LA LA LAND: Hollywood In Love

Posted on February 12, 2017

Emma Stone (Mia) & Ryan Gosling (Seb); Watch LA LA LAND in Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall, Resort’s World Manila, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Venice Piazza Mall and Eastwood City Mall.

For those who love me

Written by

Jude Bautista

Mia (Emma Stone) stopped Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) in his tracks with what she said next. Mia: We might as well get this out of the way–I hate jazz… You ok? He immediately takes her to a smoky jazz club. Seb: It’s just that when people say they hate jazz they don’t have context. They don’t know where it comes from. Jazz was born in a little flophouse in New Orleans. People were crammed in there spoke five different languages. The only way they could communicate was with jazz.

LA LA LAND broke the record for most Golden Globes win with 7 awards. Watch LA LA LAND in Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall, Resort’s World Manila, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Venice Piazza Mall and Eastwood City Mall.

Mia: But what about Kenny G? What about elevator music? You know jazz music that I know? Seb: What about it? Mia: I find it relaxing. Seb: It’s not relaxing. It’s not. It’s not. Sidney Bechet shot somebody because he was told he played a wrong note. It’s hardly relaxing. Mia: In where I grew up there’s this station called KJAZZ 103. People just put on that station when they had a cocktail party. And everyone would just talk over it.

Watch LA LA LAND in Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall, Resort’s World Manila, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Venice Piazza Mall and Eastwood City Mall.

Seb: I know I think that’s part of the problem. You have to hear it. You have to see what’s at stake. Look at the sax player he just hijacked the song. He’s in his own trip. Every one of these guys they’re composing they’re rearranging. They’re writing and playing the melody. Now look the trumpet player he has his own idea. It’s conflict and its compromise. Its new every time. It’s brand new every night. It’s very, very exciting. And it’s dying. It’s dying Mia. And the world says let it die. It had its time. Not on my watch.

Emma Stone (Mia) & Ryan Gosling (Seb); Watch LA LA LAND in Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall, Resort’s World Manila, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Venice Piazza Mall and Eastwood City Mall.

Mia and Seb at first glance aren’t remarkable people. What they do have in common is that they live for their dreams. It’s almost impossible not to fall in love with them when you see their eyes light up talking about their passions.

Emma Stone (Mia); Watch LA LA LAND in Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall, Resort’s World Manila, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Venice Piazza Mall and Eastwood City Mall.

Mia is obsessed with old Hollywood. She sleeps under the gaze of Ingrid Bergman whose image is the size of her bedroom wall. Her love for movies inspired her to become an actress. Meanwhile she’s a barista at the Warner Brothers lot, which has a lot of film history.

Ryan Gosling (Seb) trained for 3 months to play the piano. Watch LA LA LAND in Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall, Resort’s World Manila, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Venice Piazza Mall and Eastwood City Mall.

Sebastian or Seb for short is an extremely talented musician but is having a hard time making ends meet. He finds difficulty in compromising his art and passion for jazz. There’s a huge gap between what he wants to do and the music that he’s paid to play in his gigs.

Emma Stone (Mia) & Ryan Gosling (Seb); the Rialto Theater was one of many historical landmarks they shot in. Watch LA LA LAND in Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall, Resort’s World Manila, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Venice Piazza Mall and Eastwood City Mall.

Hollywood isn’t just about fame and fortune, although it doesn’t hurt having them. LA LA LAND shows that Hollywood is still about having a dream and going after it against all odds. Theirs is the struggle of thousands of Angelenos, dreamers searching for that big break. That’s why the story is so inspiring and entertaining in the most classical sense. They made old Hollywood come alive and relevant in a magical way. They harkened to a time when musicals were king and was considered the best way to tell the story. Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Gene Kelly and the recently passed Debbie Reynolds would be proud of the song and dance work in LALALAND.

Hollywood legends Gene Kelly and the recently passed Debbie Reynolds would be proud of the song and dance work in LA LA LAND. Watch LA LA LAND in Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall, Resort’s World Manila, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Venice Piazza Mall and Eastwood City Mall.

Featurette- homage to Musicals – filmaker’s own words

Millennials who are not able to relate with Hollywood’s glory days are given a lyrical and eloquent introduction. Hopefully they’re infected with the same passion that Mia grew up with and was inspired by. After all movies like CASABLANCA, BRINGING UP BABY and REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE are now just a YouTube click away.

BRINGING UP BABY & CASABLANCA are among Mia’s favorite movies. Watch LA LA LAND in Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall, Resort’s World Manila, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Venice Piazza Mall and Eastwood City Mall.

Emma Stone (Mia) & Ryan Gosling (Seb); Watch LA LA LAND in Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall, Resort’s World Manila, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Venice Piazza Mall and Eastwood City Mall.

Vocals and Choreography

It’s hard not to fall in love with Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling. They have that combination of adorable and sexy as a couple. Their previous rom com CRAZY STUPID LOVE with Steve Carrell and Julianne Moore was a hilarious hit. They were also a pair for period film GANGSTER SQUAD. Gosling though, could be seen more as the top romantic lead after THE NOTEBOOK with Rachel McAdams.

John Legend (Keith); Watch LA LA LAND in Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall, Resort’s World Manila, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Venice Piazza Mall and Eastwood City Mall.

Their vocals weren’t spectacular but were definitely moving. Neither of them may not necessarily be the next Luciano Pavarotti nor even to the level of co-star and executive producer John Legend. But both of them sang with such sincerity that audiences can’t help but be drawn to their performances. There’s the longing in CITY OF STARS by Gosling and heartfelt AUDITION (The Fools Who Dream) by Emma Stone. Of course John Legend had his stellar START A FIRE performed in a huge concert scene.

START A FIRE performed by John Legend

Where Gosling truly shines is his newly acquired skill on the piano. He trained for 3 months and called it “his most fulfilling pre-production experience”. John Legend (known for his piano playing) in turn also had to learn the electric guitar as Keith.

Ryan and Emma also excelled in the dance portions with choreography that paid homage to the sequences from SINGING IN THE RAIN and other classics. The sequence in A LOVELY NIGHT where it was just Mia & Seb during sunset was memorable although not as complex as the others.

A LOVELY NIGHT

Mandy Moore Cameo?

There was some confusion when Writer Director Damien Chazelle credited Mandy Moore as choreographer during his Best Director acceptance speech at the Golden Globes. It turns out that their choreographer Mandy Moore is the (exact) namesake of the pop star. Mandy, the actress/singer, is currently starring in the TV show THIS IS US. She also had a concert here in EASTWOOD CITY MALL (Quezon City, Philippines) last 2008. Her hits include: I WANNA BE WITH YOU, CRY and performed the official soundtrack I SEE THE LIGHT for Disney’s TANGLED.

Choreographer Mandy Moore (left) was mistaken for her namesake during a speech for Pop star and actress Mandy Moore (right). Watch LA LA LAND in Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall, Resort’s World Manila, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Venice Piazza Mall and Eastwood City Mall.

The choreographer / professional dancer Mandy Moore is no slouch having worked on SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, AMERICAN HUSTLE, JOY and TV shows SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE and DANCING WITH THE STARS. She is one of many creative people like composer/ film scorer Justin Hurwitz, lyricists Benj Pasek, Justin Paul and cinematographer Linus Sandgren who have made LALALAND the award winning film that it is. Screenwriter and director Damien Chazelle also wrote the lyrics for the song IT HAPPENED AT DAWN.

Writer Director Damien Chazelle has already earned several Best Director nods: Golden Globes, Director’s Guild and is nominated for an Oscar. Watch LA LA LAND in Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall, Resort’s World Manila, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Venice Piazza Mall and Eastwood City Mall.

Awards

Almost throughout the movie Mia goes from one dehumanizing audition after another. Although the story celebrates the history and glory of Hollywood, it also sheds light on some the negative aspects. The challenge of the audition is something that all performers go through. Lili Tomlin during her acceptance speech for Screen Actors Guild -Lifetime Achievement, said she’d accept any part as long as she didn’t have to audition. That same night Emma Stone won for Best Actress; it was one of several for her and Ryan Gosling.

Watch LA LA LAND in Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall, Resort’s World Manila, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Venice Piazza Mall and Eastwood City Mall.

LA LA LAND is one of the favorites in the upcoming Oscars after earning 14 nominations. They’ve nearly swept every major category in the GOLDEN GLOBES: Best Picture Musical or Comedy, Best Actor – Ryan Gosling, Best Actress – Emma Stone, Best Director / Best Screenplay Damien Chazelle, Best Original Song – Justin Hurwitz, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul and Best Musical Score- Justin Hurwitz. The number of trophies from International and U.S. based awards are too many to mention such as the Director’s Guild of America etc. listed here.

Golden Globes winners from right: Prod. Designer Justin Hurwitz, Writer Director Damien Chazelle, Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling. Watch LA LA LAND in Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall, Resort’s World Manila, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Venice Piazza Mall and Eastwood City Mall.

Emma Stone (Mia) passed by screen legends on mural. Watch LA LA LAND in Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall, Resort’s World Manila, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Venice Piazza Mall and Eastwood City Mall.

Film History & L.A. Landmarks

In one of the early scenes, her friends in a late night party abandon Mia and she has to make her way home by herself. She passes by a mural and the camera reveals the faces of screen legends albeit in a humorous way: Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin, child star Shirley Temple sits on the lap of W.C. Fields (who reportedly hated children). The wall Mia passes is a real location: YOU ARE THE STAR MURAL on 1648 Wilcox Ave and Hollywood Boulevard. Artist Thomas Suriya completed it in 1983 and was restored by the Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles in 1995.

Production designer Dave Wasco encapsulated the emphasis on location and history when he said, “It was an opportunity to do a movie about a place we deeply loved”. Dave along with wife Sandy Reynolds-Wasco has already won Best Production Design for LA LA LAND from the Art Director’s Guild, Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards, Florida Film Critics Circle Awards and Georgia Film Critics Association along with a nomination in the Oscars and BAFTA.

Prod Designers David Wasco and Sandy Reynolds-Wasco have earned several awards. Watch LA LA LAND in Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall, Resort’s World Manila, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Venice Piazza Mall and Eastwood City Mall.

There are so many ways that Chazelle honors the past, the places that Mia & Seb visit around L.A. are landmarks that have been made famous by the movies. There’s the Griffith Observatory (REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE, THE TERMINATOR, TRANSFORMERS), The Light House Café where they shot the jazz club scene is near Hermosa Beach and was made famous by Miles Davis. Check out the list with photos of film locations made by Conde Nast Traveller here.

Emma Stone (Mia) & Ryan Gosling (Seb); the Griffith Observatory interiors were recreated on set. Watch LA LA LAND in Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall, Resort’s World Manila, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Venice Piazza Mall and Eastwood City Mall.

After more than a century of filmmaking, Hollywood is still a city of dreamers that can still make you fall in love. As Mia sings in Audition (The Fools Who Dream)–

“A bit of madness is key

To give us new colors to see

Who knows where it will lead us?

And that’s why they need us”

So bring on the rebels

The ripples from pebbles

The painters, and poets, and plays

And here’s to the fools who dream

Crazy as they may seem

Here’s to the hearts that break

Here’s to the mess we make

AUDITION (The Fools Who Dream)

Cara Mia, Amoré, Deep Kiss, Delicate, Beloved, Warmth, Sweet Angel.

WordPress:

http://judebsports.wordpress.com/ , http://judebfood.wordpress.com/ , http://judebphoto.wordpress.com/ , http://judebgallery.wordpress.com/ , /

from left: Choreographer Mandy Moore paid homage to the steps made famous by Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds in SINGING IN THE RAIN. Watch LA LA LAND in Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall, Resort’s World Manila, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Venice Piazza Mall and Eastwood City Mall.

tumblr:

http://judebautista.tumblr.com/

(Left) Ryan and Emma leave their mark at Hollywood Walk of Fame. (Right) Single LP cover for LA LA LAND Soundtrack. Watch LA LA LAND in Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall, Resort’s World Manila, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Venice Piazza Mall and Eastwood City Mall.

Emma Stone (Mia) & Ryan Gosling (Seb); Watch LA LA LAND in Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall, Resort’s World Manila, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Venice Piazza Mall and Eastwood City Mall.

flickr:

John Legend (Keith); Watch LA LA LAND in Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall, Resort’s World Manila, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Venice Piazza Mall and Eastwood City Mall.

Emma Stone (Mia) & Ryan Gosling (Seb)on the Colorado Street Bridge in Pasadena California, one of the many landmarks they shot in. Watch LA LA LAND in Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall, Resort’s World Manila, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Venice Piazza Mall and Eastwood City Mall.

http://judebautista.tumblr.com/

Watch LA LA LAND in Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall, Resort’s World Manila, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Venice Piazza Mall and Eastwood City Mall.

Ryan Gosling (Seb) is pissed off playing for 80s retro band. Watch LA LA LAND in Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall, Resort’s World Manila, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Venice Piazza Mall and Eastwood City Mall.

WordPress:

http://judebsports.wordpress.com/ , http://judebfood.wordpress.com/ , http://judebphoto.wordpress.com/ , http://judebgallery.wordpress.com/ , /

from left: John Legend (Keith) and Ryan Gosling (Seb). Watch LA LA LAND in Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall, Resort’s World Manila, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Venice Piazza Mall and Eastwood City Mall.

Emma Stone (Mia); Watch LA LA LAND in Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall, Resort’s World Manila, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Venice Piazza Mall and Eastwood City Mall.

WordPress:

http://judebsports.wordpress.com/ , http://judebfood.wordpress.com/ , http://judebphoto.wordpress.com/ , http://judebgallery.wordpress.com/ , /

Emma Stone (Mia) & Ryan Gosling (Seb); Watch LA LA LAND in Shang Cineplex, Shang Rila Plaza Mall, Resort’s World Manila, Lucky Chinatown Mall, Venice Piazza Mall and Eastwood City Mall.

WordPress:

http://judebsports.wordpress.com/ , http://judebfood.wordpress.com/ , http://judebphoto.wordpress.com/ , http://judebgallery.wordpress.com/ , /