La La Land : Freeway number added nothing to story
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It was very original for a opening scene and highly entertaining.
Also it was in fact a musical so there's that.
It really set the tone of the movie right from the beginning and lay the background of LA that is the movie.
You need much more than a story to make a great movie.
-It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything-
Also it was in fact a musical so there's that.
It really set the tone of the movie right from the beginning and lay the background of LA that is the movie.
You need much more than a story to make a great movie.
-It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything-
Re: Freeway number added nothing to story
Yup. All of this.
Poorly Lived and Poorly Died, Poorly Buried and No One Cried
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I agree. I saw it as a way to set up the story. Mia and Sebastian were just one of thousands who had dreams and ambitions that were too big for the small towns/suburbs in the flyover states they grew up in and made the decision to make the big risky trek to Hollywood for it to happen.
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Actually in an early cut it did start that way, eliminating the number altogether, with an overture before the coffee shop. But it looked flat.
Chazelle:
"You must not judge what I know by what I find words for." - Marilynne Robinson
Chazelle:
"(T)he traffic number kind of operates in a way as an overture. And it also felt like, 'Why are you introducing your characters here instead of here?' And all these things that now seem to be so obvious, but didn't seem obvious in the writing or the filming. As a result of that, in that early part of editing, the opening traffic number didn't feel that great. It felt like, it felt just, like what is this? I think because it wasn't the opening of the movie, it didn't feel like it served any purpose
So we cut it for a few months, probably, living with it gone completely from the movie, thinking it would probably always be gone from the movie. Once we realized, 'Ah, ok, here's a way that we can make it work,' we realized that the movie ultimately didn't work without it, because you need to announce that you're a musical off the bat Without it, every other musical number suddenly felt very different and very fake. Because you needed to kind of announce the full maximum potential of the 'musicalness' of the movie in order for the rest of the stuff to feel natural. So we put it back in, but completely rejigged how we got into it. And lopped off a bunch of stuff before it, and then suddenly, it worked."
"You must not judge what I know by what I find words for." - Marilynne Robinson
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Thematically it is relevant, because not only does it set the tone, but lyrically it shows that the town is full of dreamers whose dreams will largely go unfulfilled. Does the plot need it? No. But thematically it matters.
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Yep. That's what I got out of it.
And you said this better than I could. Thanks!
And you said this better than I could. Thanks!
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Big deal! "Hotel California" by the Eagles got the same point across, in seven minutes, forty years ago.
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And the opening number in La La Land did it in six. SO THERE.
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Yes it added a lot.
If you listen and understand the lyrics you'll come to realize how important they are to the overall story.
Someone in the crowd will be the one you need to know
IRoadA
If you listen and understand the lyrics you'll come to realize how important they are to the overall story.
Someone in the crowd will be the one you need to know
IRoadA
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I understand you might not be able to catch all the lyrics the first time but it does add something to the story if you listen carefully.
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Did not understand all the praise for this film. I thought it was just okay. Not too many musical numbers. I expected a "Bugsy Berkeley" type film. 4 stars.
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Why would it have to? Everything in a movie isn't about the story.
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The opening number did one thing: it screamed, "THIS IS A MUSICAL, AND A FAIRLY BLAND ONE AT THAT"
To that, it succeeded. My expectations were lowered tremendously because of the opening number, and I felt very comfortable with the 5/10 I gave this movie.
To that, it succeeded. My expectations were lowered tremendously because of the opening number, and I felt very comfortable with the 5/10 I gave this movie.
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I liked the opening sequence, then it fell flat for me. I gave it a 6, but I am starting to feel that may have been overreaching a little.
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I think there are many reasons why it's integral to the film.
But even if it wasn't, who cares? It was an awesome opening scene. So whimsical. The entire theater smiled when the title card flew at the screen.
There is another reason to fill your heart with hatred.
But even if it wasn't, who cares? It was an awesome opening scene. So whimsical. The entire theater smiled when the title card flew at the screen.
There is another reason to fill your heart with hatred.
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I loved the opening dance scene, but then by the end of the movie it felt totally out of place. They could have fixed this by having another big dance number with lots of extras in the 3rd act, but they took the romantic comedy route instead. The first half and the second half might as well be different movies.
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I agree with Damien the film needed to start with a musical number so that people don't go 'wait, THIS IS A MUSICAL?'. that being said, the particular opening number he wrote was irrelevant to the story. some things could have been rearranged and the musical number where the girls are getting ready to go to the party could have been the opening number.
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the particular opening number he wrote was irrelevant to the story
Are you aware of the lyrics to the song they sing?
The opening expresses a general condition, a theme, an overarching reality. It "sets the stage." The number with the girls' getting ready to go to the party refers to a specific context, introducing conditions in this particular character's life and her attitude.
"You must not judge what I know by what I find words for." - Marilynne Robinson
Are you aware of the lyrics to the song they sing?
The opening expresses a general condition, a theme, an overarching reality. It "sets the stage." The number with the girls' getting ready to go to the party refers to a specific context, introducing conditions in this particular character's life and her attitude.
"You must not judge what I know by what I find words for." - Marilynne Robinson
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I thought it was a great way to start. Looked amazing.
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Actually if you listen to the lyrics of the opening number it contains lyrics that are foreboding of the story that follows. It is perfect in both tone and tune
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If you're gonna start with a musical number it's better that it doesn't have too much to do with the narrative, because the viewer needs time to get familiar with a movie and its premise, so they wouldn't be able to enjoy the opening that much if they also had to keep up with the story at the same time.
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The opening sequence was important.
1. It's the spectacle of cinema on display here that establishes the overall whimsical tone.
2. This is where Sebastian and Mia cross paths for the first time, and they were both caught under their own practices that ultimately preceded into the rest of the film.
We catch Sebastian messing with his radio recording trying to figure the right tune of inspiration for his own music.
We catch Mia practicing her lines for the audition she tried out for a couple scenes later.
1. It's the spectacle of cinema on display here that establishes the overall whimsical tone.
2. This is where Sebastian and Mia cross paths for the first time, and they were both caught under their own practices that ultimately preceded into the rest of the film.
We catch Sebastian messing with his radio recording trying to figure the right tune of inspiration for his own music.
We catch Mia practicing her lines for the audition she tried out for a couple scenes later.
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Also, the opening sequence very similarly to the opening of Whiplash, is a scene that foretells the incoming relationship between the two main characters, based off a short and brief first interaction while they are both simultaneously caught amidst their own practices.
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All the songs added nothing to the story, which could all be deleted
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A film being hailed as a musical opens with a musical number. Seems fitting to me. I agree with a lot of the comments saying it set the tone for the film. I'm not a big fan of musicals but the opening number definitely put me in the right frame of mind to enjoy this magical experience. I loved it.
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The opening extravaganza was the best part of the film for me. I love musicals but I saw this before all the hype and had no idea what type of movie this was. All I knew was the actors dancing on the movie poster. But I, too, thought it went downhill slowly after that amazing opening. My 7/10 rating is probably one star too many.
"'Extremely High Voltage.' Well, I don't need safety gloves, because I'm Homer SimpsonzzzzZZZZ" - Frank Grimes
"'Extremely High Voltage.' Well, I don't need safety gloves, because I'm Homer SimpsonzzzzZZZZ" - Frank Grimes
Re: Freeway number added nothing to story
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What does "The Circle of Life" add to the "Lion King"? The next scene could have easily established that Mufasa is king and Simba is next in line for the throne. A movie like that wants to open with a big musical number. It's a big entrance. Builds up a lot of good will from the audience.
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I may be incorrect but I thought I read somewhere that Chazelle considered the opening number as an overture.
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It serves as an introduction to the film. It sets the tone for what's to come and immediately calls to mind classic musicals like West Side Story. Also, the part directly after the musical number introduces us to both the main characters, and serves as the first encounter between the two.
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Lyrically, the freeway song parallels the entire plot of the movie brilliantly. It's about people that are hoping to make it big in LA, but they know that they might be able to. Just like Mia and Sebastian.
The song's lyrics are very well written and foreshadow the entire film. Here's an excerpt from the final verses: "Climb these hills, I'm reaching for the heights and chasing all the lights that shine. And when they let you down, you'll get up off the ground. 'Cause morning rolls around and it's another day of sun! And when they let you down, the morning rolls around! It's another day of sun"
Translation: Chase your dreams, and if you don't make them, life goes on.
Just like how the film ends. It's quite poetic. Lovely film.
The song's lyrics are very well written and foreshadow the entire film. Here's an excerpt from the final verses: "Climb these hills, I'm reaching for the heights and chasing all the lights that shine. And when they let you down, you'll get up off the ground. 'Cause morning rolls around and it's another day of sun! And when they let you down, the morning rolls around! It's another day of sun"
Translation: Chase your dreams, and if you don't make them, life goes on.
Just like how the film ends. It's quite poetic. Lovely film.
Re: Freeway number added nothing to story
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I might just skip watching it again and just get the soundtrack.
"'Extremely High Voltage.' Well, I don't need safety gloves, because I'm Homer Simpsonznznzxzxzx" - Frank Grimes
"'Extremely High Voltage.' Well, I don't need safety gloves, because I'm Homer Simpsonznznzxzxzx" - Frank Grimes
Freeway number added nothing to story