+2
In my opinion, La La Land would be a significant step forward for the Acedemy if it wins Best Picture. Most Best Picture winners are set in the past, or don't have plots and themes that resonate with the younger generations that help drive the international box office. Too often, the Academy looks into the past with The Artist, Argo, Shakespeare In Love, The English Patient, The King's Speech, and Chicago. While some films do win that are not period pieces, like Spotlight and Birdman, they rarely represent that time and place they are set in. Now, I'm not saying that any of these films didn't deserve Best Picture (except The Artist), but they are rarely mentioned or thought about a year after they win because they can become "stuck in time". A good balance between looking backward into film history, looking forward into cinematic technique and technology, and representing your current time and place without becoming drenched in trends and fads is what usually leads to "timeless" films. I believe La La Land hits this balance perfectly.
But, I haven't seen all of the current nominees yet, soooo......
__________________
A man's got to know his limitations.