La La Land
Film
Review
by Kam Williams
Gosling
and Stone Co-Star in Enchanting Homage to Hollywood Musicals
If you only
see one movie this year, you need to get out more. That being said,
La La Land is the picture to catch. This nostalgic homage to the
Golden Age of Hollywood is a panoramic masterpiece which makes very
effective use of every inch of the big screen.
Written and
directed by Oscar-nominee Damien Chazelle (for Whiplash), the picture
was shot in CinemaScope, a supposedly-obsolete technology that fell
out of favor with filmmakers in the late Sixties. Here, Chazelle
resurrects the wide-angled lens for a last hurrah in service of an
old-fashioned musical unfolding against a breathtaking array of L.A.
backdrops. La La also features an enchanting original score composed
by Justin Hurwitz who collaborated with college classmate Damien on
Whiplash as well as his debut offering, the deceptively-unassuming
Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench.
This
relatively-ambitious romantic romp revolves around Sebastian Wilder
and Mia Dolan, struggling artists played to perfection by Ryan
Gosling and Emma Stone, respectively. Their talented supporting cast
includes J.K. Simmons, John Legend and Rosemarie DeWitt.
After a
showstopping opening staged on a gridlocked freeway where stuck
motorists suddenly break into song and dance, we're introduced to the
likable leads. We learn that jazz pianist Sebastian's a purist
playing for tips in dingy dives while trying to save enough cash to
open his own nightclub. Mia's an aspiring actress who divides her
time between fruitless auditions and a thankless job as a barista at
a coffee shop right on the Warner Brothers lot.
Seb and Mia
are strangers who initially experience only aggravation whenever
their paths serendipitiously cross. Eventually, sparks do finally
fly, which inspires them to belt out mellifluous and melancholy
tunes. More importantly, they fall in love and encourage each other
to pursue their elusive dreams.
Since it
would be unfair to spoil any of the ensuing plot developments,
suffice to say that Gosling and Stone are pure delight, whether
warbling or just generating screen chemistry. A charming
crowd-pleaser that richly deserves all the superlatives it's
undoubtedly about to receive over the course of the upcoming awards
season!
Excellent (4
stars)
Rated PG-13 for profanity
Running time: 128 minutes
Distributor: Summit Entertainment
/ Lionsgate Films
To see a
trailer for La La Land, visit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pdqf4P9MB8
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