Random Thoughts: La La Land, or Stop Showing Off, Ryan Gosling!

*Random Thoughts is a new style of reviewing we're trying out, so this blog can release reviews faster. In case you don't know, reviewing films is time-consuming, and I don't get paid to do this.

The Playlist

"Let me show you how to dance the 'Asereje'."

•An alliterative title about L.A., a.k.a. the City of Angels. It sounds playful and whimsical, which actually helps set the tone for the entire picture. This is actually a modern throwback to old Hollywood. It's like Singin' in the Rain, but with smartphones.

•That opening sequence on the freeway flyover was brilliant. Very well-choreographed, not just with the dancing, but with the camerawork as well. I bet they had to shut the road down, which would have made that sequence quite expensive to shoot.

•This is not a proper musical per se. I mean, it's not a musical in the Broadway tradition. It's more of like a love story with some singing and dancing.

•Ryan Gosling has really great comic timing. I've already noticed this in The Nice Guys, and I'm so glad he gets to unleash some of his comedy here, for the benefit of those who haven't seen his movie with Russell Crowe.

•Okay, so Ryan Gosling plays the piano. Damn you and your good looks.

•Is Emma Stone a natural redhead? And is it just me, or do redheads look good in any colour? Okay, I googled it, and she's a natural blonde.

•Ryan Gosling dances, too? Fuck you. I am kidding. You are my new man-crush.

•Okay, the singing wasn't bad. But it wasn't great singing, either. It's like driving a car. Most people can get their vehicle from point A to point B, but that's not the sign of a good driver. A good driver can get to point A to point B with style and grace. Much like hitting the right notes doesn't necessarily make you a good singer. Yeah, Stone and Gosling may have hit the right notes, but come on.

•Remember that scene when they had a fight about achieving their dreams? Well, a true musical would've done that scene in song. If this were a true musical, it would've done a lot of exposition in song. Just saying.

•Why is John Legend here? Did he write all the songs and the score? Like what Pharrell did in Hidden Figures? Ah, no. Google says Justin Hurwitz wrote La La Land's score. Thanks, Google, for answering my rhetorical questions.

•I loved that scene towards the end when Emma Stone and her husband went into Seb's. There's something wonderful about "what could've been" scenes. You know why? Because they are alternate timelines. Parallel universes. That's fifth dimension stuff right there, man. And I always find that mind-blowing.

CNN

When the director says "Jump", you say "How high?"

La La Land. USA. 2016.



Original rating: 7.7/10
Cinematography: +0.1
Ryan Gosling's comic timing: +0.1
Dance sequences: +0.1
Opening sequence: +0.1
Ryan Gosling's musical talent: -0.1
Tap dancing sequence: +0.1
Not enough J.K. Simmons: -0.1
Damien Chazelle's directing: +0.1
Final rating: 8.1/10

Gangster Squad, or Why Grey is the New Black and White

Warner Bros.

Love the font.

I'm not an expert in the genre of "film noir", but I'm guessing Gangster Squad falls under it, for three reasons: 1) it's a crime drama of the organized crime variety; 2) it's set in 1930s Los Angeles; and 3) it reminds me of Rockstar Games's L.A. Noire.

HD WPapers

Still haven't played this game.

The Ides of March

Any English major can tell you what the title is all about. Or at least any Shakespeare buff. The title comes from the soothsayer from Julius Caesar's William Shakespeare. Oh, sorry... from William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. "Beware the ides of March."

So what does this film have in common with Julius Caesar? Nothing, except the politics. So that is what we shall discuss.

First, the campaign team of Governor Mike Morris (George Clooney) as he climbs his way up the electoral ladder. There’s Paul Zara, played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, brilliant as always. So we’ll skip him.

"Yeah, you know I'm brilliant."

Then there’s his protégé Stephen Meyers, played by Ryan Gosling. Now Ryan Gosling has an all-American face, and he can act with it, especially with his eyes. But he can’t act very much with his voice. He always talks in a certain slow drawl, and is most of the time devoid of any expressions and emotions. I think he should work on that a bit. All right, after Gosling, there’s the slutty intern played by Evan Rachel Wood. Sometimes she looks pretty, and other times, she looks like a cokehead slut. As if I even know what a cokehead slut looks like.

"Yes, a cokehead slut."

On the other side of the political fence, there’s Zara’s rival Tom Duffy, played by Paul Giamatti, who is kind of the opposite of Ryan Gosling in the voice department. Giamatti’s voice is annoying, to say the least. It’s whiny, and it’s nasal. But he’s a great actor despite that.

"We both got a problem with our voice, Gosling. Deal with it."

Other actors in the cast are Marisa Tomei, whose hair I don’t like; Jeffrey Wright, who I’m seeing a lot of lately; and Max Minghella, the annoying sidekick to the Winklevii twins in The Social Network.

I almost forgot to mention that this flick was directed by George Clooney himself. However, I only have one complaint, and that is regarding the character of Governor Mike Morris himself. I felt his character wasn’t fleshed out too well, especially since his character is directly involved in the film’s turning point. I hope Clooney doesn’t justify his lack of characterization with the fact that he was busy behind the camera.

"How 'bout I justify it with my
looking awesome instead?"

The Ides of March. USA. 2011.



Rating: Six point nine out of ten.




*some info from IMDb
pics from All Movie Photo

Drive

This movie is a bit heavy. And they killed Christina Hendricks with a shotgun to the head. No sex scene, and early death. Brilliant.

Anyone this pretty should have a sex scene.

You'd think that this movie is all about driving cars. You know, like Fast and Furious, or something like that. And it doesn't help that the font used in the opening credits looks like it was taken from Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.

Even the color is like Vice City: pink.

Yes, Ryan Gosling plays a driver, who is so good at what he does (aren't they all?). And yes, there are some car chase sequences that are adrenaline-pumping without being too stylized. But the car scenes are just a small fraction of what the film is about. This is more of a gangster flick. And who better to play gangsters than Ron Perlman and Albert Brooks? Wait, that's Albert Brooks the comedian, right? As a gangster? Well, it was pretty effective, anyway.

"Do I look like a comedian to you?"

Congratulations, Carey Mulligan. You've made it to Hollywood. And that's because you can do a decent American accent.

I think I like her better as a brunette.

They said this was an Oscar-buzz flick. Although I'm not sure if it's for Best Picture, Best Actress for Carey Mulligan (unlikely), Best Actor for Ryan Gosling (possible), or Best Supporting Actor for Albert Brooks (most likely). Although I'm betting it's on Best Sound Design. Great use of sound, which added to the already-suspenseful plot. The soundtrack was a bit retro, but I'm pretty sure this wasn't set in the eighties.


Drive. USA. 2011.


Rating: Eight out of ten.



*some info from IMDb
pics from VLC

Crazy, Stupid, Love

Well, the movie is just as the title says it is. Crazy and stupid. Not really that stupid, though. Because I liked it. Kind of.

Emma Stone is a good actress, though she's not really my type. Even if she's a redhead. Julianne Moore still has some hotness left in her. And she's a redhead. So what exactly is my rule on redheads? I don't even know exactly.

Marisa Tomei is hot even without red hair.

Steve Carell shows his acting flexibility by showing us a bit of his dramatic side. Maybe he's like Jim Carrey, who really wanted to be a serious actor, but had to use his comic talents as a stepping stone. After seeing Steve Carell's horrible wardrobe in the beginning of the film, I too have decided that I probably need a makeover. Although I would rather have Gabriel Macht help me with it than Ryan Gosling.

Because seriously, he does look like he's Photoshopped.

Yes, this may be your typical rom-com. But there's this twist at the end, which I shall not speak of, because I don't think anyone would ever see it coming, not unless they were involved with the script in any way.

Wait a minute... Josh Groban? You're doing Hollywood films now? Opera-style singing not enough to pay the bills, eh?

"I'ma practice this face so I can land more roles."

And also, remember Hannah's friend Liz? I'll bet she's Pinay. Like if I had a hundred dollars, I'd bet it all on her Filipino blood. And a quick search on IMDb says... drumroll... yes she is Pinay.

With a name like Liza Lapira, it should be really obvious.

Crazy, Stupid, Love. USA. 2011.


Rating: Seven out of ten.



*some info from IMDb
pics from VLC

Blue Valentine

This review does not contain lust.

This film got an NC17 rating at first in the U.S., which is like porn. But it is not.

Blue Valentine is about a marriage, a relationship... of love between Dean (Ryan Gosling) and Cindy (Michelle Williams). That statement may be as abstract as it is, but it's really what the film is about. And I wouldn't say it chronicled the failure of a marriage, or falling out of love. I think the film until the very last frame was about love and relationships.

I can't put my finger on it, but there is something in the movie that made it feel so real. There's equal parts romance and reality that makes an effective medium of storytelling. I have to give special mention to the scene where Gosling played the ukulele and sang in a stupid goofy voice but actually turned out really good. The song was the background of this movie's trailer, and it got me wanting to see it ASAP. I think he is the voice of this film. But that is not to say Williams is just a close second. Both gave great lengths in their performances, each on its own merit as character actors and as dance partners with the story as their song.

Playing a guitar (or guitar-like instrument) is a plus on my book.

It was a long shot for a movie like this to land on our shores. Even if they appealed and got an R rating in the U.S.—without having to cut and re-edit the film—it's not likely that we'd see it here as raw as that. A lot of films brought here only to be cut and edited differently from what the directors originally intended is not worth seeing. So I give a shout-out to the people behind the film who fought for this story to be told the way it is.


Blue Valentine gets a seven out of ten, for its bravery and truthfulness to their story of love all the way till the end.


P.S. Watch for the end credits sequence. It's a firework of visual orgasms.


*photos from allmoviephotos.com