(c) 2017 Summit Entertainment, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
"La La Land" Sweet love, bitter reality, choices and choices - the ephemeral "Wanderings of a Dream Chaser"
2020.04.13
``Sadness'' that defies the ``established theory'' of musical movies
This ``smug'' perspective was also carried through in Stone and Gosling's singing, dancing, and playing. Gosling apparently took lessons two hours a day, six days a week to instill the reality of playing the role of a pianist into his body, but on the other hand, when it came to singing and dancing, it was important not to be perfect. That's what it means.
In Stone's words, "Mia and Seb are just people they're aiming for." The production, which dares to incorporate immaturity, which can be considered a drawback for a musical film, not only gives the two characters a sense of The Truth, but also eliminates kindness toward the audience, which means ostracizing others.
In a sense, works like `` The Greatest Showman ,'' which are highly showcased and highly entertaining, are works that are conscious of the ``other,'' the audience. However, in "La La Land", by setting a vector in which only the actor's body is seen by himself, the element of "they are not yet 'real'" is strengthened, and at the same time, "they are still not chosen" It must not happen.'' It stirs up a longing.
“La La Land” (c) 2017 Summit Entertainment, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
In other words, by purposely lowering the level of performance, we are trying to dissipate the feeling that we are ``deserved to be chosen.'' The awareness of the ``real'' seen here also plays a major role in the ``difference between dreams and reality,'' which will be discussed next.
What role do the "singing and dancing" scenes in musical movies play? In ``La La Land,'' musical scenes are clearly defined as dreams or delusions, and from the opening scene onwards, the musical scenes never stray from this category. And the buildup of all this is all at once bursting forth in the final scene of ``the future that could have been''.
The opening song, “ Another Day of Sun ,” takes a downer scene of a highway jammed in the sweltering heat and turns it into something bright and fun with “everyone singing and dancing.” When the song ends, everyone returns to the red strangers and gets back into the car. The reality in which they live remains unchanged. A gradation from a fairy-tale-like "dream" to an inexorable "reality." The "truth" revealed in the first few minutes brings a bitterness to the entire work. In this work, the musical scenes have no influence on reality.
“La La Land” (c) 2017 Summit Entertainment, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
The romantic floating scene between Mia and Seb that takes place at the Griffith Observatory also has a twist that would be impossible in reality, making it even more fictional. What's interesting about this scene is that it conveys the Arrival that "love makes reality seem like a dream." However, as the opening scene shows the conflicting relationship between dreams and reality, love also becomes an ``obstacle'' to one's goals. By portraying the love story in a ``musical'' style, the way the two conflict with the reality in which they live seems to express director Chazelle's intention that ``it has to be one or the other.''
In many movies, musical scenes represent emotional peaks or positive escapes from reality, but in this film, they don't do that. However, I wouldn't say it's "bad" either. I entrust the choice to them based on the well-thought-out position that ``it is the individual's freedom to choose either.''
Only those who cut out sweet temptations can succeed as artists. However, it is up to you to decide whether it is happiness or not. Although others hold the key, it is up to you to define it. What a cruel answer! But that is The Truth of ``living in the arts.'' And, enveloping all dream chasers, LA continues to shine tonight. Where there is light, there is shadow. In this city, both the footprints of successful people and the remains of unfulfilled dreams lie dormant.
Will ``La La Land'', which depicts Mia and Seb's story ``5 years later'', have a happy ending or a bad one? The truth surely lies within ourselves.
Text: SYO
Born in 1987. After The Graduate from Tokyo Gakugei University, he worked at a film magazine editorial production site and a film information site before becoming a film writer/editor. Works on a wide range of topics including interviews, reviews, columns, event appearances, and recommendation comments. Contributed to ``CINEMORE'', ``FRIDAY Digital'', ``Fan's Voice'', ``Eiga.com'', ``Cinema Cafe'', ``BRUTUS'', ``DVD & Video Distribution'', etc. Twitter「 syocinema 」
"La La Land"
Blu-ray/DVD on sale & rental now/digital distribution now available
Publisher: Gaga/Distributor: Pony Canyon
(c) 2017 Summit Entertainment, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Photo credit: EW0001: Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) and Mia (Emma Stone) in LA
LA LAND.Photo courtesy of Lionsgate.