I could make the exact same assertion about you stating its the best of the year (that’s what’s laughable). But different strokes for different folks.
[Moderating]
GovernmentMan, differing opinions about works of art are a part of life. You need to learn to take them more graciously than “delete your account”, or you’re going to have a very tough time here.
Well, first you’d have to buy into the idea that jazz is some kind of uniquely black artform that whites have no business trying to participate in.
For some reason, this reminds me of commercials for the 2nd Austin Powers movie back in 1999.
“If you see ONE movie this summer, see Star Wars. If you see TWO movies this summer, see Austin Powers.”
IMHO it is. The movie puts forth two ideas on keeping jazz alive. Gosling’s character is attached to “pure jazz” preserved unchanged. John Legend’s character is a band leader who fuses jazz and more modern forms. The one song we see Legend’s band perform is IMHO good, not a “clunker” to prove Gosling correct. Moreover, Legend tells Gosling – correctly – that the inventors of jazz who he worships were not traditionalists but innovators. Neither is proven correct, and the popularity within the movie of both Legend’s band and Gosling’s jazz club shows that there’s plenty of room for both.
As an aside, I saw both Rogue One and La La Land and liked them both. There’s plenty of room for both of them, too. 
The comparison is silly. Rogue One is a B picture created to mollify people with no imagination.* La La Land actually has something to say about life.
It’s notable that the happy ending in La La Land is sadder and more emotionally involving than the tragic ending in Rogue One. Rogue One serves up one cliched character after another, while La La Land takes the cliches and gives them new spins (when it’s not slyly subverting them).
In 20 years, people will still be replaying the opening musical number in La La Land, while asking “Which of the Star Wars sequels was Rogue One, anyway?” “Another Day of Sun” rivals “Singin’ in the Rain” as the greatest (and most joyous) musical number in film history.
Rogue One is a ok movie. La La Land is a transcendent one.
*That’s not a plot hole in Star Wars. Take a look at the HMS Hood or Galloping Gertie. There are dozens of ways the Death Star could have had that flaw and anyone with with the slightest imagination could see how it could happen. Also the “explanation” is even sillier than how it was portrayed in the original movie. They kill his wife right in front of him and then let him do what he pleases with the design? Why would they think he was trustworthy?
FYI, last night was the Golden Globe Awards, at which La La Land won seven awards, more than any other film ever. I believe it won every award for which it was nominated.
I remember a 1999 advertisement in which Mike Myers, in his Dr. Evil persona said something like, “If you see only one movie this year, see Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. But if you see two movies this year, also see Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.” I thought it was an amusing comment on the “if you only see one movie” trope.
For posters upthread who can’t stand musicals, I heartily agreed with you–until I saw LaLaLand.
That is all.
Well, I guess that ad made an impression on more than just me.
I’m surprised by the people who criticized Gosling and Stone for not being able to sing or dance. This is a tough crowd. I enjoyed the movie very much and was very impressed with Gosling singing, dancing and playing. I saw the movie twice and tried to watch carefully to see if they cut between his face and his hands while playing, or to watch his fingering on the piano. It looked to me like he was actually playing.
Okay, they didn’t have opera quality voices, but that didn’t bother me. What was wrong with their dancing?
That’s what surprised us, looked like he was actually playing the notes. Most of the “actors playing instruments” scenes are, well, unconvincing at best.
And we didn’t find the singing or dancing objectionable; all the elements fit together well.
Hey, 2016 is over, man!
Now what?
JpnGal and I saw Rogue One in Japan on Dec 16th and had a fun time watching it on IMAX. I’ll be watching it again in the cinema soon.
Ten days later we were shopping at The Grove in LA and “LA LA Land” was playing. We decided to watch and had a blast. We loved the story, acting, dancing, singing, and most of all, the city of LA, my hometown! We’re thinking of watching this one again when it’s released in Japan next month.
Gosling had little piano experience, but worked hard to learn the piano parts and was actually playing the notes in the movie.
Yeah, I hope I can get permission to see both.
Movies that win snooty awards shows are extremely rarely movies that I care for. If I see anything it won’t be this.
The Golden Globes are “snooty”? I had no idea.
Well… it is the award show where everyone there has had a snootfull of hard liquor. Probably many snootsfull, judging by how drunk they always are.
Snooty? Have you seen Tina Fey and Amy Poehler’s openings for the 2013, 2014, and 2015 Golden Globes?:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZRTIX4Dxo4