La La Land (2016)

"Here's to the ones who dream,  foolish as they may seem. Here's to the hearts that ache. Here's to the mess we make."

Since I recently had a baby, I haven't been out to the theater much. I saw this movie long after everyone else and I must admit I came into the movie expecting to love it.

And I did.

Biased or not, critically acclaimed or not, I loved every second of this movie. I won't say it's void of all flaws because that isn't true, but it's rare to experience something as sensational as this. It's the perfect blend of "Singin' in the Rain" and "Casablanca" - a treat at the movies. From the moment everyone was dancing on their cars in the opening act to the closing emotional montage in the club this was a whimsical ride.

Mia (Emma Stone) is an aspiring actress. She auditions tirelessly hoping for her big break but as each audition is interrupted by phone calls and disinterested judges, it seems as though the closest she will ever come to stardom is serving coffee to celebrities on a studio film lot. Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) is an aspiring jazz pianist. He wants nothing more than to own his own club to preserve the sanctity of jazz music.

Through a series of happenstance meetings, the two fall in love and help each other pursue their passions. They feel like they can conquer the world when they're together and for a while they do. Mia writes a one-woman play and encourages Sebastian to change the name of his future club to "Seb's" instead of "Chicken on a Stick." Their relationship is met with obstacles, however, as Sebastian gets distracted with an offer to tour with an electronic jazz band (sounds really weird but strangely works?) and misses her play that only runs for one night. It seems that as hard as they fight for their love things still work against them.

There are so many things to say about "La La Land." But it would take a long time and a very good memory to make a comprehensive list of everything that makes this movie special. Director Damien Chazelle is so attentive to the small things and his affection for the material makes it all the more lovable. It's amazing that the 31-year-old director had the confidence to take on something so big and execute it to such perfection. While there are many things to say, I have listed four things that stood out to me upon first viewing.

COLOR
The film opens on a highway traffic jam. Everyone is listening to their own music in their respective cars until one girl starts singing. She comes out of the car in a bright yellow dress and begins to dance. Soon, in true musical fashion, she is joined by all of the other drivers dancing atop their cars. Of course the grandiose nature of the number is great in its own right but it's the colors that stood out the most to me. In most scenes, there are vibrant reds, blues, greens, and yellows. These bright, pure colors - shot in Cinemascope - capture the optimistic tone of the whole film and emanate passion and excitement. Even though things aren't always happy in the movie, the colors capture the optimism harbored by the main characters.

CHOREOGRAPHY & MUSIC
"La La Land" is a musical. In many ways, it is like all of the other musicals you and I are accustomed to with frequent (sometimes long) song and dance numbers. There's even a weird flying dream sequence kind of like those in "An American in Paris" and "Singin' in the Rain" (though this one wasn't as long and boring, in my opinion). Nevertheless, the choreography is fantastic. In one scene Mia and Sebastian are strolling down the street with a purple-lit sunset for a backdrop. Since they both *happen to bring tap shoes along with them, they engage in a delightful little tap number on and around the street bench. It's cute and silly. The choreography isn't too over-the-top nor is it too simplistic and it's one of the best scenes in the movie.

The music is equally wonderful. The piano motif that accompanies most of the major events in the film is simple and lovely as is "City of Stars," a recurring song. Other good numbers include "Another Day of Sun," "A Lovely Night" and Mia's audition "The Fools Who Dream." At first I thought Emma Stone's voice wasn't that great, but that audition scene perfectly matched her range and captured her strengths as a singer. Though they're not the strongest of singers, their talents still fit the bill.

CHARACTER
I mean this in that the characters themselves are great but also that this film has got ~character. It's full of life and pizazz and has a spice to it that is sometimes hard to find in film. It feels fresh and hopeful. The feel of the movie along with a great cast and fun characters add depth. The characters are unique and relatable. The leads are accompanied by a good supporting cast including JK Simmons, John Legend, and Tom Everett Scott (my man from "That Thing You Do!") But this film is nothing without our two stars.

Emma Stone is a solid actress. She exudes confidence but also vulnerability. The plot mirrors Stone's own story to stardom in some ways and that's a neat lens through which to view her performance. She's delightful, likable, witty and charismatic. Gosling, too is perfect for this role bringing the perfect mix of irritable and lovable. Their chemistry brought a realism to the sweeping romance.

THE ENDING
The bittersweet end is what turns "La La Land" from a good movie to a great one. The thing is some times things just don't work out the way you want them to. The last City of Stars montage depicts a bright future for the two if only Sebastian had done things differently. It's as if he is singing of his regret and relives the choices and pivotal moments that would have allowed them to be together. It's incredibly emotional and bittersweet, but isn't that how life is?

I know this might not be your ~thing. I've always loved musicals and maybe you hate them. But if there's a musical that's worth it, it's this one. It can restore your faith in the power of cinema. It's magical, it's heartwarming. I loved it and I think you can too. 9/10

Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)

"My mother thanks you. My father thanks you. My sister thanks you. And I thank you."

I first saw Yankee Doodle Dandy when I was 10 years old. The older I get, the more impressed I become with how extensive my film repertoire was at that age. I have no idea how I was able to sit through some of those super old movies, (Birth of a Nation, anyone?) but whatever, I'm awesome. It's fine.

This is the George M. Cohan biopic. As his fame had died by the end of the film, so it has in American pop culture today - though most Americans would probably recognize his more famous tunes. Born on the fourth of July to two vaudeville performers Jerry (Walter Huston) and Nellie (Rosemary DeCamp) George (James Cagney) and his younger sister Josie (played by Cagney's real-life sister Jeanne Cagney) grew up performing and could dance and sing quicker than they could walk and talk. Collectively their act was known as "The Four Cohans" but it is made clear that young George was the star. He went on to be one of the most successful entertainers, playwrights, and composers in America's history. So, naturally, Yankee Doodle is the cookie cutter childhood-to-old age/rags-to-riches life sketch film told through flashbacks/voice overs. Aren't all showbiz stories told this way? One obligatory scene follows another: birth, childhood, humility period, success, failure, love, marriage, parents' death, retirement. Each scene is, of course, encased with a different grand, upbeat musical number. I guess you could say that this movie set the trend for other future '40s musicals but that's neither here nor there.

Of course, everything is also coated in shameless patriotism. Just after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 the morale boosting "Over There" and "You're a Grand Old Flag" - though originally released years earlier for WWI - were brought back to the surface in this movie to capitalize on the war-time propaganda of the '40s. However, its propaganda threat is minimal and in no way forceful. Though unplanned, I happened to watch this around our beloved country's birthday. Talk about patriotism in Independence Day and all dem Tom Cruise movies and Yankee Doodle Dandy fits the bill for one of the most American movies out there. Sure a few choice songs and well-placed flags have got audiences feeling nostalgic for the land they love but the obvious American themes and the timeliness of its release being considered, this is still just a sing and dance movie. The agenda is not pushed. You just might be able to see a little red, white, and blue poking out through all that black and white.

(This film was, incidentally, the first ever computer-colorized film released in 1986... but we don't need to talk about that).

(And again, I compare to Birth of a Nation which is one of the most propaganda-filled, racially-charged films ever and this is nowhere near that level. Don't worry, I'll get to that movie soon).

This review and re-watch of Yankee Doodle Dandy is just the beginning of a rather large project to watch all of the AFI Top 100 movies. With every movie that I review, I'm trying to look for the elements that set these films apart from others. Why were they chosen? Why should we like them? As I thought about this in regards to Yankee Doodle Dandy, I came to the conclusion that the single element that makes this movie just one cut above the rest is the star himself: James Cagney. Because honestly, besides notable historical implications and patriotic themes that obviously have influenced America this movie is nothing spectacular - besides the absolutely spectacular performance of Cagney.

In the last few weeks I have now seen three other James Cagney movies. His notable performances in White Heat (1949), Angels with Dirty Faces (1938*), and Love Me or Leave Me (1955*)  really contributed to a deeper appreciation of his talent and an increased perspective on his performance as George Cohan. I mean, it's like how I kind of think it's strange that Marlon Brando (THE GODFATHER) was ever in Guys in Dolls, so it is that Cagney - known at that time mostly for gangster roles - was a fish out of water as the singing and dancing entertainer. Though not his debut in a musical, he was still dancing in unfamiliar territory before audiences, but man is he not shy. He gives this performance his all with a unique dancing style (how do his legs even move like that?) and superbly steals every scene. I noticed this in his other films, but I especially noticed in Yankee Doodle Dandy how he demands attention every time he's on screen. You cannot help but stare at him - and nothing else. Everything about his singing, his mannerisms, his dancing, his facial expressions is grandiose and a spectacle you can't take your eyes off of.

To back this up, two particular scenes stood out to me. First, the scene early on when 20-something George meets his future wife Mary (Joan Leslie). He's made-up as an old man, but Mary is led to believe his beard, long white hair and cain are authentic and she's speaking with a respected performer of 86. Slowly George - in character as this old man - starts to move. He first stands with difficulty, but within just a few minutes he's kicking his legs higher than a ballerina and spinning around faster than a merry-go-round while Mary just gawks at him like WUTT.

Second, Cohan exits with a bang as he wraps up his life-story to Franklin D. Roosevelt of all people in the White House of all places. (As an additional historical side note, this is the first time any movie has featured an actor playing the current US President). As he exits the building, he walks down the steps. And he starts to dance. Completely improvised, done in one take, only 20 seconds long and impeccably timed to the building background music culminating the end of a story, James Cagney wasn't about to let the White House staircase best him in a scene.

You can't take your eyes off him.

Other notes:
Directed by Michael Curtiz
Won Academy Awards for Best Actor (James Cagney), Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture, Best Sound and was nominated for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Walter Huston), Best Director (Michael Curtiz), Best Film Editing, and Best Writing Original Story.
It was ranked #100 in AFI's Top 100 Years... 100 Films list in 1998 and #98 in 2007.
*Cagney was nominated for an Oscar in these two films as well.

And as for my opinion, though irrelevant, I would rank it an 8/10.

The Princess and the Frog (2009)

Will people start throwing rocks at me if I say I’m not a… what’s the word… die hard Disney fan?  I mean, don’t get me wrong – Disney has its place in the world.  Sleeping Beauty is beautiful, and Aladdin has fun songs but, with the exceptions of Beauty and the Beast and Mulan, I feel like I’ve grown out of that stage.  And it’s not animation – I feel completely different about Pixar.  I could watch Ratatouille, Toy Story, and The Incredibles of my own choosing, but I haven’t seen Cinderella since I was six.

Anyway – in a great year for animation, P&F holds its own as a charming story about a spunky girl named Tiana (voiced by Anika Noni Rose) who has a dream of owning her own restaurant in New Orleans.  When Prince Naveen (voiced by Bruno Campos) comes to town, the whole community goes berserk, including her silly and spoiled friend Charlotte (voiced by Jennifer Cody – and this character’s a lot of fun).  Naveen strikes a shady deal with The Shadow Man (voiced by Keith David) and turns into -  you guessed it – a frog.  And then what happens – you guessed it – Tiana kisses the frog.  But Tiana is not a princess, so she turns into a frog too.  Bummer.

I never thought I’d hear “voodoo witch doctor” and “Disney” spoken in the same sentence.  There are some fun musical numbers (Randy Newman!), clever dialogue, and colorful characters (Louis the gator being my favorite).  I must admit that though our prince is suave and funny, and our princess is down to earth, hard working, and likeable – their connection felt superficial to me.  It didn’t have that same magic that Belle and the Beast had or other such examples.  But this is a minor flaw.

I laughed out loud, the animation is refreshing, it’s charming and worth the watch.  Though I doubt I’ll be buying it on DVD. 7/10