Spoiler: not everyone loves La La Land
Photo courtesy of Academy Awards
Hollywood’s finest will gather in the Dolby Theatre, LA, on Sunday night for the Oscars. With films nominated across 24 categories, who will the big winners be? Sounding off about their favourite nominated films are three Hong Kong creatives from our Generation T list, sharing their expert opinions on who should win what.
Chris Carpio
Following his father's passion for live music, Chris Carpio has expanded the family music empire. A talented pianist with a love of everything from rock to jazz, Chris and his brother Bernard perform as the Carpio Brother's Quartet, bringing a new fresh sound to Hong Kong's live music scene.
"As much as I know everyone loved La La Land's music, it was just average to me, especially when you compare it to classics like Singin' in the Rain."
"I really enjoyed the enjoyed the way composer Thomas Newman used sci-fi ambient sounds in Passenger to set the scene of being in space. The suspense was all built by the music: bringing in the orchestra slowly and climaxing with a big string section. He then drops it back down again like nothing ever happened. It kept me on the edge of my seat."
Tian Macleod Ji
Making his award-winning documentary A Soldier at just 16, Hong Kong filmmaker Tian Macleod Ji has a keen eye for storytelling. A BAFTA scholarship to study in Hong Kong enabled him to pursue his passion for film, and he's now working on his next project about the Cultural Revolution--watch this space.
"La La Land was the big winner when I was at the BAFTAs earlier this month--and deservedly so, it's a real visual treat with great performances to boot. I'm going to say that the same will happen at the Oscars, although Natalie Portman might just nab Best Actress for Jackie over Emma Stone."
"I'm sad to see Scorsese's Silence not up for more awards--I thought it was the film of the year with some incredible performances, especially Liam Neeson in the supporting role."
Wan Pin Chu
A graduate of King’s College London and the Royal College of Music, talented musician Wan Pin Chu has played for Prince William, Xi Jinping, and is currently working with music producer Maggie Rodford, the musical genius behind Thor and Gladiator.
"Musicals aren’t very common in mainstream cinema, and I think that and the narrative about following your dreams has made La La Land so popular. I think everyone can relate their lives to this story. The score is quite cheesy--you can hear similar music in a lot of old musicals--but the songs are catchy."
"I think in terms of innovation, Moonlight has the best soundtrack. It’s original and new for film scoring. Arrival was another of my favourites: the storytelling is really creative, and the nonlinear format gives a great twist at the end."
See also: 5 Jazz Bars in Hong Kong To Visit After Watching La La Land