By Tiffany Ong, Year 12
(Mild Spoilers Ahead)
I’m glad that it was on the first day of its release that I got to see “La La Land”, with no one else’s opinions crowding my head, and no expectations whatsoever. Immediately, I was swept away into this magical technicolor Old Hollywood world where dreamers can fall in love and where life’s little moments are defined through song and dance—except, of course, the setting was really modern-day Los Angeles, and like any true relationship, it isn’t always blissful romance for Mia and Seb, the film’s protagonists. But for me, each of the movie’s elements—the striking color schemes, the sweeping single-take camera shots, and the wistful piano melodies that accompany each scene—play together so beautifully to make “La La Land” a true piece of cinematic art. And the verdict seems to be shared by many critics and moviegoers alike, given the record-tying 14 total Oscar nominations it’s received and the sheer number of song covers that it’s managed to generate online. Moving and surreal but not without its sobering moments, it could leave you both in tears but also with that secret, bouncing urge to find the nearest lamppost to dance by.
However, awards buzz and stunning visuals aside, for a lighthearted tale, “La La Land” seems to be generating a more important impact than most people realize. In a rapidly evolving film scene, today’s big-budget franchises have replaced the screen musicals of 50 years ago (“The Sound of Music”, “West Side Story”) at the forefront of mainstream audience interest. But “La La Land” is the unanticipated success story of the year: even as an entirely original musical that only makes a few references here and there to the classics, it’s accomplished the rare feat of capturing the hearts of not only the critics, but also audiences, having grossed over $300M worldwide. And film studios are taking note, with upcoming musical adaptations (“Beauty and the Beast”, “Wicked”) as well as originals (like an upcoming “Mary Poppins” sequel) now garnering greater interest. “La La Land” might just be the film to usher in the comeback of the live-action musical.
But it also has its detractors. Amid all the hype, some went into theaters expecting to be blown away, but left mildly disappointed by a seemingly typical romantic plotline. Others just found it too draggy, or were unimpressed by Emma Stone’s shaky voice or Ryan Gosling’s perpetually stoic countenance. Some have even accused it of being racist, of being an homage to jazz that does not so much as allude to the genre’s African-American roots. And many critics are also tempered in their praises for “La La Land”. Though they’ll concede that it’s a beautiful movie, it might just be too lighthearted and lacking in depth, especially given the current times, when more socially relevant and universally powerful stories (like “Moonlight”) deserve the world’s attention—which, admittedly, is a sentiment I don’t disagree with.
Yet at the same time, perhaps alongside the profound, gripping, and somber narratives, it’s the earnest dream-like tales that we need now more than ever. It’s not just that movies can serve as an escape from the issues plaguing the world (whether it’s the turbulent political climate or the seemingly perpetual social injustices taking place), it’s that they can also inspire our real lives. I suppose if you watch “La La Land” as someone who’s ever sacrificed a lot to pursue a passion, or as someone who’s ever been in love, what you’re left with is that sense of hope—that although dreams come with a cost, they can, indeed, come true—and that even though life is messy and will never play out like the idealized versions we’ve so carefully crafted in our heads, it’s the spontaneity of it all that makes it a fun ride. So that’s what “La La Land” hopefully gives us: just a bit of inspiration to the ones who still dream.
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