WEST HOLLYWOOD – Damien Chazelle is apologizing to me for fumbling his words. Justin Hurwitz is practically giddy. Why, you might ask? Oh, “La La Land” had its first AMPAS and guild screening in Los Angeles tonight and none other than Barbra Streisand showed up.
Let’s be very clear. Streisand does not attend public screenings of this sort on a regular basis. But she made sure to stop by the post-screening reception at The London Hotel and to ask the film’s director (Chazelle) and composer (Hurwitz) about which songs were sung live as well as chat about the influences of Michel Legrand who wrote the score and music for Streisand’s own movie musical, “Yentl.” The legend was accompanied by her longtime partner James Brolin and spent most of her night chatting with producer Marc Platt who has had quite a fall with the hit thriller “The Girl On The Train” and Ang Lee’s “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk.”
Eddie Redmayne hosted the screening and was joined by the movie’s leading lady and Best Actress contender Emma Stone, John Legend, costumer Mary Zophres (an Oscar nominee for “True Grit”) and producer Jordan Horowitz. James Corden, Zach Braff and Kate Mara were just a few of the other notable guild or AMPAS members in attendance.
If you’re wondering where Stone’s co-star Ryan Gosling was, he’s in Budapest shooting a little movie called “Blade Runner 2049.” He likely won’t be on the awards circuit until December but if you’re a guild member and discover he’s participating in a Q&A I’d suggest making it a priority to attend as he’s absolutely hilarious in person (I have some personal experience from moderating a “Nice Guys” Q&A with him this past April).
While Jennifer Lawrence technically hosted the first “La La Land” guild screening two weeks ago in New York (yes, Cate Blanchett was there), Lionsgate had circled Nov. 1 as the curtain raiser in Los Angeles. It’s been six weeks since “La La” finished its opening trifecta of Venice, Telluride and Toronto (where it won the People’s Choice Award). Sure, “La La” played Mill Valley, the Hamptons and the London Film Festival, but in terms of industry there haven’t been any official screenings until now. Moving forward there are a ton of them and most are already booked which is great news for a movie that deserves to be seen on the big screen.
The studio has received a number of requests to host screenings from major players (you’ll hear about it in the weeks ahead), but realized laying low is likely the best way to minimize too much hype over what many believe will be this year’s Best Picture winner. That being said, the reaction at this event just reminds you how enthused most Academy members are going to be after seeing it in person. It’s been an insane election year and no film may be lucky enough to benefit from members wanting to forget it all happened than the joyous and infectious “La La Land.”
There’s still a long way to go, but tonight reminded the other contenders in town what they are up against.
“La La Land” opens in Los Angeles and New York on Dec. 9. It opens nationwide on Dec. 16.