Ever since I was little, I have loved the Academy Awards. For some reason it was my guide to films and sprouted a love for movies, which eventually led me to becoming a media and film studies major.
I have learned much about the Academy since then and even took a class studying the history of the awards and the nominated films for the 88th award show. I’ve learned that sometimes what wins best picture shouldn’t (Shakespeare in Love I am looking at you). This year might be the case again with the much talked about La La Land.
While I am being a little rebellious and deciding not to see this damn movie that everybody asks me about, I already know that the film is basic and getting praise for one reason alone: Hollywood loves itself above all else.
The movie is a sweet tale of trying to make it in Hollywood. If it wins, it will be the case of The Artist all over again. The Artist won because it was a nostalgic trip back to the silent era in Hollywood, and let’s face it the movie was cute and all, but story-wise it wasn’t anything special.
What made it special was the act of silence. It was considered quirky and original for bringing back and quite frankly copying a Hollywood era that had passed long ago, but was cherished as apart of important Hollywood history.
La La Land is doing the exact same thing. It is reminiscent of the musical era in Hollywood. Everybody is praising it for its originality, but how can you call it original if it just trying to be Singin’ in the Rain? It’s not original if you try to revive an old film movement. If this deserves so much praise for bringing back the musical then why didn’t Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight get the same praise for bringing back westerns?
If this film wins the Oscar, it is because Hollywood cares more about celebrating itself than celebrating the story of other individuals.
