimately, it's a happy ending (sort of). They both were the facilitators of each other's dreams and I suppose the film aimed to portray that artistic ambition as the lifeblood of a city like LA. Their relationship was the force behind each of their successes and in the final moments they recognised and acknowledged that. But, as is considered by the fantastical 'what-if' scenario, relationships require timing and a great deal of good fortune - as do all of the things worth having.
I disliked the ending honestly. Originally it really bothered me. I literally said to the person I saw it with. "why couldn't they just give the people what they want!" I lightened up on it a bit, but there is nothing wrong with having a happy ending occasionally. I think people are just too cynical. Especially being that this is a movie about fulfilling dreams. It's a great movie and I can see how if the ending didn't bother you it would be perfect.
I was completely blindsided by this movie. The ending had me in floods of tears. At 47 years of age.
Yeah, after the second time watching it I can unreservedly call it a masterpiece. It's got one of the best endings to a film I've ever seen
Couldn't agree more!
Honestly one of the best films I have seen in the past five years. It is movin,beautiful,poetic,profound. Everything about it is refreshing and spectacular as well as joyous and inspirational.
I'm so glad Mark liked this as much as I did. I know he's not one to give into Hollywood glitz and glamour as easily as other critics but when it's done well, as it is here as well as all the other brilliant aspects of the film it becomes an utter masterpiece.
I am going to echo +joshua Price further down these comments. I don't always agree with Mark, but that's the nature of being a critic - but I do always count on him to be honest. Too many critics these days use the platform to be divisive and obstinate just for the sake of it. Mark is never afraid to just say "I like this film". He never really goes with convention. Perhaps that because we, his audience, will value it more.
''I just want to go straight back in and watch that again."-my thoughts exactly!
Glad you loved this as much as I did, Mark! My favorite film of 2016. I've checked, Damien Chazelle is 6 and a half years old
Guy Simchony I'm pretty sure he's at least 7 tbh. Can't imagine someone under 6 directing Whiplash.
Well, he's a GENIUS! lol ;-)
Krombopulos Michael Good point
Joe Smith can't wait for it!
oooodaxteroooo Uhh... don't remember saying that.
Emma Stone in this movie I thought was just brilliant. I agree with Mark, the audition scene at the beginning was absolutely masterful, some of the best acting I've seen in a long time. Loved the ending, a clever play on the way musicals typically end. 9/10
I normally don't enjoy musicals but this movie was fantastic, easily a 10/10 from me
I thought Stone deserved an Oscar for just that one scene in 'Birdman' when she put her dad in his place. Sounds like she's got another opportunity here.
La La Land was unforgettably beautiful. It was nothing short of a masterpiece classic
I hate jazz and Whiplash is one of my favorite movies of recent years. I hate musicals and I can't wait to see this one.
What's with this Chazelle guy? He could sell ice to the Inuit, gosh darn it!
I was being a bit hyperbolic, I admit it. Let's say I hate what jazz represents now. It's become a sterile playground for people who cannot write pleasant music but instead are very keen on proving "lesser" musicians they are better. Yes, most of the jazz players I know are complete utter cocks. Just like Andrew in Whiplash, a self absorbed sociopath who's only obsession in life is to prove himself as one of the greats. The fact I rooted for him the entire movie, the fact I agreed with his teacher about the world's need for people like him, that alone measures Chazelle's powerful writing and cinematography.
I probably am wrong about jazz, neither I claim to be an expert due to indifference and prejudice, but as you said it's all subjective. :-)
#notalljazz
Happy now?
@@8ulls3y3 brilliant, thankyou
I took my 12 year old sister to see it thinking that she would love it and I could just zone out for a couple of hours. I ended up liking it almost as much as she did ! What a film! It's Visually spectacular, the acting is spot on and the music is incredibly catchy! Didn't force a cliché happy ending either.
That last audition scene was moving and haunting for me. I would give her the Oscar just for that scene alone!
I'm generally not a fan of musicals. I'm also very skeptical of films when they receive a ludicrous amount of praise and attention. However, this film was genuinely brilliant. It is moving and lingers long after you've watched it, it's cinematic & visually pleasing, Stone & Gosling are incredible and have great chemistry on screen and some of the instrumental pieces are fantastic.
There is nothing more delightful than being surprised by cinema, I cant stress enough how excellent this film is.
Seeing it this weekend! Can't wait.
Charlie Panayiotou same! i really hope it lives up to all the hype
this movie was so good and rare im seeing it again for sure. the realist depiction of an artist's struggle really resonated. 10/10
Can we also mention how great the score is? Justin Hurwitz is incredible
I saw it this evening and I fell in love. Drunken, giddy love. I am not a fan of the leads but the film works magnificently and is fantastic. Paul Thomas Anderson is a huge influence. It's lovely.
This film was just pure bliss. True movie magic, I grinned from beginning to end. And I don't even like musicals!
Well I have a huge smile on my face. La La Land really is as delightful, colourful, romantic, and technically impressive as everyone says it is. What a lovely trip to the cinema! My only real criticism of it is the first half is full of musical numbers - and they're superb - but the second half relies more on a traditional romantic drama and comedy with subtle musical cues planted here and there until the expected big musical sequence at the end. I'd have liked a more consistent number throughout but it's a small price to pay for an overall utterly charming work. Damn you Damien Chazelle, he's a year and a half younger than me and he's about to win loads of Oscars for making his third film already. I feel pathetic.
In my Top 10 favorite films of all time list.
You could pretty much tell that people were holding back their applause after the opening sequence ended.
The ending was the most almighty 'yeet' of all time.
I LOVED La La Land!! I honestly think, in a year's time, it will still be my favourite movie of 2017. It was just such a lovely experience :) I saw it twice in less than 24 hours haha.
Is this basically a modern Artist, the themes are quite similar (in Artist a silent movie star meets a young dancer). In La la land (A jazz pianist falls for an aspiring actress in Los Angeles).
I have a feeling that this film will win best picture and maybe best actor.
NasIsLike I think Isabelle Hupert will win best actress.
Talia Price
You have a feeling? Can't imagine why you'd feel that a movie which glamorizes Los Angeles, Hollywood and Performance Art would win big at the Oscars. Those movies neeever win.
Natalie Portman better not take the lovely Miss Huppert's much deserved Oscar. COME ON, BABY. BRING IT HOME!
Nobody's really beating Casey Affleck for Actor at this point, he's won virtually everything so far
I think actor and actress couild go that way as emma stone deserrves it for that solo singing in the aufdition . However Hollywood will not give it casey af;lfleck and hubbert will get it
It was a fabulous film..one of the best I have seen in years
Saw it 4 times, loved it every time. The music is soooo good. The numbers are magical. There's lots of funny. And a dab of melancholy.
I was late to the party and I only got to see this film on Friday and boy was it good, without a doubt the film of the year for me so far, I am yet to watch moonlight, fences and Manchester by the sea, but this is the clear winner for now, I was able to relate so much with RG's character since I cannot tolerate anything but Jazz classical and soul, Damien C is a true artist, this is pure perfection. This is been a good year of films and I was expecting it to be bad because usually is one year on and another off with Hollywood but this is the second year in a row of good films.
Glad you mentioned "New York, New York". I thought the same thing. 👍🏽
Best musical since 'South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut'.
I've been waiting for Mark's review of this movie to come out. I've seen the film four times now and truly consider it a rare masterpiece - it's in my top 3 films of the past 5 years. I don't always agree with Mark but I always respect his opinion and always trust him to be honest with his thoughts and provide some good insight. I'm so glad to hear that he loved the movie as well :)
Have actually just returned from seeing this. I'm not someone who likes musicals at all, but I have to say I enjoyed this quite a lot. The opening dance scene didn't really grab me, I wasn't won over as easily as Mark. It was a little cheesy musical for me. But as the film went on, the characters and story really drew me in to the point about halfway through I found myself really caring what happened. The closing scene was very clever and quite emotionally powerful. Recommended even for those who don't normally find musicals to their liking.
La La Land feels like the retelling of the 'doomed relationship' subplot from Whiplash. Damien Chazelle's affinity for jazz is re-emphasised albeit in a different guise. My criticism is similar to what Mark had to say about Sofia Coppola's film Somewhere; the film was just a another rendition of the directors comfort zone. Whiplash is still vastly superior.
Possibly my favourite film of all time
I just saw it. I'm not sure if I'm *quite* as enamoured with it as everyone else is yet, I do know I really liked it and will probably go again at some point in the next few weeks
Damien Chazelle was too young to see this film in the cinema
Great film. Better than Moonlight. Deserves to and should win the best picture.
I teared up in the end and i got goosebump what a great movie just great ❤️
The best review of the movie. Completly agree with mr.Kermode and I have seen the movie 3 times already.
Emma Stone is such a great actress she's so brilliant she can make her co stars look even better than they are
It was Emma that kept me watching because pure jazz has never moved me. Glad that I eventually watched the movie, but I wouldn't watch it again for that reason.
I saw it twice at different theaters, both audience reactions was bored by the time the movie ended. My cousin who saw at the second viewing said as a musical it was bland, there wasn't enough musical numbers,the opening number felt out of place, the dancing sucks especially the tap dance sequence a lovely night, singing was mediocre, however she said the songs were good though. She further said as a romantic comedy the plot was thin, there was no character development, emmas' acting was overrated, ryan gosling was weak, she hated the epilogue or "what could've been" sequence she thought chazelle was trying too hard to show that he should win the oscar. tbh I liked the movie, but after seeing how the audience and how two different people who saw I the movie at two different times hated it, I wonder if the critical acclaim from the reddit comments are legit or they were paid by the film to promote it.
Director Damien Chazelle delivers A heart warming, well acted, well scored, stylish & very enjoyable musical film. (81%) (4/5 stars) (positive)
Very good, really liked it. Anyone else reminded of Last Temptation Of Christ by the end?
Gosling's character curses in a different language, does anyone know what it means??
Can't wait to see La la Land released in Peru, I think it will be by the end of this month. Kermode says:"it's really, really good". But it's not great, one of the things that you avoid is that you hate or dissapoint for a film everyone loves. As Kermode fairly put it, my expectations are high towards this film.
The way he said " I think it's very good", laughing like a 16-year old being in love for the first time meant he thought it was a great movie and that he loved it a lot, in my opinion.
Not a fan of musicals but it was a great film. Gets a solid 8/10 in my book.
I am going to echo +joshua Price further down these comments. I don't always agree with Mark, but that's the nature of being a critic - but I do always count on him to be honest. Too many critics these days use the platform to be divisive and obstinate just for the sake of it. Mark is never afraid to just say "I like this film". He never really goes with convention. Perhaps that because we, his audience, will value it more.
SLightly off topic but the point at the start on expectations, I had this problem with Arrival. Fell very short of what I was expecting from the praise.
It’s a masterpiece
I agree with him.
Yep, and I think it's REALLY good too!
first half the film i enjoyed, plus the soundtrack is great, however, after the halfway point the musical numbers dried up and the second half of the film was so dull. a lady afterwards told me she fell asleep!
I haven't seen the film yet, but from its promotion and coverage on BBC news it really comes across as all-mouth-no-trousers. I doubt I could watch this without seeing it as a technicolour Mulholland Drive amped up on speed. The visuals look fabulous, Gosling and Stone look fabulous, but at this point, to me at least, it feels like everyone's been hooked by something that's aesthetically pleasing rather than a compelling film.
well you haven't seen it haha
Wish Mark's monster truck review was in video form as well.
Just got back from seeing this tonight. Really liked it a lot. Think I still prefer Whiplash over this though,
In a respect, I didn't want to like the film. 'In a world of political this and that we get another hollywood film about hollywood', I exclaimed to myself. I could not have been more wrong. The film is delightful and the chemestry between Stone and Gosling is perfect. They capture something we all (hopefully) have gone through ie finding the absolutly right partner, but at the wrong time. Darn, but it pulls at those associataions so well, so in short, I recognised myself in those characters somewhere. Then there's the music and the routines and set pieces, which are so well made, yet as Mark points out, just the right side of imperfect so we don't forget we are supposed to be watching two regular dreamers. Emma Stone is perfect, she is sexy, natural and believable and Gosling gets to show off his comic timing as well as his dance skills. A really lovely, warm movie.
Yes! I absolutely love this movie, best film of 2016 in my opinion.
Masterpiece. I love everything about La La Land. It's so much fun, but is so heartfelt at the same time. It's definitely my #1 film of 2016, and my #2 favorite film of all time. I'm addicted to this film. Lol
I must be the only one who just didn't feel this movie at all. It just screamed of Hollywood to me. I also didn't find the music that memorable. I enjoyed the final act however!
Could someone explain some of the hidden meanings I might have missed? I might enjoy it more if I know why I didn't understand it.
The music aint bad either ;)
I didn't care for the film. It's a fun enough popcorn film, but like The Artist, it has little to offer of any substance beyond a subversion of the clichéd love story.
Liked it.. that's about it. I really hate to be that guy, but I just don't get the fawning.
I feel like I'm the only person that isn't in love with this film
You're not, Emily. I think it's vastly overrated and very shallow. Surprised so many have fallen prey to its inauthentic themes.
You're making me enthusiastic but I generally just can't stand musicals.
Forestgravy90
You should realize this goes as far as me having a hard time enjoying big parts of the Lion King.
Forestgravy90
Good to know.
I like the director and actors so that's something at least.
Forestgravy90
"the classier independent cinema" as you should ;)
"If you have a partner of any type" I'm a physics student, a cliché version of it.
I think I'll surely watch it eventually.
Great video! We talked about this film on our podcast too: @AhAk
What’s ur podcast called
@@tqt08 Carruthers, Leggtetter & Whoever
Sorry Mark love your reviews but I found LA LA Land to be completely cheesy. I found the ending to be fully pretentious. I thought the film was closer to the cheesiness of Moulin Rouge than a great film. in essense I think its the most overrated film of 2016.
Mike Thompson Moulin Rouge is criminally underrated and should be considered one of the greatest films ever made in MY opinion which is going to be prominent here. I think you saying that it is overrated is false, maybe some people hyped it up too much but for some people it is an absolute masterclass in film however, I realise that some people don't like it because of political and social reasons that I think are just plainly ridiculous but there are people who just didn't go much on the film which it seems like yourself being one which is fair enough. However, you saying that the ending is pretentious I think is you just not really appreciating the film for what it has done in that ending. The ending was (again, in my opinion) a masterclass showing you what could have been between our two main characters, people we've seen struggle to achieve their dreams to be ultimately separated to go make those dreams a reality but they have had to sacrificed their relationship as a result is all brought together in this final, beautiful scene and then when it draws back to Sebastian playing the piano with Mia watching it adds a sense of a tragic ending but in a bittersweet way because we just saw what could have been if things had been slightly different, this really brought the film together as a whole and that isn't even mentioning the cinematography, choreography, set design, the absolutely wonderful music that goes with the whole act, etc, etc that really makes that final big scene a real marvell to watch. I get some people don't like the film but when the arguments made are as follows; the whole thing with the two main characters being white and John Legend, who is black wanting to change Jazz for the worst and Ryan Gosling deciding to go againt him or that it glamorised Hollywood is just ridiculous, we watch films to get away from the real world, to escape into our fantasies so people can just let themselves enjoy something for an hour and a half or more, that doesn't mean people don't like watching grounded works like moonlight most recently but still, why can't people just enjoy themselves for a time, the criticism La La Land has been getting in THAT sense is just simply ridiculous and undeserved but putting that aside, the other people who didn't like it because they found it cheesy or whatever is fine, your opinion and all, but going back to the main argument, La La Land being overrated? maybe just a tiny tiny tiny bit but as a film, it is a masterclass.
Sorry man if I dragged on, just giving you my opinion and I respect yours as well, have a nice day.
I'm sure it's great and all, but I tend to have insane problems with musicals. Nine out of ten times they give me nothing so I fear I'll be disappointed by this one as well.
TheHitherto listen to the soundtrack first, you'll see it's not your usual musical. These are real songs and there are only 5 songs the rest are musical pieces. This is the greatest soundtrack for a musical ever since Bjork's Dancing in the Dark
Thanks. That sounds very promising actually as Dancer in the Dark is one of my 2-3 favorite musicals. It's usually the songs themselves I take issue with as they rarely move me, but DitD solved that problem with Björk.
I haven't watched the movie yet, though. But I cannot stop listening to its soundtrack. Give it a listen, so you'll know. It's very jazzy. I cry at times, I wanna dance at other (sometimes during the same song). It's magnificent. Dancer in the Dark is a boring movie in its first half and the most touching movie ever in its ending and Bjork gave her all with both the soundtrack and her acting but I guess as a movie and as a soundtrack both are quite different.
Good but tedious at times.
Advanced publicity/awards did no favours, saw with others last night, all disappointed, expected more.
Any hope that someone like myself who is bored by every musical he's ever seen will enjoy this movie?
luckystriker yep. I'm not a musical guy at all (for example Blues Brothers I love.. And that's aboit it) but I loved La La Land
I absolutely loved the last five minutes or so, but everything else left me cold. The songs weren't catchy enough (except for the jazzy one), I didn't feel the chemistry the story was unoriginal and I wasn't impressed by the dancing or singing. Great directing, visually stunning and fun homages (and Emma Stone was fantastic, been a huge fan since Birdman), but it just lacked something. Technically flawless, but nothing under the surface. Whiplash blows this out of the water.
I think I'm the only person in the entire world who didn't enjoy this film, I was bored plotlessly bored, looking mostly at the exit light with envy. I slept a few times, and well basically ran out when it was finished. I'm just gonna say Marmite on this one. I've admired Kermode for so long, and still do but- what a disappointment....
Have Cineworld passes and go to cinema every week. Whiplash was good, La La land was only just OK but nothing special.
Seriously ?! 🤔
hahaha lovers live in lala land
I left feeling underwhelmed by this film. It was boring, pretentious, mediocre and forgettable.
Never fully commits to being a musical for me and seems to have missed opportunities to where song could tell or progress the story. When it is a musical, I found the few songs in it quite forgettable. Not to mention it vilifies characters that accept music evolves (even if their music is not the best or most realistic example of that.). Don't quite understand the amount of perfect scores it is getting, perhaps it will lap up and be forgotten in years to come like The Artist.
Is this a review or a trivia fest of the making of the film?
I actually disliked this film intensely. Most especially the beginning. It absolutely did not have any magic of the musicals. There was 4 minute slot with the scene in the club that was worth watching. I disagree with all the critics. What a waste of time that was. If you hate singing dialogue and that form of jazz that has no melody - give it a swerve.
If people think La La land is good then I'm guessing they never heard of Bollywood movies. Trust me they're 10x's better than this. People will actually talk about the actors and singers....not just the cinematics.
what kind of joke is this?
'Tacited... dour'... you mean masculine!
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Fantastic movie didn't like the ending.
I hope they have a alt ending, because the one they dreamed up was better than their reality.
THE BEGINNING OF THIS MOVIES WAS GOOD ............ I HATED THE REST OF IT
yisus craist...
ugh i really wanted kermode to dislike this
I saw it earlier this week, honestly I don't see the hype behind it, it bored me to death for over 2 hours
Mark White yep. I like the throwbacks to old Hollywood, but the two leads had as much chemistry as me and bad chilli. I've yet to see Gosling give a performance where he doesn't seem dimwitted or bored.
This film was awful I went to a packed screening and people looked bored. The singing was completely was average the dancing was bad and I know that they wanted to keep a sense of real but they is no accuse for people that cant really hold a tune. It just didn’t do anything for me and I don’t mind the its not a totally happy ending it ok. But as a musical it left me feeling flat
Nope! Sorry Mark, it was awful. Cliché, stale, kitschy...
La La had some high points . Ryans piano playing was exceptionally good. The rest is ordinary and boring.
Great eye popping set design and cinematography. Bad, totally forgettable music. Melodically and lyrically vacuous. Embarrassingly bad singing. Good acting.
But that 8 year age difference gap between the leads.
An 8 year age gap is pretty normal in real life, and Emma's 28 so she's hardly a kid.
8 is not much in real life, and in films, where 20+ year age gaps are not unknown, it's pretty unremarkable
Better to have that 8 year age gap than to have Miles Teller in the film instead of Gosling. He probably would've ruined the film.
I think they're decent actors but Miles Teller and Emma Watson would've been so much worse, it's hard to believe Chazelle was gonna do that at one point
Margott Robbie and Will Smith have 20 year age gap and they have been couple in movies
Tbh I hated it
This film is outrageously overrated! The only two redeemable parts of the movie is Ryan Gosling and the ending. The ending is somewhat sad, but it is not cliche. Ryan Gosling's character archetype felt new and exciting. Emma Stone is a terrible actress. Her terrible acting just made the great Ryan Gosling look 10 times better. People say this film is dazzling, but the choreography and the singing feels incredibly. It's almost like the director used lighting and a wide range of colors to make up for the fact Gosling and Stone have no acting chemistry between them. If you want to watch a great Gosling film, check out Place Beyond The Pines or Drive.
So Bad! One of the worst films ever made!x