Best not get carried away

Rating: 4/10 (1 February 2017)

The excitement that comes from news of a new movie in the pipeline, in production or about to be released is palpable. It has you searching for as much info as possible. The cast line up can make you smile or say 'Oooh, interesting.' Then the blue ribbon festivals announce the premiere of said new movie and you can't wait for the reviews, the reactions, YouTube snippets of the stars being interviewed on the red carpet. All in all, you are a magnet to the hype and your own wishful thinking that the said movie is going to be great.
'La La Land' could not be classed as a great movie and just about sits on the fence for being a good movie. Was I disappointed given the leads were Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone who had a blistering chemistry in 'Crazy, Stupid Love' and that the director was Damien Chazelle. There was an instant 'Snap, Crackle and Pop' to direct Damien Chazelle's feature debut WHIPLASH. Yet there is none of the 'snap, crackle and pop' to 'La La Land' just as there was no chemistry or joie de vivre in watching Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone.
I am a fan of movies be they dramas, comedies, musicals, etc. There is no snobbery. A great story grabs me and anchors me firmly to the seat and my romanticism endears me to the cast of a movie with a great story. Am I watching the same "la la land' as many out there and not getting it ? I think so. Part of me is dismayed that 'La La Land' and all associated with it are sailing on the 'sea of Hype' where the conditions are just perfect. One can also comment that the 'love' for 'La La Land' does have something to do with the current state of affairs here in the States and across the Ocean in Europe. That said 'La La Land' is a miss with much of the non-English speaking movie audiences. Where 'The Artist' was charismatic and a joy to watch, 'La La Land' misses the mark on so many levels. Just as we invest ourselves in the need for good news and feeling good by supporting our favourite sports teams, similarly it is the same need that has the 'La La land' hype alive; that need for being amazed, being excited, being wooed, being content.
I know there is no need for me to go into a synopsis of the story as the plot summary is there for all to read and plenty of people have had conversations about the film between themselves. There is no doubting the sumptuous cinematography, production design and art direction but that's about it when it comes to being worthy of so many nods and nominations. Chazelle fails to deliver in the writing and direction as the story drags and at many points whimpers.
As a romantic movie, 'La La land' fails to deliver the cinematic honesty, belief and likability in the characters of Sebastian and Mia especially when they connect. Maybe the movie needed input from the likes of writer Nicholas Sparks to give the romance and romantic leads much needed oomph. The capacity of dialogue when sung to carry you away and invest yourself in the characters is never met by the singing of Gosling and Stone. I don't think it has anything to do with the songs of the movie as they don't blow your socks off and neither do they have you humming or wanting to buy the CD when you leave the movie theatre.
The movie is certainly a throw back to musicals of old where the likes of Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds sizzled on the screen with their dancing, singing and songs. Lets not forget the wonderfully choreographed dance numbers of these classic musicals. Yes, a lot of these musicals hired ghost singers to sing for the stars and it could have certainly helped 'La La Land'. The lack-luster romance and musicality of 'La La Land' does make it slow and you almost wish you had a remote to fast forward. It is only the last five to ten minutes of the movie, before end credits, where the movie's bitter sweet ending grabs your interest. Overall, 'La La Land' lacks the originality, direction, performances and gravitas of it's musical predecessors