the cinematography in La la land is used to establish strong responses from spectators ex specially
in the final scene which shows the alternate take on the films events
when i first viewed this scene i felt a sense of humor by no cause of the films plot but by witnessing J.K. Simmons dancing so having seen him in over films i was more engaged with all the scenes he was in but that short sequence enlightened me enough to enjoy the rest of the sequence more than i do without it because i associate it with that humour. This probably made me few this with a positive view rather than negative.
the following sequence is like a culmination of all that has come before it as it re tells all the films events with a key difference of Seb and Mia staying together, this gave me a sense of completion as the film came full circle by revisiting a scene from the beginning as well as other key events only to resume back at Sebs jazz club.
It starts off at the previously mentioned scene with J.K. Simmons where seb gets fired and harshly brushes Mia aside but now instead he goes in for the kiss and the audience is then swooped around with upbeat music, but this is unrealistic and a display of fantasy as seb and Mia didn’t even know each other’s names at that point so would not have went to kiss each other like tha. This is an indication that the following sequence is pure fantasy and the events playing out occur in a way that would be impossible to happen in real life. The people randomly bursting into dance( a common musical trait) further cements that non of this is real this creating the idea that this outcome was impossible to attain, on my first viewing of this scene I didn’t realise how hopeless them ending up together was but to give credit were it is due this was a clever way of hinting that their future being together was only something they could dream off and the harsh world of reality EG people not randomly bursting in dance wouldn’t allow.
This sequence puts the 50’s musical imagery on full force with vibrant over saturated colours and painted backgrounds which creates a detachment from reality further more employing a bright and positive reaction from the audience. I felt a sense of joy for Mia and Seb as I saw them dance up and down the overly saturated streets as if they were cartoons further more adding to why their relationship was only something that could exist in a place like this. I find that it y hard to be displeased with this as, unless you despise the characters of Mia and Seb, there is nothing to be angry about and it makes the audience pleased to see the two characters they have followed relive the fantasy of all they have been through, but this enjoyment was bittersweet.
As the recap reaches the present we are soon sent back into the dimly lit, blue toned room with Seb once again playing the piano, it is at this point reality kicks in as the fantasy colours are now all absent. The two protagonists take one last look at each other as they silently say there goodbyes.
While the scene gives a pleasant ending to to story it made me realise that the film lacks a key factor of most good films, I found it unsatisfying, the main portion of them reaching their careers is done in a time skip and once the bright colours and cheerful music which was making me feel joy had faded I realised none of that happened and the previously mentioned music and colours only created a false sense of satisfaction, it was then that I realised that I didn’t care about the actual story only the simulated joy of this scene and when that had gone I was then exposed to the unsatisfying conclusion.
