La La Land [Blu-ray + DVD + Digital HD]

I admittedly came into this film with low expectaions, prepared to suspend the vivid memories of musicals that have moved me; or the great exponents of the American popular song (Sarah, Ella, Billie, Sinatra); or the most soulful improvisers in jazz (Coltrane, Louis, Mobley, Bill Evans, Wyn Kelly). It was a tall order, trying to forget about Chaplin ("City Lights," "Modern Times"), Fred and Ginger ("Swing Time"),; Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron or Debbie Reynolds). "American in Paris" is my personal all-time fav, though I concede that "Singin' in the Rain" reigns as the greatest of all screen musicals. Compared with any of the foregoing examples, I expected "La La Land" to be bright and gauzy, purely escapist "fluff"--and in one sense, it is. Anyone who believes that a struggling, mediocre jazz pianist (it takes one--i.e., this writer--to know one) would end up with his own jazz club ("Seb's Place"), which is unbelievably large and filled--is living in a dream world which this movie, in its best moments, "evokes" but does not lie about. Outdoor jazz festivals have long since replaced jazz clubs as the only lucrative venues for jazz artists--though the public's notion that there are still musicians who can "make a living" by playing jazz remains, in the 2nd decade of the 21st century, a myth of gigantic, even dangerous, proportions. (Successful jazz musicians secure MacArthur grants, guest professorships, UNESCO projects, conservatory teaching gigs, etc.--from which they can pick and choose when and where they play "out.") The opportunities for actors let alone "song and dance" performers are almost as remote, especially when proportionality is factored in (there are only so many musicals for a seemingly infinite number of contestants). But despite its improbabilites, this movie won me over, for some of the following key reasons: 1. The two photographs in Seb's (Ryan Gosling's) pad are of John Coltrane and Bill Evans (I wonder what percentage of viewers recognized them). These two figures, I always felt, are the two most important, seminal musicians in the second half of jazz history. (The essential figures in the first half are more numerous: Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington,Count Basie, Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young, Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie.) But those two photographs--in combination with Seb's dismissal of the music of Kenny G (not jazz) and his learning from records (LP's, which is how my college friends and I learned how to play the music)--that was enough "realism" to bring a degree of seriousness to the story of Seb and Mia (Emma Stone). Additionally, there are numerous references to jazz as a dying art and as an old story that belongs in the previous century. In the face of such sad but undeniably true testimony, Seb's refusal to write the music's obituary ("Not on my watch!" he says) strikes us as believable. (I know quite a few musicians who believe as Seb.) 2. When Mia (Emma Stone) fails to show on time for Seb's offer of a date at the movies, she becomes distraught and runs to the movie theater (where Seb is conveniently seated, alone, closest to the screen). Emma walks unto the stage and, in effect, becomes part of the movie that Seb is watching. It's one of those magic moments in which the viewer suspends disbelief, a captive to Orson Welle's definition of the movies as "a ribbon of dreams." We realize we're watching a movie about movies--which is exactly the privileged position that "Singin' in the Rain" ( a movie about the evolution and essence of the movies) affords the viewer (admittedly, with greater, more enduring satisfaction). 3. The critical dance number in which we're allowed to see the connection between the two dreamers even before they themselves realize it is definitely not wasted in "La La Land." It occurs outside, above a parking lot overlooking Los Angeles' lights at night. True, it's not Astaire or Kelly (though it would be hard to fault either Gosling or Stone as singers--since their celebrated forebears were not especially notable for their singing voices). The scene manages to be at once spell-binding and compelling, thanks to the lighting, the mis en scene and, above all. a cooperative camera that refuses to relinquish its job to some editor. In a shot that is breath-taking in its duration (not a single cut!), the space is preserved between the pair, thanks to the third member of the dance team, which is necessarily the cooperative camera. 4. Seb's "submission" to John Legend's offer to play in his "futuristic" band (an electrified fusion-disco ensemble), was totally believable and familiar to this viewer. Watching Gosling standing up while holding down, with a single hand, the keys of a small electric piano (Keith Jarrett long ago dismissed all electrics as "toys"), I could only imagine how I looked as a week-end "keyboard player" doing the same (I went through four Fender Rhodes keyboards--one stolen from the band van--and that was before the Yamaha DX7 and digital keyboards replaced most analog keyboards). So there's some believability about a musical that's set AFTER the age of jazz and the American musical (the source of most of the "jazz standards" comprising the "Great American Songbook"). Moreover, the aforementioned moments of realism come after the awakening number on the crowded Los Angeles freeway--four lanes of congested traffic all headed in the same direction! But instead of honking their horns during a major snarl-up, the occupants of each car escape from their mobile prison boxes and, like a rapidly spreading wildfire, burst out in song and dance! What a way to open a musical! Perhaps not in its most "classic" form but at least close enough to "Saturday Night Fever" and "Grease" to arrest and hold our attention. The love story is as simple as they come--with one difference. Boy and girl don't end up with each other (except in their imaginations). Here the movie has an opportunity to score points about the invidious threat of the "American Dream Factory," which attracts, then chews up and spits out 99% of the aspirants who allow themselves to become bewitched in the gauzy fantasy of "La La Land." Instead it allows us to fantasize that Seb and Mia are forced, merely, to settle on a consolation prize. They don't end up with each other, but each makes a choice that's close enough to their original dreams. As a result, they're finally left with some semblance of the over-taught and over-read Robert Frost poem, "The Road Not Taken" (Oh, how things might have been different. Oh, if only life didn't offer us such choices. Maybe we should seek citizenship in N. Korea.) Give the director points for using, in place of digital cameras, genuine film. (It works in subconscious ways to make the viewer a privileged member of a 1950s audience.) And Emma Stone for her compelling performance (those eyes! that mature voice!). The talent of her character is absolutely convincing because we hear it and see it in each of her scenes. The talent of Ryan Gosling (who is said to have taken a year or two of piano lessons prior to filming) is less apparent. Although he's insistent about his purist dedication to creative, acoustic jazz, we hear no more than a minute or two of authentic jazz throughout the entire course of the movie--and it's not from his plano playing. (The anemic "love theme" that he reprises in the movie's final scene is the playing of an amateur--and, so for that matter, are the other songs in the film. I know few musicians who would not believe that, given the assignment, they could do the same.) Maybe that's the point--to enable today's viewer to "relate"--even to instrumental music. Hearing Art Tatum or Oscar Peterson would drive people away. The playing of Ryan Gosling and the songs in the score have the opposite effect. Maybe each of us should write a musical and seek the 30 million dolars to film it. (All the same, there's a song sung by Sarah Vaughan--"Words Can't Describe"--that offers a sublime melody with a perfectly fitted set of lyrics. Moreover, it's included on an album--"Swingin' Easy"--that lists the song as "Public Domain." That alone could be inspiration for a musical with at least one show-stopping, unforgettable song (along with a big savings in time and money spent on permissions and royalties). I had no trouble whatsoever when Warren Beatty announced "La La Land" as the best picture of 2016. But when, moments later, the announcement was voided and "Moonlight" was declared the rightful winner, I was equally good with the Academy's pick.

"La La Land" is a cinematic masterpiece that swept me off my feet from the very beginning. This modern musical is a love letter to Hollywood and the dreams it inspires, beautifully captured through stunning cinematography and mesmerizing musical sequences. The chemistry between Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone is electric, and their performances are nothing short of brilliant. Their characters' love story unfolds with grace and authenticity, making you truly care about their journey. The film's soundtrack is a memorable highlight, featuring catchy tunes that stay with you long after the credits roll. The musical numbers are impeccably choreographed and shot, adding a unique and enchanting dimension to the storytelling. While "La La Land" is a celebration of dreams and love, it doesn't shy away from portraying the bittersweet realities of pursuing one's passions. It's a beautifully balanced tale of ambition and sacrifice. In conclusion, "La La Land" is a cinematic gem that captivates with its storytelling, performances, and visual splendor. It's a timeless love story that speaks to the dreamer in all of us, and it's a must-see for anyone who appreciates the magic of cinema.

Absolute magic! Loved it!!

This movie is good, but it was even better the second time I watched it. So much talent!

Great movie

LA LA LAND is delightfully sweet and charming. Whether you live in Los Angeles or not and have struggled to follow your dream, you'll relate to LA LA LAND. I am not a fan of musicals so I didn't see the film in the theaters. Most of my friends loved it and a few were not impressed so I waited for the video release. I admit that I fast forwarded through most of the song and dance scene. It was the love story between Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) and Mia (Emma Stone) that hooked me on LA LA LAND as well as their earnest struggle to make it big in the land of broken dreams. Gosling is not a singer but we can forgive him and give him an A for effort. There is a dynamic chemistry between Gosling and Stone. We feel for their characters and want them to succeed in love and career. Stone has that pretty and wholesome girl-next-door look that simply makes a view melt. Gosling is the same way - handsome in a boy-next-door way. LA LA LAND is clearly an homage to Los Angeles as it takes us to several Los Angeles locations that residents and visitors will quickly recognize. There are so many sweet interactions between Mia and Sebastian. Hands touch and sparks fly. Their love story is simply wonderful. As life is full of struggles, we know Mia's journey as an actress and Sebastian's dream of opening a jazz club and being a jazz musician may be overshadowed by the need to have a "real" job and steady income. Most of us following a dream in Los Angeles can relate. As I said, I am not a fan of musicals but LA LA LAND is able to combine drama and romance and music. The music and dance scenes fit the story. The photography is warm and lovely and I imagine the film looked wonderful on the big screen. Mia and Sebastian's dreams become the viewers' dreams too. The ending lets you decide how their story continues and will leave you will a smile in your heart.

La La Land can be best described as the surprise of the year; a completely original film musical amidst the crowd of CGI action and sci-fi fare that tends to have more bankable "pull." The story is simple; Mia (Emma Stone) a young, struggling Hollywood actress falls in love with Sebastian (Ryan Gosling), a young, struggling jazz pianist as they both weigh their relationship amidst their respective hopes and dreams. In typical musical fashion, the film is punctuated by show-stopping numbers, elaborate dance sequences, with arresting production design and cinematography to spare. The Blu-ray features a bright and colorful 2.55:1 true Cinemascope picture. I can only imagine what this must look like in 4K, but the 1080p picture still looked fantastic on my 4K screen. As with almost every modern film these days, detail and color quality were pristine. The picture gets it's best mileage during "Someone In The Crowd" when Mia and her friends are dancing in the street wearing bright-colored dresses, and the Griffith Observatory sequence. The sound is Dolby Atmos, and is appropriately bombastic for a musical of this caliber. From the opening sequence with the traffic horns filling in the rear channels to the nuance of every instrument, shoe-tap against the floor, or even background noise; everything comes through clear and tangible. Dialogue is also clear and intelligible. For a standard release, there is a healthy amount of extras that accompanies the disc. We get an audio commentary with writer/director Damien Chazelle and composer Justin Hurwitz. Over an hour of featurettes covering various aspects of production; my favorite being the highway sequence, which really makes you appreciate the amount of effort that went into shooting that scene. Damien and Justin Sing: The Demos are two rough demos of "What a Waste of a Lovely Night" and "City of Stars" by Chazelle and Hurwitz set to behind the scenes footage. Their voices are tolerable, but it's nice to hear what these songs were in their early form. There's a Marketing Gallery featuring three trailers and an interactive poster gallery, and a song selection which allows access to the film's individual song/dance numbers. Lastly, we get a DVD with the above features minus the featurettes and an UV digital copy. I enjoyed La La Land immensely; it's an easy recommendation if you enjoy musicals, either film or stage.

"Here's to the ones who dream/Foolish, as they may seem/Here's to the hearts that ache/ Here's to the mess we make." This song - "Fools Who Dream" - sung beautifully by Emma Stone as Mia Dolan during her career defining audition, pretty much sums up the plot for the romantic drama at the heart of the film. It is a touching story that somehow you wish will end another way but you realize and accept that it won't. But getting past the drama, this is one of those movie musicals - a throwback to the classics - that are produced so rarely in the modern era. And this is an outstanding musical that will compare favorably to such classics as "Singing in the Rain", "South Pacific", "Carousel", "Oklahoma" and others. Both Emma Stone as Mia Dolan, the aspiring actress/singer/dancer; and Ryan Gosling as Sebastian Wilder, the aspiring Jazz musician she falls in love with, deliver outstanding, award-caliber performances. Gosling is no Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly on the dance floor and his singing voice is not the best; but not all male stars of the classic musicals could sing well either - Rex Harrison in "My Fair Lady" is a case in point. Stone, however, excels as both a singer and a dancer, who would have been a worthy partner for either Astaire or Kelly. I already knew she was a gifted actress, who I've loved since seeing her in "The Help"; now I know she's also a gifted singer and dancer. If you're like I am and you love well made movie musicals and the magic and nostalgic feeling they give you when you watch them, you will love this film. I'm hoping its success will encourage the production of more like it!

Sadly it wasn't abundantly clear that this DVD is printed in Spanish. Considering the cost it arrived as a great disappointment as it was intended as part of a Christmas gift. They wouldn't accept the return, despite their claim, without me paying for shipping - given it came from Spain this was not cost effective.

En esta película vemos cómo dos personas hechas el uno para el otro desarrollan una relación romántica, donde ambos se impulsan a lograr sus metas, en compañía de un soundtrack fuera de este mundo. La sorpresa llega con el final. Cuando la película muestra sus verdaderos colores y el espectador cae en cuenta que está viendo una película de terror. APLAUSOS! Porque encontrar el amor, conocer a una persona, embarazarse, crecer en tu carrera, y lograr fama mundial mientras estás mebarazada y olvidar en menos de 5 años es completamente imposible Felices 10 años Alpraland!

La La Land is a hymn to LA and the golden years of Hollywood. The lush cinematography paints it in soft pastel hues, a fantasy city like the 1930's Paris of Rene Clair, in which a young girl can walk home alone at night unmolested, through a Montmartre magically transported to Trump's America. It's in Cinemascope, and needs to be seen in the cinema, as I did a few days ago. There was a palpable frisson of excitement when the curtains parted to reveal the wide screen, and the audience was rapt from that moment on. The film is Emma Stone's triumph. She is wonderful as Mia, the aspiring actress, whose story this is, and like Ginger Rogers before her she rightly won the Best Actress Oscar. That said, it should be noted that La La Land has more plot and less dance than the Astaire and Rogers classics, where the story is the flimsiest of vehicles to carry the viewer from one musical number to the next. La La Land, on the other hand, is a genuinely moving drama with musical interludes. I seem to remember that Ginger Rogers won her Oscar not for any of those great dance classics but for a drama, Kitty Foyle. Like her, Emma Stone is a wonderful actress who can also dance a bit. Her co-star, Ryan Gosling, performs his role of faithful foil adequately enough, but his destiny is to be outshone. Ignore the carpers and see this film. I promise that you will be utterly enchanted..

Un dvd che tutti gli amanti del cinema devono avere! Film stupendo. Per chi ha dei pregiudizi visto che si tratta di un musical il consiglio è di superare tali limiti mentali. In realtà non è il classico musical cantato da persone gioiose che cantano e ballano per tutto il tempo ma semplicemente ogni tanto c'è qualche canzone, per il resto è recitato. Inoltre le canzoni sono bellissime e non potrete non innamorarvene, anzi vi resteranno impresse a distanza di mesi. La trama del film è molto interessante, il film è egregiamente interpretato, vedrete una bellissima fotografia per tutto il film e bellissimi costumi. Consiglio di comprare quest'edizione del DVD perchè ne vale molto la pena avere anche il CD con le colonne sonore.

Eine Liebeserklärung an die Magie des Kinos "La La Land" ist ein bezaubernder Film, der die Herzen der Zuschauer im Sturm erobert. Mit seiner mitreißenden Musik, beeindruckenden Choreografie und einer romantischen Geschichte entführt er uns in die Welt des klassischen Hollywood-Musicals. Der Film erzählt die Geschichte von Mia (Emma Stone), einer aufstrebenden Schauspielerin, und Sebastian (Ryan Gosling), einem leidenschaftlichen Jazzmusiker, die sich in Los Angeles treffen und ineinander verlieben. Ihre Beziehung wird jedoch auf die Probe gestellt, als ihre Karrieren Fahrt aufnehmen und sie sich zwischen ihren Träumen und ihrer Liebe entscheiden müssen. "La La Land" ist eine Hommage an die goldenen Zeiten des Kinos und gleichzeitig ein modernes Meisterwerk. Die mitreißende Musik, die mitreißenden Tanzeinlagen und die fesselnde Chemie zwischen Stone und Gosling machen diesen Film zu einem wahren Genuss. Mit seiner charmanten Darstellung von Liebe, Leidenschaft und dem Streben nach Träumen ist "La La Land" ein Film, der die Zuschauer verzaubert und lange in Erinnerung bleibt. Eine klare Kaufempfehlung für alle, die sich von der Magie des Kinos verzaubern lassen möchten.