La La Land ‘Maybe I’m not good enough’ Sequence Analysis

La La Land ‘Maybe I’m not good enough’ Sequence Analysis: Film Form

Cinematography:

Shift between Mia and Set over the shoulder shot
- Eye level with camera- we are with them and can relate more
- Mia is framed central in the shot whereas Seb is angled in the corner
- Sympathise with Mia as she shows her vulnerability but we are aligned with Seb’s passion and motivation
Mia and Seb Initially framed within a box- isolating and a depart from the open spaces of LA
Shifts to wide angled shot of Mia and Seb
- Iludes to mid-section of film when they are happy
- Suggests they still have a connection
Long shots into mid shots of Mia and Seb
- Being reconnected
- Separation and distance being put back together
Neutral/ non-colourful lighting – streetlights
- Mia retreating into the shadows to her home and quite life

Mise En Scene:

Suburban housing – Mia’s family home on the corner of the street/ wide sidewalks
- Iconic imagery of American middle class- David Lynch Americana inspired
Seb’s watch- importance of time and nostalgia
- Expensive and luxurious- mainstream high-paying job
Colour being brought back- green coffee cup/ red sports car
- Hollywood slowly taking over again/ influenced by LA
Seb’s V6 sports car- anchors his hyper masculinity

Sound:

Car horn- first thing we hear/ Banging of the car- aggressive and annoying
Quietness of Mia’s neighbourhood- quiet suburban life contrast to Busy LA
Mia and Seb’s theme- connecting the two characters again
‘Ive got coffee’
- Symbolic of American culture/ work ethic
- Distancing herself from her old job foreshadowing her future success
- Getting her ambition back
- Buying coffee instead of making it- we see her buy it in the ending sequence

Editing:

Cross fade between day and night- binary opposites
- Duality of two people and times being connected again
Action/ reaction shots
- Camera fixes on Mia after her monologue
- Long take- lingers on Mia’s vulnerability and keeps her as the subject- emphasis her importance and what makes her human

Performance/ Character representation:

Mia
- Hysterical
- Vulnerable
- Doubtful of herself/own talents- repeats dialogue
- Passive/submissive/autonomy? – Seb tells her to go to the audition but it is her choice