Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench

I think what really impressed me was how much was left unspoken and instead was expressed by either the most minute physical gesture or simply just sung, no in-between.

When you consider that Guy and Madeline only had a budget of $60,000 and featured a great score and some great dance sequences, a 45 seems a bit harsh. But the overuse of closeups and poor acting really annoyed me. Damn am I glad Chazelle has been given bigger projects though.

my impression is that this wants to be something more than it wants to express something.

78.00

I could see that this film absolutely tried to be something special. It draws inspiration from old Hollywood musicals and FNW. But it never really feels like a musical, rather it just feels awkward at points and painfully aimless. Yet there were some good things in here, and some genuine scenes - and some that had a great idea that we marvel at the idea rather than the execution of it. Still, it just doesn't feel like it was anything enjoyable mostly. There was one cool musical number though.

"The film's visual splendor is undercut by the nagging realization that it's in the service of a tepid snapshot of happy-go-ditzy ciphers." - Nick Schager

It is a little bit too elliptical and haphazard to fully connect with, but in its themes (and of course in the music) the roots of Chazelle's future work can be seen.

Imaginative (though i wouldn't exactly call it "original" per se) pastiche of French New Wave and Hollywood Musical affectations, with results about as haphazard and uneven as one could expect. Taken as a whole it doesn't quite work, and i for one would argue that the musical element should have been excised altogether, however there are some moments of impressionistic beauty in the verite style, and i have to give the filmmakers credit for their ambition and experimental spirit.

Mumblecore musical