How Good Are La La Land's Musical Numbers?

[@Moviewise]

By the way, I did make that video on mirrors! kzbin.info/www/bejne/nGrNlJxmaL6kgM0si=X4RSK3gytArFl0n0

[@thatoneguy871]

7:34 Never criticises if there isn't a movie that does the same thing correctly. This guy knows his stuff.

[@Moviewise]

There’s always a great movie to save the day

[@MrKKmusic]

The opening number was almost cut before release (yes, after it was filmed and edited) so you’re in good company

[@placidandy]

Fascinating to watch the dancing without sound, I'd never thought of that. In the Fred/Cyd number there is no moment where either of them isn't in very precise motion, but when you see the comparative dance in La La Land you can see Ryan Gosling awkwardly waiting for the cue of "his next bit" of the dance to come.

[@chrisianlewis]

In what world does this video have 1k views. This is informative, hilarious, brilliantly edited and zips along. And that final clip broke me 😂 brilliant

[@michaelz9892]

I thought I was the only one who thought the opening number was a mess.

[@alcedob.5850]

About 'A Lovely Night', I think it is awkward on purpose, it's awkwardness is narratively justified

[@JenGretaCart]

It still leaves us watching a long bad dance though

[@leobrook4018]

That was the fastest I subscribed !!! And thanks for bashing those dance numbers. I was waiting for someone to do it

[@Moviewise]

Welcome on board!

[@Fantumh]

Love the use of the scene from The Long Goodbye. Oh, and what a great video. These videos have really made me look at films differently and to understand what I liked in different shots before my eyes were opened by Movewise.

[@neilcruickshank8578]

I love your videos, the best combination of insight and humor for film crit I've found yet, but in Emma Stone's defense, Cyd is also wearing dance shoes in that scene with Fred from The Bandwagon.

[@bearcb]

Not to mention Cyd was a classically trained dancer

[@roberto987]

How have only 17k subs is beyond me. This channel is gold!

[@neleknut2379]

What a wonderful channel and the most important thing is that it makes me want to watch so many of the movies that are analyzed.

[@Souker69]

the problem with la la land is basically the problem of every Chazelle movie: too much "noise" to cover the lack of substance.

[@ilghiz]

You say watching a dance without music is a good way to assess its quality. Here's another tip: a good movie looks good on a small screen. If it's bad on your laptop, then it's probably not worth seeing it in the cinema. And a tip from a photographer: if you want to make a good portrait in terms of posture, think of the silhouette. If it looks good then the rest must be good too. So many revelations in one day 😮

[@floydffrogfloydffrog7453]

I _am_ a wonderfully inquisitive seeker of cinematic knowledge, thank you for noticing. You're not bad yourself.

[@johnbrill7909]

"Since you took the time to pause the video, how about liking and subscribing, you wonderfully inquisitive seeker or cinematic knowledge?" First, that is baller. I approve. Second, I think the "or" should have been an "of". It's okay. I publish a magazine and there winds up being typos in every issue. Only someone pedantic like me would stop the video and find it anyway. Again, this is baller and I approve. :)

[@glenn.6202]

always with the thorough insight and the well-placed joke (that dancing lady was awful🤣 You actually explained why I kinda dislike this movie (except Someone in the crowd and the ending) Now, bring out THE GREATEST SHOWMAN appreciation video NEXT!

[@AScreenwritersJourney]

9:21 You got me with this. I subscribed.

[@LukeRanieri]

9:22 and pause! Wonderful note, amazing video. 🎥

[@Moviewise]

The result of thinking of counterexamples but figuring the video was long enough haha Thanks again, Luke!

[@michaelstadnikfilm]

The crazy frog montage is just comedic gold 😂. The music and the highway setting make it clear: crazy frog was the inspiration!

[@anawilding9802]

But wow, yeah. You nailed it, you are so so right that's what was off with that freeway dance. I never noticed it but honestly it feels like a relief now that I do. And oh wow, yeah. If you remove the music, the dancing still gotta look good. That's the litmus test my bud. You seriously have such amazing awareness and vision for these things. Such a gift. #yulbrynner #soletitbewrittensoletitbedone

[@jamess.7811]

weird tags

[@oliverdelica2289]

That's a cold line from Ten Commandments

[@billywalkerjr.9753]

Throughout most of my life, movies had been a significant, reliable diversion, each one offering a glimpse into lives that were not my own. Years ago, I had to accept that I am no longer the target demographic for the art form. I miss them. I miss the me that enjoyed the privilege of exquisitely crafted entertainment. Thank you for providing clarity (laced judiciously with humor) into exactly why I had to seek escapism elsewhere.

[@marksnow7569]

Praising both LLL's use of widescreen and Gene Kelly's dancing highlights a fundamental problem: widescreen is great for traffic jams, but old-fashioned aspect ratios like Academy are much better for people on their feet.

[@WMCheerman]

Great work, your making me a better movie watcher

[@retroguyst8132]

Starting to think that damien chazelle was a one hit wonder....

[@shorpilakarshimanto224]

Well, I saw the first traffic dance number & left thinking the rest of the movie might be the same , chaotic

[@ilghiz]

5:56 I wish I hadn't deleted my party videos. I could have won an Oscar!

[@JenGretaCart]

Finally someone else who realizes this dancing is strictly amateur. I have choreographed things like this for my local drama club full of non dancers. And that’s fine, we’re there to have fun. This movie felt like a cheat aimed at people who were born too late to see Oklahoma

[@lanolinlight]

You seriously need to do one on the work of Busby Berkeley.

[@goatpie882]

West Side Story (2021)! :) I liked Lala Land before I watched all the classical Hollywood musicals, I’m still obsessed with the score but I find the movie unwatchable now

[@KingfisherTalkingPictures]

I think your review is a bit of a mixed bag. I ABSOLUTELY agree that they should have hired a pair of real singers and dancers. But Hollywood demands stars, so we end up with crap like Into the Woods and Cats. Stone and Gosling are not bad actors, and all props for the work he put into the piano, but they are NOT Musical stars. I also agree that he swung for the fences, and I think so much works. I think the third act retelling is brilliant. And yeah, the palm tree stinks. But I disagree strongly about the opening number. LA is filled with so much chaos, and each person acts like, and demands other see them, as a star. This chaos is vibrant and horrible and exciting, and I think he captured it. When the freeways move it is chaos. When the freeways stop, it is chaos. I can't imagine something as locked and precise as Brigadoon capturing the stupid vivacity that is Los Angeles. As a filmmaker I have to deal with that city too much, and I hate it, but it is the COAT of the west coast. Rant done. I'm loving your channel, liking your sense of humor, and learning a bunch. Thank you

[@watchedbyadrien]

exactly my thoughts. also, Stone and Gosling are clearly not dancers, but they are perfect in their respective roles, their chemistry is out of this world, and that's what matters most. there's a certain charm to their amateurish dancing...

[@bearcb]

Stone is not a bad actor, Gosling is awful!

[@dogdrovenorth]

0:16 Yes! Put it in separate bags and mail it to random locations around the world.

[@pninnabokov3734]

And that giant chemtrail "X" above the bedlam was the cherry on top.

[@64ccd]

So, this is me commenting a year later. I so get what the great Mr. Moviewise is saying here, but I don't agree for once, and sincerely this is the first time I do disagree with him. I generally don't like musicals and I love this movie exactly for the reasons he dislikes these scenes (with the exception of the palm tree shot - that's just bad). I like the chaos of the opener BECAUSE it feels like the camera is struggling to keep up, making the whole thing seem more improvised, and I like how held back they are at the final scene being mentioned, because it again makes it feel like it's spur of the moment. The way they dance in that scene makes it seem like a situation I might theoretically find myself in, the scene from The Bandwagon feels too perfect to me and it takes me out of the story. The only older musical I've seen where it works is Singing In The Rain, because of the character's backgrounds as performers. Neither Emma nor Ryan are supposed to be dancers, so to me you sacrifice fantastical choreography for a more cohesive story. I do, by the way, believe that they dance more impressively at the observatory, where we're clearly in their dream world, which then makes sense. Given how expertly shot the scene in Stone's apartment is I'm thinking that Chazelle acts like a jazz player, breaking the rules at the exact point in the song where he can get away with it.

[@KunalBansalCreation]

Another day of sun is supposed to shine a light on a mundane frustration of getting stuck in the traffic. Seeing color, dance, and laughter in the mundane chaos. Although the most of what you said is valid for a regular musical number, but since Another day of sun is meant tor represent Beauty in chaos, the choices work as the means.

[@JohnPickup]

The thing is, the music is technically deficient to at least the same degree as the visuals. It's big band music written by someone who has no clue how to write, orchestrate, record or program big band music.

[@louford1952]

I love it. Don’t forget to make a video on mirrors

[@Moviewise]

Done! kzbin.info/www/bejne/nGrNlJxmaL6kgM0si=S_xhJn2IHYAgDCii

[@LJCulshawFilms]

I especially dislike that opening scene because they closed that freeway interchange during my morning commute. I hate that I was two hours late for work for that.

[@johnnzboy]

Don't forget to make a whole video about mirrors one day!

[@Moviewise]

Done! ;) Check The Camera and the Mirror, A Love Story

[@johnnzboy]

@@Moviewise You're a man of your word.

[@OmriRose]

Up next... Joker: Folie à Deux... Will be interesting to see how Todd Philips approaches the musical. Definitely don't make the triple threat actors like they used to though. One of my favorite movie musicals outside the golden era is White Knights - not quite a proper musical, but damn does it have some fantastic choreography.

[@philipebbrell2793]

Dance With Me is a classic musical but it is a Japanese musical! Mixing reality with what the dancer is thinking. It is superb.

[@alcedob.5850]

When I first tried to watch La-la-land I was so unimpressed by the opening scene I dropped the movie and only later gave it another chance. Now one of my favorites. Still don't understand why is there that first scene though

[@ДарьяФирсова-л5к]

I don't agree with you here. I respect your search for perfection, I have an OCD too, but here perfection was not the point. Another Day of Sun is just some random people dancing in traffic. Them doing it even somehow good is already a territory of magic realism. Have they done it perfectly as in some Broadway show, it would be totally weird. It is not that kind of movie. This scene was chaotic on purpose, cause traffic IS chaotic. It sets the mood. Also it's a freaking oner, I'd respect any director who dares to shoot a 3min oner. Also I don't know why you compare Wonderful Night with some scene from The Bandwagon. The characters of The Bandwagon are professional musicle artists. The characters of La-la-land are just some random awkward guy and girl. They are supposed to dance imperfectly.

[@IlieTornes]

Ok, I see your point about them dancing imperfectly as a character trait, but (in my opinion) that should not be the case. The fact that they’re dancing in the first place is completely unrealistic, and musical numbers in musicals (usually) are assumed to be a representation of the character’s feelings. Why would they be dancing imperfectly there, if their feelings are being developed? And I also have to ask, why would someone do that in the first place? If you are doing a musical, shouldn’t at least the singing and dancing be good so the audience gets a better enjoyment of the story? At the end of the day musicals are never going to be realistic, because the fact that these people are singing and dancing in the first place is unrealistic.

[@sleepyguy5060]

Can you do a direction breakdown on the movie City of God...

[@andresmurillo388]

This is a reminder to make a video on mirrors some day

[@Moviewise]

Done! kzbin.info/www/bejne/nGrNlJxmaL6kgM0si=X4RSK3gytArFl0n0

[@lesterfalcon1350]

Sonoya Mizuno is always my COAT especially if she's dancing.

[@Kitty-CatDaddy]

9:22 Done and Done

[@imaginnova]

Bro your content is fire but the one thing I would humbly ask is possibly lowering the volume on your ever-present bell sound effect. Listening with headphones is admittedly obnoxious because the soaring tone of that furrgin sound effect just dwarfs the rest of the soundscape. Sorry--I'm trying to critique this issue like you do all them movies. Please help me out with this

[@BlackWinterProduction]

I am pretty sure one of the inspirations behind La-La-Land's "starry night" ending dance was the scene from "Lovely to Look At" (1952). Watching Marge and Gower Champion dance to "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" just left me breathless, so beautiful the original is! (and featuring my favourite dance costume of all time) Just watch this and compare: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pau5lKGVqsp-j80

[@todesque]

Fully agree with everything said in this video. La La Land does so many things right ... and yet so many things wrong. I love it, but usually skip most of the dance numbers.

[@swaroop_pany]

The opening sequence was underwhelming for me for one simple reason. I'm from India and Indian musical numbers are extravagant. This for instance kzbin.info/www/bejne/nWiQk3uta9V0isk plays extremely well with the concept of COAT. Great video

[@artistsingerwriterproducer8288]

Great film

[@watchedbyadrien]

in LaLaLand's defense, the opening sequence represents LA traffic. it's supposed to be chaotic. it's supposed to be the opposite of Minelli. also, Stone and Gosling are clearly not dancers, but they are perfect in their respective roles, their chemistry is out of this world, and that's what matters most. there's a certain charm to their amateurish dancing... I'm binge watching all of your videos right now. LOVE em!

[@pjetrs]

completely agree. I really dislike all kinds of musical movies, but this one just does something for me. These two really sold the story and especially the ending montage was beautiful.

[@ulissessaffar3510]

La la land has a great plot, it should never have been a musical lol

[@matibraun2025]

You mean "seeker *of* cinematic knowledge?" Forgive me for being demanding...

[@LordBaktor]

They dance like they are "soooo over" the movies they are emulating. There's always a bit of lazy irony in their moves. Post-modern attitudes seeping into what was supposed to be a callback to a bygone era.

[@truefilm6991]

Hated the opening dance number as well. Not only lame dancing and camera work, but everyone is in the shadow.

[@SS-ec2tu]

It really is not fair to compare Astaire and Kelly to this.

[@kieranodea2804]

wow

[@tobilobaojuroye9024]

Here's your reminder for a video on MIRRORS

[@Moviewise]

Here you go! kzbin.info/www/bejne/nGrNlJxmaL6kgM0si=pQD72js0SMfO9CXh

[@ConradSpoke]

I never want to hear the typewriter. I never want to see the camera. With La La Land I never stopped thinking about the utter incompetence of the choreography, and that the director was doing it on purpose. "Look, it's regular people being spontaneous!" It was especially galling to see brief glimpses of competence, which must have been Second Unit stuff with the low paid Assistant Choreographer. The Who Will Buy number in Oliver! is also a great world building number. Thank you for so clearly elucidating my hatred of this "film."

[@marcrob5]

Only you to show us the limitations of a young boy in directing a film. It's not possible for a guy to be good at everything he does.

[@patrickgamble9014]

Dance massacre I think is more of an issue of not using a wide enough lens - I’ve never seen the movie but it looks like crap

[@ronaldsantosjapan]

12:36 Palm trees mean Los Angeles. That's why the actors point to one. YEAH, it's an ugly shot. BUT they can mean a lot to Hollywood and L.A. folks. Here is a formulae for an Oscar nomination. Make a movie about the movie industry that flatters the industry. L.A. is were all the successful folks in the industry struggled to survive in. Play on the nostalgia for the place of their salad days, and you will be an Oscar contender.

[@steampunkster2023]

It's not just the choreography, the modern clothes doesn't create any flowing movement. Sigh! Fashion today like Ryan's pants don't drape like Astaire's who is wearing something like an English drape suit, that and Charisse's skirt flows like banners and curtains made of silk. Marvelous! Lalaland clothes, are so form fitting and starched, it does NOT help with the choreography.

[@fantasticnisopta]

So everything they shot in the studio was good but as soon as they go outside they become amateurs.

[@DimageSapelkin]

The whole movie is mediocre at best. The plot is linear and goes nowhere. Dances are the least of this movie's problems

[@GregJamesMusic]

RE: "Another Day of Sun" - you know it's amateurish when a high school senior was able to recreate it in a parking lot. I'd even go so far as to say his camerawork was better overall - for example, there's always a clear COAT (usually him), and he cleverly uses whip pans to hide cuts. And all this for a none-too-serious "prom-posal" for Emma Stone. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGjNZqqGrLWDfZo

[@_Johnny_BRAV0]

I realize why it was not a good experience watching lalaland.. Bravo bro

[@horaciomillan4181]

I would like you to analize Babylon, wich I think it’s even worse. A very, very, very bad movie. I mean I hated it so much. And it was long, very long. And everything in it was obvious. And for anyone who loves and knows just a little about movies, there was absolutely nothing new. Did I say I hate it?

[@cineverse2644]

In defense of the film I have to say these things (Good essay btw, you raise many good points). 1. The entire theme & impression of this film is a form of pseudo-realism. Not so fantastical like the classic musicals of back in the day, but no so realistic where it can’t be categorized as a musical. Hence, Gosling & Stone’s dancing and singing not being to a Broadway level. They’re meant to play real, modern-day contemporary people with flaws & SENSIBILITIES that folks today can relate to 2. Thanks for pointing out how bad the framing is in the 1st number, because you’re right...BUTTTTTT I feel the frenetic chaos of the cinematography leads the audience to feel a sense of suspense when it comes to frame harmony & alignment. The audience is already OVERLY used to well-done framing that the minute we see something that is not framed as well, our subconscious wants our Brains & eyes to settle on something that is framed correctly so once we are given that we can relax...the big that this does ultimately is keep our attention and keeps the audience waiting for the camera to give us something to settle. 3. The tree COAT is terrible...I really don’t have a defense for that other than it’s a weird/sloppy transition...but they could have put some lights in the tree or something.

[@Moviewise]

Thanks for the comment! Indeed, a moving camera is great for adding suspense. I can't say I think it fits a musical number, but it's certainly powerful in thrillers or scenes with more serious tones. Hitchcock is definitely the best teacher.

[@uriahkabemba5798]

@@Moviewise not suspense in the genre sense, just a feeling of unease for the viewer on an instinctual side from how we typical view moving images

[@Amenphoto]

The first time I saw the opening number (freeway) of “LA LA Land,” it poisoned me for the entire film. First and foremost, it was the terrible lighting, high contrast, deep shadows. I presumed that it was primarily a matter of economics, that is, producers had to pay to use a large section of an LA freeway, probably still under construction, but with a cast of hundreds (cars and people), get the permitting, etc., and that was without considering the bad dancing and camera work, as described here. It struck me as amateurish and I didn’t watch the rest of the film til at least a year later.

[@askarsfan2011]

I'm confused. The dancers opening the movie are not supposed to look like professional dancers. They are just ordinary people. And creating chaos is the point here. Did this scene really need Broadway level choreography? Who even noticed this besides you?

[@samp.8099]

Who watches musicals for realism?

[@N_Loco_Parenthesis]

Thank you for mopping my brow with the truth. This film stinks.

[@matthewalvarado8243]

I feel so validated. 😂

[@bearcb]

The opening scene was one of two things I liked in this movie, and now you ruined it for me 😆

[@LittlePhizDorrit]

This film was 'member berries for film geeks. But it was awful. Truthfully, I walked away from this and I couldn't remember a single song, the character's names, and nor did I care about the story. The plot had no tension and there was nothing driving it forward except....something about making it in Hollywood equals breaking up(?). And yes, the choreography was awful. I was actually giggling at it in the theater. I love old dance films starring Gene Kelley or Fred Astair, and I have nothing but respect for those films. This was not even in the same GALAXY as that level of quality of dance choreography.

[@renasanz]

I won't be able to enjoy Lalaland agan :(