SO HERE’S THE THING- LA LA LAND IS GOOD. BUT MOONLIGHT IS BETTER.
By Lena Potts
I’m prepared for the angry comments. And trust me, I love Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling as much as the next person- probably more (I have seen both Aloha and Only God Forgives- that’s how much I love them both). I understand the appeal of La La Land. But La La Land is not the revelation its buzz has made it seem, and I am concerned that its recent hype, heightened by receiving 14 (14!!!) Academy Award nominations, sets it up to sweep up all the votes, leaving little behind for other very deserving films, notably, Moonlight.
Moonlight burst onto the scene at Telluride in September and made everyone fall in love. It is the highest rated of this year’s Best Picture nominees on both Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes. It has stuck with me nearly every day since I saw it, on the merits of the storytelling and performances alone. But beyond that, in the midst of Black Lives Matter, as we continue to fight for LGBTQ rights, post-election, this film matters- it is representing people who don’t often see themselves on that screen, and it is telling stories that many Americans never hear.
While Moonlight’s buzz has cooled down (some of this due to an early release date), La La Land’s perfect charm, easy Whiteness, and plot about making it big in Hollywood have taken on an honestly absurd momentum.
The Academy, critics, and Hollywood in general have made it clear that they liked Moonlight, and they should. But I’m concerned for two reasons that liking Moonlight may not be enough in the face of La La Land:
- More than anything, the Academy likes itself, and they have shown for years that movies about show biz are a winning ticket.
- The Academy falls far behind their counterparts (namely, the BAFTAs) in true work toward diversity and inclusion, or even recognizing their place in the socio-political climate. Their track record does not inspire confidence that they’ve recognized enough privilege to move beyond themselves and purposely even the playing field, honoring a diverse body of works beyond their own point of view.
Let’s start with the Academy’s self-love. For the past five years, the Oscars have made a habit of awarding films about films. Click here for a great analysis of this trend, which has included nominated and/or winning films like Birdman, Hail Caesar, The Artist, Hugo, Argo, etc. While that doesn’t mean that they aren’t great films, as The Guardian explains, or that they don’t have value, it does point to a trend, one that’s received a great deal of backlash.
I am not arguing that trends in film popularity should always be subject to the current socio-political environment. However, the Academy has, in the wake of #OscarsSoWhite, publicly committed itself to improved diversity in its recognition of great films. And with that decision, they have an obligation to remove their blinders to effectively find those great films.
A lack of diversity and inclusion in the Oscars is unsurprising. It is both clear and expected that a body of voters will choose something they identify with, and if that body is not particularly diverse (not just in hot-button things like race and gender, but in experience, background, and interests), the things they identify with will follow. So, a body of film industry professionals really like movies that speak to their experiences making films, or, more broadly, in the performing arts.
But in the last few years, with the Oscars being so heavily criticized, the landscape is not so simple. With BAFTA overhauling their systems so aggressively that beginning in 2019, films will not be considered if they do not meet a diversity standard, it is not unreasonable to ask the Oscars and their voting body to do a little bit more.
It is the responsibility of those aware of their privilege to work actively to overcome it. The Academy knows where it sits, knows the criticisms of it, and claims to work toward diversity so that its nominations and awards are more inclusive. This year’s slate of nominations is an improvement over the last two. Although it is not, as the New York Times deadass tried to say, an indication that the Oscars have “moved past” the #OscarSoWhite controversy. (It’s over y’all- Negros and Dev Patel got let into movies this year and it’s good now. Equality.)
Privilege must go out of its way to recognize what lies beyond. The Academy should work to reward the best works, not just its favorites.
La La Land is a very good movie, but it is not great. Sorry. It does not bring us a particularly unique story or point of view (Boyhood, Arrival, Hidden Figures), nor does it tread on familiar ground in a way that is so flawlessly its power is undeniable (Manchester by the Sea, Moana). It is an exciting and celebratory return of the movie musical, and it is extraordinarily charming, much of that due to its leads. But Damien Chazelle made a much better film with Whiplash. Whiplash had a point- it was made to show us something true and something intense in an innovative way, and it did all of those things superbly. I don’t know what La La Land’s point is. To make a good movie musical that is light and fun because we haven’t done that recently? If airiness in the face of our current climate of darkness is the goal, it has been handled much better in recent films like The Lego Movie, and even shows like Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and even The Flash. And if we’re talking about the merits of a musical, neither Gosling nor Stone have a strong musical background, and that comes through in their work. They are fun and cute, but they are not singers, and singers a musical make.
I’m very excited to see that Moonlight has eight nominations- they are well deserved. But, you see, Moonlight is the best film of the year. It should take Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor (despite that incredibly strange loss at the Globes), and be a serious contender for Best Supporting Actress, Best Director, and Cinematography.
But La La Land is the favorite to win the night’s top honor, Best Picture, and to sweep many of the other categories.
I hope that they actually award the best film Best Picture. And not only because I’m tired of seeing the Oscars give awards to films they like because they reflect the experiences of the narrow body of voters, although this is a good reason. But I hope that they honestly take an opportunity to look outside of themselves and shed the spotlight (lol, Oscar 2016 joke) on something both deserving and different. It is their responsibility to use their privilege to lift up works that wouldn’t be recognized if they don’t do it. That’s what the Oscars stage is for- celebration and recognition, key elements to legitimacy- and I hope the Academy voters take that as seriously as they claim to.
Also let’s pour one out for Amy Adams not being nominated this year :( Love her.
