tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8072609778452128258.post5165367234885588355..comments2024-03-04T10:17:35.836-08:00Comments on MARISSABIDILLA: A Feminist Defense of LA LA LANDMarissa Skudlarekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15864377900420377361noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8072609778452128258.post-59744174191228080482017-03-28T02:35:26.456-07:002017-03-28T02:35:26.456-07:00Thank you for the response! I love talking about t...Thank you for the response! I love talking about this movie because there are so many ways to interpret it. You're right, Seb doesn't really tell Mia what drew him to Jazz but he does spend time "mansplaining" it to her. I just felt Seb was a more rounded character, but Emma Stone is such a fantastic actress, she easily fills in the blanks. Yes, he is self-absorbed. He easily could have gotten out of the photo shoot to see her play. He could have even called to tell her what was going on, but he didn't. I think the reason he drives 8 hours to tell her about her audition is he feels guilty for how he's behaved and this is his way to make it up to her. I find it interesting that when she enters the Jazz club, that is the first time they see each other in 5 years. Odd that they would not have any contact at all during that time but I guess it makes the moment more powerful. I think, at the end, she has moved on more than he has. Both achieve their dreams but I think he will always regret not doing all he could to keep her. In that sense, the dream sequence could be his, where HE imagines doing everything right this time so they could stay together. I like how it is open to interpretation. Thanks again. Glad I discovered your blog!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8072609778452128258.post-9900540181426652772017-03-27T22:09:48.888-07:002017-03-27T22:09:48.888-07:00Thank you for your thoughts and the kind words. Hm...Thank you for your thoughts and the kind words. Hmm, I think it kind of cuts both ways as to who is the better-written character in terms of their artistic dreams. I do have to agree that we see more of Seb's pursuing his art, and that it's annoying we don't see Mia act except in her auditions. Yet I feel like we get a good sense of what drew Mia to acting (her stories about feeling out of place in her small town and escaping into classic movies), but I don't recall any explanation of what initially sparked Seb's passion for jazz.Marissa Skudlarekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15864377900420377361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8072609778452128258.post-36358869286094408052017-03-27T21:07:45.249-07:002017-03-27T21:07:45.249-07:00Great article. My only argument is that Seb's ...Great article. My only argument is that Seb's character is better written then Mia's when it comes to their dreams. We see Seb practice his craft, playing often,and performing. We see his big concert with his new band. He explains to Mia why jazz is so important to him.Conversely,we barely get a glimpse of Mias acting, aside from failed auditions. We don't even see a single second of her one woman show. We only see the aftermath, where she overhears two guys badmouthing it. She also doesn't speak to Seb as to why acting is her passion, the way he speaks to her about jazz. I just wish the writer's had balanced their characters out as it pertains to their respective crafts. I do agree the final "alternate reality" sequence is HER dream, as we see her show a huge success as Seb applauds. He then follows her to Hollywood where she achieves her dream but he does not achieve his. He still is playing piano in clubs. He's taken on the supportive role. They may be happy in her dream scenario, but she comes out on top, ultimately. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8072609778452128258.post-79315135867662228102017-03-01T16:36:41.430-08:002017-03-01T16:36:41.430-08:00Thanks for the kind words, Michael! I'm not su...Thanks for the kind words, Michael! I'm not sure if her husband is also supposed to be her director from her first film -- we see the casting team at her audition, but do we ever see the director of the film? Actually, what confused me is that her husband looks a LOT like the boring guy she is dating at the start of the movie, though I don't believe that they're the same character. Maybe it's meant to indicate that Mia has a "type" and/or make us think that her husband is kinda boring (since he looks like Boring Boyfriend).Marissa Skudlarekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15864377900420377361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8072609778452128258.post-15456781814412997942017-03-01T15:45:34.828-08:002017-03-01T15:45:34.828-08:00Nicely written and agree with you on everything. A...Nicely written and agree with you on everything. As for what happens to Emma in the five-years interlude, I was under the impression that she'd ended up with her director from that first movie which must have been a breakout for both of them, but I could have been hallucinating.Civic Centerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12362422142667230626noreply@blogger.com