La La Land - movie review
La La Land
Plot: A jazz pianist falls for an aspiring actress in Los Angeles.
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, John Legend
Director: Damien Chazelle
Certificate: 12A (infrequent strong language)
Runtime: 2hrs 8 mins
Release Date: Friday 13th January 2017
This is going to be a little difficult to convey through writing but I currently have a ridiculous smile across my face that will not and shall not diminish for a long time. Why? Well, it may be because I am listening to the La La Land soundtrack on repeat for the past few days. It may be because I'm still reeling from the sheer joy I experienced when watching La La Land. The final option might be that simply the thought of any moment from La La Land creates that emotional response. Whichever factor it is, the blame falls entirely on La La Land. Thank You God.
If there has ever been a perfect pair in movies, the prime current example would be Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. They proved themselves to have the ideal romantic chemistry needed to succeed in Crazy, Stupid Love and then again in Gangster Squad (kind of?) but they are a match made in heaven throughout La La Land. I haven't seen quite an authentic fictional pairing in ages. From memory, the last couple that had the strongest physical bond on a film set was between Stacy Martin and Shia LaBeouf in Nymphomaniac and let's just say that their bond wasn't only in the romantic sense if you know what I mean. Moving away from all that fiasco, La La Land provides both of its leads with a gigantic leaping point into awards contention. Ryan Gosling has had a sensational few years. After his brilliant comedic turn with Russell Crowe in The Nice Guys, Gosling has only gone from strength to strength. No more is he asking Rachel McAdams what she wants. Through his performance in La La Land as Sebastian, an aspiring jazz musician who has a dream of opening his own jazz club to revive the supposed 'dead' genre, Gosling has solidified himself as one of the currently living greats of the acting world. The drive and ambition he holds within is beautiful to see from an actor. Without any prosthetics or effects of any kind, Gosling transforms into this hopeful dreamer so much so that I never saw him as Ryan Gosling. As for how he handles the musical numbers, he's a natural. He oozes swagger and confidence yet still maintains this wide eyed personality as he falls for Emma Stone's Mia.
Speaking of Emma Stone, can this lady do anything wrong? Emma Stone honestly is perfect in every way possible. I knew Gosling was capable with the musicality but for Stone, her previous work hadn't indicated a musical background. She fared amazingly. Her character of Mia is instantly lovable and incredibly relatable for me, someone who did once have the ambition to become an actor. She was the one I connected with most and a lot of that connection is due to Stone delivering her strongest performance to date. After seeing her in this, my opinion of how outstanding she is highly likely to ever change. A news report could break that she's burned a litter of puppies alive and I'd brush it aside like it was a leaf blowing in the wind. Mia, similar to Sebastian, has come to Los Angeles with the ambition to crack Hollywood and become a globally recognised actress. She's stuck in a dead end job at a coffee shop on a studio lot, so having films shoot around her 24/7 both infuriates her and fuels her dream even more. Mia repeatedly attends auditions. Some go well whilst some are unbearably awkward but then again, I have had my share of auditions too (for drama schools) and they are perfectly represented in this film. Like Sebastian, La La Land will make you fall in love with Mia. My favourite aspect of her character is her love for movies, be it classical or modern. In a brilliant scene between Gosling and Stone, she notes down what inspired her to start acting and points out all the little references on the studio lot as they tour the area. For a film nerd like me, it's the most joyous sensation to see someone who reminds you of yourself. Stone also copes with the musical numbers perfectly performing like she's been on Broadway her entire life. The particular scene that might just get her the Oscar involves her song 'Audition'. Even though I've only seen La La Land once as of yet, every time I hear that song, Stone's powerful voice gives me chills every time. That about covers the performances because La La Land only focuses on Mia and Sebastian in their loving adventures. John Legend makes a small appearance as a possible lure to tease Gosling away but he's not a bad guy. Plus, Legend owns the voice of a god so anything he stars in where he gets to use his lungs will always be a positive. Jesus Christ that man is talented.
FACT: The audition scene, where the casting director interrupts Mia's emotional performance to take a phone call, was actually inspired by one of Ryan Gosling's auditions in real life.
In complete and total honesty, I don't think I've ever walked out of a film fully beaming all the way from leaving the cinema doors to arriving home. La La Land is the definition of the epitome of the greatness movies can achieve nowadays. The story, whilst nothing wholly original or fresh and new, the execution of it all is stupendous and showcases the talent that Hollywood has to offer. Damien Chazelle is a master. He proved he was a director to be reckoned with after his magnificent film in the form of Whiplash and now with La La Land under his belt, Chazelle is possibly the best director working today. Judging by the quality of his films so far, he currently ranks up there among Christopher Nolan and Steven Spielberg. Chazelle's passion for music, especially jazz, is stunning and easily noticeable in both of these film. This passion then leads to brilliant filmmaking with Chazelle becoming a director to film music in a way that others have tried and failed. Every single frame that Chazelle helms is on an unbelievable level of beauty. If Whiplash was Da Vinci's The Last Supper, La La Land is the Mona Lisa. Chazelle and his cinematographer have made the most beautiful film of the year so much so that they have even depicted parts of Los Angeles as a gorgeous paradise when I know they really aren't. For the story itself, please don't let the idea of it being a romance story put anyone off. I know a few people that when I explained that two people in LA fall in love, they pull a face that looks like they're trying to do a poor imitation of Robert DeNiro. La La Land contains many themes that wouldn't usually be present in either a musical or romance but their inclusion of ideas like hopes, dreams and fighting oppression is wonderful to be included especially in our current social state. Feeling happy has become a bit of a liberty so for a film to provide pure, imaginative and total joy means that this really is something special. La La Land also feels very grounded in reality. Considering that it's set in the middle of Hollywood itself, very little of what LA life is like, is glamorised. Obviously, the musical numbers are vibrant and colourful but the idea of failed auditions and inability to achieve one's dream is very accurate. But here lies the reason as to why La La Land might be one of the greatest films I've seen in some time. It reminded me why I love film. Not that I ever needed reminding but La La Land was that gentle tap on the shoulder saying 'Hey, here's why you love what you do'. That is very explicit during the final ten minutes. Damien Chazelle must have a thing for endings because, as he did with Whiplash, the conclusion of this film is perfect. It hit me in such a way that all the nostalgia of movie memories and the feeling of a director knowing his audience couldn't help but bring a satisfied tear to me eye. For a movie to reinforce my love of movies themselves, that is a feat indeed.
Seeing as La La Land is a musical, the one thing I haven't touched upon yet are the songs. So, how are they? Each and every song is idyllic and they are bound to get stuck in your head. I think I've actually developed a severe problem bordering on addiction to La La Land's soundtrack. I listened to it fully two times consecutively at midnight. I don't think that's healthy. All of them are pitch perfect with outstanding vocals and the most amazing choreography but as with most musicals, there are some truly excellent numbers that bury themselves into your subconsciousness that you hum them in your sleep. The opening of La La Land instantly sold me on how tremendous this was going to be. It felt old school and harkened back to the classical 50's musical like West Side Story. City Of Stars will easily be in top contention for Best Original Song for the Oscars and deservedly so. All the songs have a specific meaning and are rightfully introduced into the film with a smooth transition meaning that there isn't a time where the actors may as well have turned to the camera and exclaimed 'Here comes a song'. The dancing is brilliant and very professional from everyone. It has given me the belief that with a few tweaks in regards to location, this could make a convincing stage show. La La Land did give me the sensation that I was watching a landmark Broadway musical. As for film buffs like myself, if you have a keen eye, there are many Easter Eggs to spot referencing films of a bygone era. Sets, costumes and all of those technical bits and bobs are undeniably first class so my prediction would be that La La Land will sweep the Oscars. It already did at the Golden Globes so it seems highly likely.
This is what a Best Picture winner looks like. La La Land is sheer perfection in every sense of the word. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone give the performance of their careers and arguably, the year (Stone could have a stronger chance at winning over Gosling just because of the 'Audition' song). Damien Chazelle has joined the ranks of all time greats. Future filmmakers should look to him for inspiration. The songs have gone past the definition of excellent and for to embed themselves into my brain after one viewing is the highest praise for a musical I can give. If you're still not convinced that La La Land is mind blowing, I'm of the firm belief that if you said I could only watch one movie for the rest of my life and my choice was between La La Land and The Force Awakens, I'd choose La La Land. Here's to the fools who dream...
My Verdict: 10/10
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