Search

Search only in certain items:

40x40

Luke (278 KP) rated La La Land (2016) in Movies

Jul 21, 2017  
La La Land (2016)
La La Land (2016)
2016 | Comedy, Drama, Musical
Emma Stone (0 more)
The Songs Are Very Good (1 more)
It Can't Decide What Kind Of Film It Wants To Be
The People Handing Out Awards & Praise For This Film Are In La La Land
As a man that loves musicals, I do not love this. There are amazing musicals such as Les Mis which is breath taking in everyway, then theres disappointments like this.
Its a shame becuase i love emma stone, any film she does automatically drags it up to a better standard. However the style of singing at parts was not her best, she has a beautiful voice when she sings, slow talk singing doesnt work best for her.
When me and my wife first saw the trailer we said "Deffinatly not watching that it looks like a mess" but after all the awards we thought we would give it a go.
The best way to summarise would be to describe the cinema, There a lot of people of all different ages. I look around near the end and i can see people putting there jackets on wanting to leave, as soon as it ends a older man stands up and turns to his wife and says "What a crock of S*%&"... I laughed quite hard that he said it that loud we heard it across the room, but that was the feel of the room
  
The Favourite (2018)
The Favourite (2018)
2018 | Biography, History
Wickedly fiendish, clever and funny!
After nearly a year, I finally made it out to the cinema and decided this would be my film of choice. I wasn't disappointed.

Director Yorgos Lanthimos is quickly becoming one of my new favorites. After directing interesting wisp films like The Lobster and The Killing of a Sacred Deer, I was anxious to see this film for sure.

The story involves the increasingly ill Queen Anne and the two women who vie for her affections. Their efforts start civil but eventually become more deranged both trying to outdo each other with their fiendishly clever and diabolical deeds.

I found the film quite funny as well as some of the dialogue is really quite gaudy, scandalous and rude. (Don't watch if you don't like the "C" word).

Other than the screenplay, the trio of Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, and Rachel Weisz are all a joy to watch, especially Emma Stone who you really haven't seen play a tart before like this. Her striking beauty comes through as well even when she is covered in dirt or without any make up.

The sets, locations and classic film score all add to the majesty of this magical film which will undoubtedly be nominated numerous times throughout this award season.

Certainly not for everyone, but I loved it!

  
40x40

Erika (17788 KP) Dec 26, 2018

I'm looking forward to this even more now! I'm seeing it in 2 hours!

40x40

Andy K (10821 KP) Dec 26, 2018

Let me know what you think!

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)
2014 | Comedy, Drama
Great acting (1 more)
Visually Stunning
Plot is lacking (0 more)
Not quite worth all the awards, but great cast
What a strange film. It basically entails Michael Keaton's character, an aging, flailing theatre actor, who is basically having a nervous breakdown and hallucinates throughout the movie.

While the cast is absolutely incredible (Keaton, Edward Norton, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts), and the acting is equally top-class, the film itself feels like it falls short.

The cinematography is quite stunning, especially the dream sequence with the bird itself. But I am slightly baffled to how this was put up for so many Oscars. A good film, but not a great one.
  
40x40

Bostonian916 (449 KP) rated Maniac in TV

Jul 10, 2020  
Maniac
Maniac
2018 | Comedy, Drama
This is truly one of the best, and most beautiful shows ever created. Jonah Hill and Emma Stone both step into roles outside of their respective "wheel houses" and completely nailed it in both cases.

Approaching mental health in film has proven a difficult task in the past, with some exception of course. But I've never seen it done so beautifully and with such a seeming of understanding.

I believe that this show is the best sci fi show Netflix has produced, possibly the best show it has produced overall. Please don't sleep on this one. It starts slow, but you won't be able to look away after a bit.
  
La La Land (2016)
La La Land (2016)
2016 | Comedy, Drama, Musical
Truth be told, I didn’t know what “La La Land” directed by Damien Chazelle; and starring Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, and featuring John Legend would be about. As soon as I was given the opportunity to see it I watched the trailer to prepare and the moment I finished that trailer I knew I needed to see the entire film. Emma Stone plays Mia, an aspiring actress just trying to make it in the world. While Ryan Gosling Plays Sebastian, a jazz musician who aspires to open his own club and keep jazz alive.

After running into each other multiple time the two fall in love but as their dreams take them in different paths, they fight to stay together. While the story could be considered a love story, it is so much more. The film is captivating through its combination of wardrobe and scenery. The choreography is impeccable and the music stunning. The opening scene really sets up the quality of the film and gets the viewer excited for the other musical numbers, which are equally just as stunning.
I was hesitant when I first saw Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling in a musical, but they did phenomenal. The chemistry and humor on the screen is endearing and captivating, it pulled me into the story of Mia and Sebastian and made me wonder what was going to happen next.

Back to the music, the songs fit the characters and the story so well. They are woven into the scenes making them important to the story line. Also just in case I have not made myself clear already, the music is amazing. The score composed by Justin Hurwitz is a piece of art, and I know I will be buying the soundtrack. Watching this film made me think back to watching Gene Kelly, Ginger Rodgers, and Fred Astaire sing and dance in films. Quite honestly I have not seen this quality of musical film yet, and “La La Land” excites me with the idea of more films being made of this quality. I know I’ll be seeing this film again once it hit’s theatres!
  
40x40

Wendy Jo (37 KP) rated Maniac in TV

Sep 23, 2018  
Maniac
Maniac
2018 | Comedy, Drama
'Maniac' on Netflix with Emma Stone and Jonah Hill was absolutely fantastic. The characters have so many layers, both actor and actress play multiple roles, with multiple accents, all believable. Just completely blew me away. Fantastic ending. (0 more)
The first four episodes are confusing. You really have to hang in there and pay attention in order for it all to come together. This definitely isn't a show you can multitask during. I only say this is a negative to make sure people understand it's a show (1 more)
WORTH paying attention to. So if you don't have the time or ability to pay attention to it, I would wait until you do.
Fan-freaking-tastic
  
The Scarlet Letter
The Scarlet Letter
Nathaniel Hawthorne | 1850 | Fiction & Poetry
9
6.8 (24 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is one of those books that I feel like everyone reads in high school but my English teacher never had us read it. I will admit that I have been interested in reading it ever since I saw Easy A starring Emma Stone (Such a fun movie). I found myself really enjoying the story. It was deeper than I anticipated, and I loved the language and characters, especially Hester and Pearl. My only real struggle with the book was the first two hours were the author rambling before the story even started! But this book also gets bonus points because Hawthorne was friends with Ralph Waldo Emerson, a writer and transcendentalist, who I was named after.
  
The Hellion is Tamed (League of Lords #4)
The Hellion is Tamed (League of Lords #4)
Tracy Sumner | 2021 | Paranormal, Romance
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
THE HELLION IS TAMED is the fourth book in the League of Lords series. We jump forward a few years in this one, to ensure Simon is now an adult. It is made very clear that he has spent the past years searching for a way to find, and bring back, Emma. Although, saying that, he is still hurt by her not coming back to him after stealing the stone from Sebastian. As for Emma, well, she did return but, being as she doesn't have full control of her gift, she caught Simon in a compromising situation and hightailed it out of there.

Miscommunication and avoidance are the two words I would use to describe this book. Now, of course, if love ran smoothly then there would be no romance books to read but Simon and Emma seemed to take it to the extreme.

The focus is also on Emma's gift, not so much Simon's. I would like to have learnt more about him and his gift. How the ghosts see him as their benefactor/protector. Why? How? What does he do? And how do they protect him in return? We saw one example but are there others?

I would definitely recommend reading this as a series, rather than a set of standalones as I do feel the other books help set the situation up for the next one along. And as Simon and Emma are fourth, then it was good to have some background information on them, and the world they inhabit.

Still, a good addition to the series that I enjoyed and have no hesitation in recommending.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
 
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
  
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009)
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009)
2009 | Comedy, Romance
5
6.8 (10 Ratings)
Movie Rating
This film does not hold up. I think the best part about it is that Christa B. Allen played a young Jennifer Garner, just like she does in 13 Going on 30. Matthew McConaughey's character is shallow and closed off, only to go on a journey with his girlfriends to see why. It's A Christmas Carol but significantly worse.

Emma Stone is the one that really shines in this film and I will forever love her huge hair and fake braces. I need a movie just about her. She's the highlight. Everything else is dull and boring to watch. Also, anytime I see Breckin Meyer in literally anything, I think about when he was in Garfield. That's the role he will never live down.