tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post7282528169270734113..comments2024-03-18T19:41:40.545-06:00Comments on Michael Offutt: La La Land was a good movie but it's narcissism really bugged me a lot.Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-80598054308690820002017-04-14T16:32:28.282-06:002017-04-14T16:32:28.282-06:00I recently watched LaLaLand and came away unimpres...I recently watched LaLaLand and came away unimpressed. The concept was interesting but the whole thing felt bloated and overimportant while both leads were overshadowed by the extras. I'm a big Emma Stone fan but as I watched it I kept asking myself if her performance really was Oscar worthy.<br /><br />The answer to my frustration dawned on me about halfway through the show. Movies are no longer the place to go for the best video content. Television passed them recently because networks discovered it can be profitable to tell a complete story. As a result, I think I saw a half dozen performances by female leads on TV that were better than Emma Stone last year. I bet I watched at least ten TV shows that were better than La La Land. <br /><br />Hollywood is really struggling to figure out how to entertain people right now and last summer showed that old tricks like sequels and comic book movies aren't enough to boost profits. The only thing that surprises me in hindsight is Hollywood didn't give La La Land Best Picture as its self indulgence is a perfect metaphor for the movie industry right now.Kevin Longhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01092721842140433268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-8546563053134322532017-04-13T22:14:40.960-06:002017-04-13T22:14:40.960-06:00You made a couple excellent points, Mike, about th...You made a couple excellent points, Mike, about the dangerous pipe dream we're given in our society: you can be anything you want. No, you cannot. And following a dream you can't attain can be a dangerous waste of your life.<br /><br />The only book I know of that addresses this idea is Somerset Maugham's Of Human Bondage. I read it years ago, and still recall how deeply unsettled I was when the protagonist's fellow art student in Paris realized she would never be good at what she loved and so killed herself. Only then did the protagonist (as I recall) realized he too had been wasting his life and returned home, only to become involved in a disastrous relationship.<br /><br />Sometimes we American really can be too optimistic and starry-eyed, and Hollywood hasn't helped.Helenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14967821142796562697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-37943635296840089152017-04-12T18:54:52.731-06:002017-04-12T18:54:52.731-06:00I haven't seen this. Only heard good things ab...I haven't seen this. Only heard good things about it. It sounds like I probably would have been disappointed. Liz A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16531953467834426316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-31421987420647861552017-04-12T10:08:59.921-06:002017-04-12T10:08:59.921-06:00Have not seen this film but have heard the narciss...Have not seen this film but have heard the narcissism accusation before. I do have a can do attitude but it's not naive to the point that I think I can do just about anything. People think reality ruins things but the truth is anything can ruin you if you let it.Sheena-kay Grahamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17712661419116636671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-67100437636323528902017-04-12T09:09:30.944-06:002017-04-12T09:09:30.944-06:00I can't recall disliking a movie as much as I ...I can't recall disliking a movie as much as I disliked this one. The actors couldn't sing or dance very well, and the plot was not interesting. I do enjoy good musicals like Funny Girl, Cabaret, My Fair Lady, but this movie didn't compare.stephen Hayeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17659054447637207734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-74550238103773832102017-04-12T07:25:34.461-06:002017-04-12T07:25:34.461-06:00You should check my review of La La Land.You should check my review of La La Land.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-31016140562977347312017-04-12T07:17:57.641-06:002017-04-12T07:17:57.641-06:00My daughter says that when she is feeling down she...My daughter says that when she is feeling down she likes stories that remind her that humanity is still good ( may be a narcissistic movie is not the best choice for people like her.)MunirGhiasuddinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05232362559666320301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-37730145743856618632017-04-12T07:14:59.599-06:002017-04-12T07:14:59.599-06:00Thank you for the review. I have not seen a movie ...Thank you for the review. I have not seen a movie this year, but again it is only April. If La La Land comes in the theater close to us may be I will see it. In India most of the movies have an unrealistic ending and they do great as people see them to escape their hardships if only for three hours. Majority of us live average lives is correct, but an average life for someone living in the US is like luxury for someone living in an underdeveloped countries. So sorry for being sour but it helps to understand others as well.MunirGhiasuddinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05232362559666320301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-91383190637073836142017-04-12T05:12:30.917-06:002017-04-12T05:12:30.917-06:00Very true. It's why those Joe the Plumber type...Very true. It's why those Joe the Plumber types worry about taxes for the rich when they pretty much have nothing.PT Dillowayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09394481476862013009noreply@blogger.com