Just 'Okay'

Rating: 6/10 (21 May 2017)

Honestly, despite the critics I wasn't blown away. I can see why the critics loved it so much, though. It's a heavy handed love-letter to Hollywood musicals and Hollywood history and life. It feels like a film made for L.A. critics rather than the audience. If you take away the musical and directorial elements, the love story is so clichéd (yes, even the 'bittersweet' ending has become a cliché nowadays, when you want to be seen as being different and going against the 'Hollywood ending' and 'embracing gritty, real life')
The worst bit wasn't the ending, however. That could be forgiven. the worst bit was the contrived "Oh, yes, he's too busy with work to see her one-woman play, which spells the end" That was the low point of the movie for me. It was a cringe-worthy plot contrivance that's been done a million times, and usually not in so heavy handed a way. Damien Chazelle seems capable of writing the 'happier' bits well enough, because he can fall back on his love of cheerful/colourful musicals, but the more dramatic elements felt like he relied on the stereotypes and heavy handed symbolism. Oooh, their relationship fails in 'The Fall'? Just when they've had an argument, the smoke alarm goes off, because he's forgotten the meal cooking in the oven, that comes out all burnt and over- done?
The songs also feel a little forced, but it makes sense when you watch the making-of, and realise that the music was written first, and other people were brought in to quite literally force lyrics into the music, rather than both being created at the same time. This is a flimsy, cliché-ridden story written to join dance routines and music together.
Other than that, it's fun enough and a bit different (if only stylistically). I'll admit I did love some of the filming, and was very impressed by some of the direction. After watching the making-of, and seeing the passion and enthusiasm that went into it, and how someone got to make their dream project, I really wanted to like the movie more. In fact, I actually admire the Hollywood producers who wanted to back something that was a passion- project, rather than something designed purely with the box-office in mind. Unfortunately it all ends up a bit mediocre, unless you're a critic who wants to praise it simply for being a love-letter to the superior Hollywood musicals that inspired it. This is for musical lovers, what Jupiter Ascending is for action movie lovers. Great visuals and design, some amazing direction, some good actors get roped in, and... That's about it. You come away neither disappointed nor elated.