I Rewatched La La Land, And There’s A Big Part Of Emma Stone’s Plot That Makes No Sense

As a seasoned observer of the enchanting world of cinema, I find myself deeply moved by the intricate storylines that unfold within films like “La La Land“. However, upon pondering the character arc of Mia, a budding actress who aspires to make it big in Hollywood, I cannot help but feel a tad perplexed.

It’s indisputable that the movie “La La Land” was among the top films of 2016. Watching Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling portray their romantic tale for the third time on screen was captivating, not to mention the memorable tunes, stunning choreography, and the film’s dedication to the classic Hollywood musical genre. However, upon rewatching it, there’s one aspect of the 89th Academy Award-nominated movie that leaves me puzzled: the character development of Mia, played by Emma Stone, as an actress.

There’s a Lack of Mia’s Clear Journey to Professional Acting

In the finale of “La La Land,” a casting director from the audience of Mia’s one-woman show invites her for an audition. Although it’s unclear whether this specific audition was the one that launched her professional acting career, it doesn’t provide a definitive path to Mia’s career breakthrough.

In La La Land, we witness Mia’s tough journey, similar to that of many aspiring actresses, as she encounters numerous rejections during auditions. Unlike some, she doesn’t seem to have started with minor roles or extra work. It also seems she lacked an agent or manager to help her secure opportunities. If we presume her professional career began after a one-woman show audition, it appears more like an instant success, masking the hard work and perseverance typical of the intermediary stages. Essentially, the movie skips over the process of how she achieved her success.

Mia Is Apparently Only Capable of Playing Herself

As a devoted fan, I’ve noticed that Mia, who resides in Los Angeles, has had some unsuccessful attempts at auditions, where she played characters such as a cop, teacher, and doctor. It’s fascinating to see an aspiring actress stepping out of her real-life role and into diverse characters. Showing versatility and range are truly impressive traits for an actress. However, so far, Mia hasn’t convincingly portrayed anyone other than herself. One might argue that, if we’re to fully appreciate Mia as an actress, wouldn’t it be compelling to witness her triumphantly playing a character dramatically distinct from herself, perhaps even in the world of La La Land?

It’s reasonable to infer that Mia’s solo play “So Long, Boulder City” was a partially autobiographical work. As Sebastian put it, it was like peeking into her world through a bedroom window. The Eiffel Tower in the backdrop hinted at her fondness for Paris. If we consider Mia’s audition for the Paris film as the catalyst for her professional acting career, it suggests she aced the role by essentially playing herself. In her powerful rendition of the song from La La Land, Mia shared her tale about her aunt and the significance of being an artist. However, we’re left questioning whether she can convincingly portray characters other than herself or if she’s limited to embodying herself in her roles.

Did Mia Even Study Acting?

It’s unclear if Mia received formal acting training, despite her passion for the craft as suggested by her aunt’s influence and the classic movies she was introduced to. While we know Mia dropped out of college after two years, it’s unknown whether she pursued a theatre major or applied to prestigious drama schools like Juilliard or Tisch School of the Arts. Instead, it seems likely that Mia may have gone directly into auditions upon moving to Hollywood without additional training.

If Mia truly aspired to be an actress, she might have pursued theater studies in college or enrolled in workshops to hone her skills. It’s wiser to learn from experienced teachers or good acting books rather than relying solely on improvisation for success in auditions. However, the movie La La Land suggests that Mia believed a compelling script reading was enough to secure an opportunity.

Mia’s Luxurious Celebrity Lifestyle is Shown More Than Her Talent

As I sat down at the beginning of La La Land, there I was, just another barista serving coffee, when along came an actress I admired beyond words. Fast forward through the beautiful music and dance numbers, and at the end of the film, it was me behind the counter, staring in disbelief as she ordered her drink. If only the movie had ended differently, with me acting out of character, and then the camera revealing that it was all a scene we were shooting on set. That way, the audience could have witnessed my hidden talent shining brightly in front of the cameras.

Instead, what we observe is Mia’s grand house and her visage on posters. The finale of “La La Land” can be viewed as joyful, given that Mia achieved her dream. However, the opulent lifestyle associated with being a successful actress is more conspicuous to viewers than the actual realization of her craft. This suggests that the glamorous aspects of an acting career are perceived as significant, overshadowing the fortunate opportunity to exhibit one’s talents to the world.

Mia Would Travel for Acting, But Couldn’t Handle Sebastian Touring

Mia’s partner, Sebastian, chooses to team up with his old bandmate in a jazz fusion group to secure regular earnings. This means he needs to go on tours and stay away from Mia temporarily. After Sebastian receives a message from Mia expressing her longing for him, she appears quite down due to his prolonged absence. Later, when Sebastian cooks dinner for Mia at home, she expresses frustration towards him as he’s about to embark on an extended tour.

It’s understandable that Mia might feel uncomfortable with Sebastian frequently being away due to his tours, but isn’t it fair to consider that she would face the same situation if she were an actress? After all, she would also need to be absent for extended periods for filming and promotional events. If Mia truly aced the Paris film audition, she’d likely spend a significant amount of time abroad for shooting. It seems inconsistent for Mia to struggle with Sebastian’s absences when he is away, yet expect him to endure similar hardships if their roles were reversed and she pursued her ambitions. Given that Mia finds it challenging when Sebastian is absent, I find it difficult to imagine her managing extended periods of touring for her own career aspirations.

Mia Would Have Been Better Off as a Writer or Producer

When discussing her acting aspirations with Sebastian, Mia reveals she’s been writing plays since childhood and used to stage them in her bedroom. Thus, from an early age, Mia demonstrated her knack for writing. As a mature actress in Hollywood, Mia is also skilled at creating one-woman shows – a talent not every aspiring actress possesses. Despite her play failing to attract a large audience (perhaps because she didn’t copy the important names on her email list), it managed to catch the eye of one casting director. In her significant audition, Mia was instructed to share a personal story since the upcoming film lacked a script and the actors were tasked with writing their own parts. If we suppose that Mia landed the role afterwards, it was likely due to her talent for crafting a narrative while remaining authentic.

In a world filled with actresses who found success by writing their own projects, such as Issa Rae from “Insecure,” Rachel Bloom’s “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” and Nia Vardalos of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” there are others like Zendaya, Jennifer Lawrence, and Florence Pugh who started off playing roles that were unlike themselves, demonstrating their versatility and allowing their talents to shine. It would have been intriguing if the character of Mia in “La La Land” had followed a similar path. Instead, it might have been more fitting for her to be a writer or producer rather than an actress, given that she seemed to excel at constructing stories compared to playing roles that weren’t true to herself.

2024-10-29 23:39