Week 28 ISP: ‘La La Land’ Initial Impression
Firstly my overall initial impression after watching La La Land was how much of a brilliant, amazingly directed and thought through film this was! In my opinion, even though it was a musical and you were expecting the characters to break out into song and dance at any moment, the dialogue and performance felt so real and emotional, really making the film even more that realistic and engaging. The dialogue for me was one of the best parts, the script being superbly written to seem raw and more than anything… natural! One aspect in of this film I though was excellent was the use of cinematography. Specifically the use of motivated studio lighting to create drimatic effect, for example when Seb is playing the piano in the bar and the film uses a spotlight to focus the audiences entire attention on him, making for such a powerful and stand-out moment. Another part of La La Land which I absolutely loved was the use of colours within the sets and the costumes- the bold colourful and vibrant colours added to the upbeat and feel-good atmosphere, I believe helping to build upon the characters internal and external feelings and motivations. Also the use of the sets contributed to this mood, using both studio sets and location sets, making the audience constantly feel immersed and invested in what they are watching. Yes, it was clearly based around Mia and Seb’s romance, however I also noticed many other themes running throughout the film, including significant ideologies around society, work ethics and family values. To me La La Land painted a semi-realistic version of Hollywood, showing the characters having to work hard over and over again to achieve what they want rather than it just being handed to them easily, involving their own sacrifice and effort. Lastly, one of the most powerful moments for me as a spectator was the flashback scene in the ending sequence as Mia considers what her life would have been like if she’d done things differently- in my opinion this was full of emotion and carted a mixed mood not only of sadness and regret but also reassured happiness. I thoroughly enjoyed watching La La Land!
Emma Coe Film Studies 