‘Movie Corner’ Archives
La La Land
By Howard McQuitter II For March 2017, I refer to my highly recommended movie the highly touted musical/romance/drama “La La Land” (received 14 Oscar nominations) directed by Damien Chazelle (“Whiplash” ). Chazelle became the youngest Person (at age 32) to win the best director award at the Golden Globes. Only two other movies in Oscar history have received 14 nominations: “All About Eve” (1950) and “Titanic” (1997). Chilean director Pablo Larrain was fortunate to bring two films to the silver screen in 2016: “Jackie” (about Jackie Kennedy after President Kennedy”'s assassination) and “Neruda” (high ranking senator in Chile, famous poet, flees for his life because he”'s a Communist) (Spanish in English subtitles). And a must see film (I thought about putting it in my top 10 list), a true-to-life story about a young man during World War II who refused to carry a gun in battle but saved several dozen [...]
Top Ten Movies of 2016
1. “Moonlight” (R) Running time: 111 minutes. Director: Barry Jenkins. A young African American goes from childhood and adulthood in Miami with many struggles including his sexuality. Drama. 2. “Manchester by the Sea” (R) Running time: 137 minutes. Director: Kenneth Lonergan. A working class handyman suffering from depression has to face the tragedy in his past after his brother dies and leaves him sole guardian of his nephew. Drama. 3. “Fences” (PG-13) Running time:139 minutes. Director: Denzil Washington. The late African American playwright August Wilson”'s “Fences” is transferred to silver screen by Denzil Washington. A working class African American father raising a family in Pittsburg in the 1950s. 4. “Hidden Figures”(PG)Running time:127 minutes. Director: Theodore Melfi. Based on a true story and one of many denials of black Americans great achievements. This film depicts a team of college educated African [...]
“La La Land”
By Howard McQuitter II ****1/2 out of five stars “La La Land” (2016) Liongate Drama/Musical/Romance Sebastian has that same passion for jazz as did Andrew (Miles Teller) did in “Whiplash”(2014), by director Damien Chazelle, who directed both “Whiplash” and “La La Land”. In both cases, Sebastian, the pianist, and Andrew, the drummer, have uphill battles, not to mention Chazelle”'s “subtle” love of jazz. (I”'m sure, Mr. Chazelle listens to some of the jazz greats Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, John Coltrane, Coleman Hawkins, and more.) The best dance number is at the beginning of the film when people stuck in Los Angeles traffic decide to leave their vehicles temporarily to either jump on tops of their vehicles or stay on the ground to dance and sing. And at first when Sebastian and Mia meet on that highway there is no love at first sight. In time the romance will grow, [...]
