This post contains no spoilers… I’m not that kind of girl.
It was a chilly Saturday afternoon in January with nothing better to do than go to the cinema.
My idea of heaven!
Seriously, I often miss my film student days with the nostalgic lament of a woman who spent hours upon hours, days upon days, with nothing more to do than watch movies and write about them.
*Le sigh*
I don’t get to the cinema as much as I would like to and, despite genuinely writing my academic dissertation on Superhero Movies as a genre study, I could not be less interested in the constant onslaught of noisy movies about every comic book property the studios can drag out and mash up. I’m bored, I’m confident I’ve seen the best, and I’m too old and grumpy for the noise and destruction of it all.
Something about La La Land enticed me out to the multiplex…
Let’s be honest; everything about this was screaming CHARLOTTE, YOU WILL LOVE THIS MOVIE at me.
It did not lie and it was not wrong.
Sit me down somewhere chic with a glass of wine and I will happily discuss with you the essay that could be written about the use of lighting in this film or the parallels with Casablanca that make me smile throughout, but you’ll need to go see the movie first. I am not going to spoil it for you; I am going to sell it to you.
From the trailer, you have probably gathered that the film is a modern homage to the great MGM musicals. If you love Singing In The Rain, there is every chance that you will enjoy this film, with its Technicolor palette, song and dance routines, and excellent soundtrack. It made me think of Woody Allen’s Everyone Says I Love You more than once, which is not a bad thing.
But what if you don’t like MGM musicals? What if nothing about this post so far is floating your boat? I would argue that this movie is everything that you need at this moment in time. It is genuine escapism, beauty, and art for two hours. If I had my way, everyone would be given a free ticket to see this movie this week.
“Here’s to the ones who dream, foolish as they may seem.”
I have had quite enough of reality; I’ll have none of it. Reality is about to get far too real for me as a reality TV star takes high office. Urgh. Reality TV really is the lowest form of art. Again, I’m bored with it.
I want to be inspired, enchanted, the hairs on the back of my neck pricking and my eyes misting up. I want colour, music, dancing, all playing in my mind as I walk down the street. I want to dream.
True story: the most popular film shown in British cinemas during World War II was Gone With The Wind.
“As God is my witness, they’re not going to lick me.
I’m going to live through this and when it’s all over, I’ll never be hungry again.”
Inspiring stuff, non? It played throughout the war, as countless saw the film again and again, walking home through blackouts and rubble, humming Tara’s Theme.
So I would love to bake a cake for writer and director Damien Chazelle, cast, crew, everyone from the studio heads to the runners who made this film as a reminder to us all to dream. Here’s a big slice of Technicolor Key Lime Pie because we love you, the artistic ‘elite’ of America. Keep on making great art.
Stay arty. Stay classy. Stay gorgeous!
Cxx
