Generally speaking, when a film receives unabashed praise at a film festival, particularly with the awards season right around the corner, it’s only a matter of time until a backlash forms against critical opinion. Like many, our Jessica Kiang adored “La La Land” (read her review), and it still might be the buzziest flick to emerge from the Venice Film Festival. So, it’s extra heartening to hear from someone like Tom Hanks, who took time out of promoting “Sully” at the Telluride Film Festival to shout out “La La Land,” with words worth remembering when the movie faces the rigors of awards chatter in the months ahead.
“I think a movie like ‘La La Land’ would be anethema to studios. Number one, it is a musical and no one knows the songs,” he noted.
READ MORE: ‘La La Land,’ ‘Moonlight,’ ‘Sully’ & Amy Adams Are Telluride’s Oscar Breakouts
“This is not a movie that falls into some sort of trend. I think it is going to be a test of the broader national audience, because it has none of the things that major studios want,” Hanks continued. “Pre-Awareness is a big thing they want, which is why a lot of remakes are going on. ‘[La La Land’] is not a sequel, nobody knows who the characters are… But if the audience doesn’t go and embrace something as wonderful as this then we are all doomed.”
Indeed, Damien Chazelle wrote this movie before “Whiplash,” and when he couldn’t get it made, pivoted toward the jazz drama that earned so much acclaim. And Hanks is right in pointing out that “La La Land” is the kind of movie — an original musical — that doesn’t come out of Hollywood very often (and the actor should know, having directing “That Thing You Do!“), and if you’re an audience member, the only way to let studios know you’d prefer more movies like this, and less based on brands or existing properties, is to buy a ticket.
“La La Land” opens on December 2nd. [Deadline]
