Tag: La La Land
Revisiting the Oscars: In defense of La La Land
by Matt Ward
Heading into last night’s Academy Awards ceremony, I was fully prepared to write another glowing column about “La La Land,” raving about the film’s actual merits on a night that felt like Damien Chazelle’s masterpiece was going to be picked apart by fans of other nominated films and later derided as “not a good Best Picture winner” by those who actively dislike the movie. … Read More Revisiting the Oscars: In defense of La La Land
Academy Awards stunner: Surprise winner Moonlight steals Oscars stage
by Matt Ward
“Moonlight” deserved to win Best Picture. “La La Land” deserved to win Best Picture. Watch them both. Enjoy them both.
Oscar Nominations Reaction: La La Land and then everything else
by Matt Ward
So did “La La Land” get nominated for anything? I’m sure I didn’t hear their name called more than 14 times early this morning, tying a record for most nominations in Academy Awards history. It’s a City of Stars and we’re all just living in it. If you haven’t already seen “La La Land,” you’re going to want to go and watch Damien Chazelle’s … Read More Oscar Nominations Reaction: La La Land and then everything else
Academy Award Nominations: How they should go
by Matt Ward
Offered without commentary, here’s how tomorrow’s Academy Award nominations should go (in alphabetical order): Best Picture 1. Arrival 2. Fences 3. Hell or High Water 4. La La Land 5. Lion 6. Manchester By The Sea 7. Moonlight 8. Nocturnal Animals 9. Silence Best Actor 1. Casey Affleck – Manchester By The Sea 2. Andrew Garfield – Silence 3. Ryan Gosling – La La … Read More Academy Award Nominations: How they should go
Moonlight: Golden Globe winner a wonderfully affecting drama
by Matt Ward
Three hours in, it seemed pretty safe to assume Barry Jenkins’ subtle and powerful independent character drama would go home empty handed Sunday. Things changed drastically, though, when “Moonlight” ended the night with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s biggest prize: the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Drama. “Moonlight” was an unexpected winner after coming up just short in Best Supporting Actor (Mahershala … Read More Moonlight: Golden Globe winner a wonderfully affecting drama
La La Land: City of stars
by Matt Ward
Believe the hype. Unless you’ve been hiding under the proverbial rock, chances are you’ve seen the trailer for Damien Chazelle’s musical love letter to Los Angeles, the Academy Award frontrunner “La La Land” starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. This modern take on vintage Hollywood storytelling leaps off the screen and pulls viewers in for a classy, adventurous ride about struggling artists falling in … Read More La La Land: City of stars
2016: A Cinematic Year In Review
by Matt Ward
It’s been a tough year. Just saying the word “2016” induces cringes from a vast majority of people, offering up painful thoughts of a highly divisive political campaign that may or may not have gone your way to general malaise about the state of the world to the seemingly endless rash of celebrity deaths that robbed us of talent far too soon. In the … Read More 2016: A Cinematic Year In Review
Cinematic Considerations 