La La Land (2016) User Reviews

My favourite movie

[tuggerwaugh · 10/10 · 7 February 2020]

The best movies ever made may be Schindler's List or The Shawshank Redemption or Pulp Fiction or Goodfellas or even Groundhog Day. But one movie stands out for me: La La Land.

It's perfectly shot, the acting is underplayed in a time when most cinematic blockbusters overact like they are on stage with Jerry Springer. The music is exceptional and the colour is something out of a fairytale.

I understand why people don't like musicals. That's your call. Don't rate it then. I don't rate superhero movies because I know the good guys will defeat the bad guys in a predictable monstrosity to chase revenue. This movie doesn't have fight scenes or a shootout or car chase - it's about one basic premise we all face in life - do you follow your dream or your heart?

It's a combination of everything that's great about the movies and it shows restraint at the end when it could have easily chosen a different path for our couple.

It's funny in parts, excruciatingly sad in others. It finds the perfect balance. It's a masterpiece.

Like a dream come true, one of those films that totally banishes the blues away

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 12 January 2017]

Having just gotten back from seeing 'La La Land', with a rare day off music college, it came to me that it was one of the best new release/first viewings for me in a while.

Very few films in recent memory has left me leave the cinema with my heart properly warmed, a beaming smile on my face, tears in my eyes, feeling uplifted and properly moved. 'La La Land' however has managed that feat. Would also go further to say that it is one of the best modern film musicals after Disney's Renaissance period in the 90s, and very much a modern classic. Am not surprised at all its award wins and nominations (including being a record breaker at the Golden Globes), and if it does well at the Oscars as well there will be no complaints from me.

'La La Land' clicked with me most likely because of my love for golden age Hollywood, musicals (a somewhat maligned genre these days, but while there are a fair share of not particularly good ones there are a bigger number of great ones and even masterpieces), and how it fondly reminded me of what makes me love them so much. Also because of being able to relate to its themes and conflicts, due to being there myself. The talent was also appetising, starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, directed by 'Whiplash's' Damien Chazelle and featuring cameo support from JK Simmons (who coincidentally won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for 'Whiplash), John Legend and Rosemarie DeWitt.

It was just sheer joy to see a film with so much potential deliver on that potential and even more so, having seen a lot of stuff recently film and TV that wasted their potential it was refreshing to see a film actually delivering on it.

Visually, 'La La Land' is a gorgeous-looking film, with lots of vibrant colour that leap out at you from the screen while not having too much of a dizzying effect and cinematography that's not just a dream to behold but inventively done without falling into self-indulgent territory. The music and songs may induce, and has induced, mixed reactions, count me in as somebody who found the songs infectious, emotion-filled and with enough to make one top-tap and hum along.

The musical numbers are winningly choreographed too with non-stop exuberance. The opening number is especially true to this. The script is warm, funny, affectionate and poignant, and also with an honesty. It's not a complex script, nor did it need to be, and neither does it make the mistake of being too simple. The story is admittedly slight in places, then again so were the stories of even the best golden age musicals and they still managed to be classics because of how everything else was executed and because of the atmosphere.

Something that is true with 'La La Land', a film where anybody can relate to its themes. Even more special though is that not only does it pay tribute to musicals and films of the golden age (especially those with MGM), with their bold colour, exuberant marriage of music and dance, it also has a winsomeness and melancholic nature seen in films like 'The Umbrellas of Cherbourg' yet does it in a way that will appeal hugely to modern audiences. Loved that the two leads' relationship and chemistry was much more complex than the love-at-first-sight sort (far from it, more antagonists turned lovers) with a meet cute first encounter (again also not a case).

Chazelle's direction shows someone with a sheer love for film and film-making, more than evident in execution that is affectionate and full-of-life rather than self-indulgent. The chemistry between the two leads and their performances would need to be good to make the film work. No worries there. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone look so natural and at ease together, nothing looks false and it is easy to root for them and their conflicts.

Both of them give terrific performances, performances so good that less than great singing was immediately forgotten about. Especially Stone who has never been better in a performance of great expressivity and nuance, so many emotions such as vulnerability, strength, cheekiness, charm and buoyancy with never a hint of a heavy-handed touch. Gosling matches her, if not quite as good, showing a very charismatic presence and an effortless twinkling charm. All the support, although basically cameos, registers memorably.

All in all, a dream come true and totally banishes any blues and daily troubles away. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Dream or Love

[yuenyeeac · 8/10 · 16 April 2020]

I love you, you can not spend time with me, but it is taboo to look down on my dreams. You don't look at yourself, indulge in fame, forget the original intention, you have no reason to lose temper with me. I love you when you talk about your dreams, and I do n't love you. I am busy, and I have my dream to work hard. I love you, so let me go. Sebastian let her go after her dream because he loved Mia. Because only he knew where her brightest eyes, the most gorgeous smile, and the most energetic look of the whole person came from. Because I love you, I am not qualified to imprison you by my side. I can never tolerate you doing anything wronged for me. "About us, just wait for the answer." Sebastian said as he sat on the bench on the top of the mountain, Mia nodded in conscience. Even the farewell is full of tacit understanding, and at a glance everything is understood. There is no bitterness and hatred, no complaint. These are two independent personalities who hold the right to choose. In the bright future, there will be no more lovers like you who appreciate me, but I have a complete dream and myself. After maturity, Mia became a big star, with a mansion, children, gentleman husband. Sebastian opened a jazz club, the venue was full, the name she gave was the same. Love is the most regrettable, the most indecent, the most shining, the most incomprehensible, the sweetest, and the most grievous, making life in your hands trivial. Reluctant to say something later, miss is to miss. We have a calmer and more mature life at the cost of losing each other. But if we did not choose to say goodbye, we will not arrive safely on this shore now. Dreams seem to be the killer of love, but without dreams, she will not be attracted by the piano sound until the downfall of genius falls into her arms. It is a dream to make the two lives full of life and make all the lost things meaningful.

Loving you is like loving part of my life

[IreneWatsonC · 8/10 · 4 April 2020]

This movie is infinitely close to when we were young: arrogant, romantic, dreamy, longing for love, but lack of money. Then when we have tasted the hardships and pains of society and finally achieved something, is the person around you still the one you love the most? Only when you have thoroughly pained and loved, can you understand how difficult it is to be innocent love. Only when you let go can you support your dream and fulfill your pursuit. In the end, Mia's fantasy surprised all the audience. This is the fantasy of all sweet love, and it is the most exciting meaning of this movie. I dare say that if there is no final fantasy, or the hero and heroine are together again, this movie will eventually become a second-rate love song and dance drama. Only if you can't get it, can you fully understand the bitterness and sweetness of youth. After all, the most beautiful love is just a flash in the pan. I love you, but I can only wish you happiness. This is the supreme love. This love becomes a part of life and a belief. LA LA LAND, loving you is like loving part of my life.

Nostalgic, Colourful, Joyous CinemaScope Magic

[CalRhys · 18 January 2017]

Do I like musicals? Not really... but damn, 'La La Land' is a nostalgic, colourful, joyful marvel!

Damien Chazelle gained international acclaim and recognition from his masterful drama 'Whiplash', what were the chances that he could pull off similar success two times in the row? Well, if 'La La Land' is anything to go by, then I'd say he did the job. With just three films under his belt as of 2016, Chazelle is slowly becoming the next big thing this movie industry has seen. His passion for classic movies and musicals is evident as he references and pulls influence from films like 'Singin' in the Rain', 'The Umbrellas of Cherborg' and even 'Rebel Without a Cause', the latter of which is one of my favourite films so seeing the nod to it was something I was pleased about.

The chemistry between Gosling and Stone is strong to say the least, after two previous collaborations, their already-strong bond helped them become one of modern-day cinema's finest couples. The music is bouncy and toe-tapping catchy, the cinematography is utterly stunning with gorgeous colours and impressive long takes, and the locations sum up the American dream and the passion the characters hold for Los Angeles. 'La La Land' is by far one of the finest cinema experiences I have had in the past 5-10 years, and although this isn't a film I would typically enjoy (genre-wise), Chazelle has instead crafted one of my favourite films of this decade. A film I would recommend everyone see in the cinema to truly witness the CinemaScope magic.

Love letter to Hollywood .. and a Heck of a Film

[A_Different_Drummer · 10/10 · 1 January 2017]

Writer/Director Damien Chazelle, who already had a nice career going for him, explodes into the Bigtime with this delightful, mesmerizing, and completely unexpected ode to Tinseltown.

The opening sequence (satirized on the Golden Globes) really does not do the rest of the film justice. It is as if the cast from the FAME remake grew up, had children of their own, and then those children hijacked the Santa Monica freeway to do a 10 minute flash-mob dance sequence.

From that point on, the film is hypnotic.

We segue to a love story as pure as anything since the great dramas of the 1940s. If the film had been in B&W, you would almost have expected to see Bette Davis in a 3-hankie tear jerker.

Except for the musical interludes, of course, which are pitch perfect and totally wonderful.

Gosling is surprising as a leading man expected to do song and dance, but he delivers the goods.

Stone, who was supposed to be "the next big thing" after Easy A (2010), steals the film and possibly the hearts of the audience as well. The awards should flow like water, and she will deserve every one.

As I said, deep in the DNA this is an ode to Hollywood. The film industry has always had issues with endings -- back in the day they would film several different endings per picture -- and then decide at the last minute which to use. Here Chazelle pays homage to that by giving us an alternate ending, along with the "real" ending, along with a closing sequence designed to remind everyone that nothing in Hollywood is actually real, but everything still can be really fun.

Destined to be a classic. Recommended.

((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

Shocked me how good it was

[elijahz · 9/10 · 27 November 2019]

I remember when I saw the trailers for this movie, I thought it would be a sad but sweet love story and nothing more. And while it is that it brings so much more flare and beauty that I would never have expected from this. It took me three years to see it and it far out shone any expectation I had.

The best movie of 2016

[proud_luddite · 9/10 · 20 March 2018]

The main characters in this Los Angeles romantic musical are Mia (Emma Stone), a coffee-shop employee with dreams of being an actress; and Sebastian (Ryan Gosling), a jazz pianist who aspires to open his own club that plays jazz like it was played in the good old days.

At long last: a movie released during the 2016 awards season that actually lives up to the hype!

Early in the film, there are two superb group musical numbers. The numbers that follow are more low-key relating only to the main characters but they are still well performed and executed.

The stories of career struggle within the broader narrative are very believable. They include the hell of auditioning to people who are too busy plus the desire to maintain the purity of a great music genre (jazz) while too often being told it is "a dying art".

Gosling takes a while to break into the role particularly where the singing is concerned but it's not long before he fits into the part quite nicely. Stone is superb throughout the film. She is even spot-on as an actress giving mediocre auditions. She's given a full range - and not just as a triple threat - and she fully lives up to the expectations especially during the song "Audition" near the end.

There is something uniquely enjoyable about Hollywood portraying itself. The movie also gives nods to great classic musicals like "Singin' in the Rain", "Les Demoiselles de Rochefort", and "Les Parapluies de Cherbourg" all the while being unique and standing out on its own. In addition, the set designs and photography add further to the film's greatness.

The reference to "Les Parapluies de Cherbourg" comes through strongly in the movie's final number. This scene is probably the best scene of any movie in 2016. It leaves one with so many mixed emotions and extreme on either side. The production number is magnificent while its mood is melancholy.

The teaming of director/writer Damien Chazelle with musical composer Justin Hurwitz is one of the best matches since Jacques Demy and Michel Legrand in the 1960s. - dbamateurcritic

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS:

1) Directing by Damien Chazelle

2) Acting by Emma Stone

3) Music by Justin Hurwitz

For The Love Of Movies

[marcosaguado · 9/10 · 27 January 2017]

Damien Chazelle is a young director who loves and knows movies, from Federico Fellini to Jacques Demy. Hallellujah! Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone go back to inspire us forward. What's more surprising than anything else is the feel of amateurishness in the dancing in the singing. So refreshing not to have a sleek but empty experience. Damian Chazelle' Whiplash was a brilliant preview of forthcoming attractions. I would love to see a thriller directed by Chazelle, something like Shadow Of A Doubt or even a glossy damsel in distress story like Midnight Lace. That's what happens when we discover a new and startling talent. You want to see him do everything. I have a feeling this young artist will.

"It's very nostalgic – will people like it?"

[bob-the-movie-man · 10/10 · 16 January 2017]

A little film. Not sure whether you might have heard of it yet? Damien Chazelle has followed up his astonishingly proficient "Whiplash" – my top film of 2015 – with a sure-fire theatre-filler in "La La Land". The old- fashioned musical extravaganza is back, and back with style!

"La La Land" tells the bittersweet love story of Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) and Mia (Emma Stone) who first meet in an LA traffic jam but then get thrown together by chance (LA is such a small place after all!). Over the course of the next four seasons romance blossoms.

Mia is a struggling actress bouncing from audition to audition in a hopeless attempt to break through in LA's tough movie business. She makes ends meet as a Barista on the Warner Brother's lot. Meanwhile Sebastian is on a mission of his own: a talented musician, he is trying to restore jazz to the main stage (something the film's soundtrack will undoubtedly help do!) by opening his own classic jazz bar. As both strive for success on their own terms can love survive to deliver us the classic 'Hollywood ending'?

The film is technically astonishing, with clever continuous shots of the "Birdman" variety and masterly cinematography (by Linus Sandgren of "Joy" and "American Hustle"). The lighting team in particular is superb: a case in point is Mia's 'in-Seine' (sic) song, with breathtaking fades of the background to darkness, a camera whizz-around the actress for effect and then a brilliant fade back to reality. Loved it. Overall, there are enough similar moments in the film to make cinema-lovers like me gasp with delight.

There's a curious timelessness about the piece which is surely deliberate. Whilst there are obvious and non-apologetic throwbacks to the classic musicals of the 50's like "West Side Story" and "Singin' in the Rain" and references to "Casablanca" and "Rebel without a Cause", there is also a 60's vibe to the 'girls getting ready' sequence; an 80's A-ha cover thrown in at a pool party; and a Californian Prius obsession that is surely more 'noughties' than current. Most curiously, while everyone has smartphones no one seems to text anyone to announce changes to plans: the film is almost distancing itself from much of modern life.

In the acting stakes Emma Stone again shines like a beacon. She is just magnetic on the screen: (tiny spoiler) the biggest plot hole in the film is why on earth she wasn't given the part for her first audition! I was disappointed she didn't win the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for "Birdman" in the "87th Awards" (she lost out to Patricia Arquette for "Boyhood"): but she just keeps getting better and Better and BETTER.

Ryan Gosling's confident and cocky turn also radiates charisma: in particular, it is astonishing that Gosling could play "only a few chords" on the piano before training for the film. A confidence boost for struggling piano learners everywhere.

It is actually difficult to imagine two better actors for the roles. (Emma Watson allegedly turned it down for "Beauty and the Beast": something she might be kicking herself for!) Are they both the best singers and dancers when compared to Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Debbie Reynolds (R.I.P.) or Cyd Charisse? No, undoubtedly not, but they have an undeniable charm all of their own. (Perhaps we will see the ilk of the great hoofers and crooners rise again with a resurgence in the classic musical. Can Hollywood take a hint?)

The big question: now that both Stone and Gosling have won Golden Globes for acting in the "Comedy or Musical" category, can they convert that to Oscar glory where there is a single category in play? I'd like to think so.

It's also great to see proper movie-making taking place in the Hollywood studios again: during my recent visits to LA there seemed to be little other than TV work going on in the main studio complexes there (although its worth pointing out that for this film not all of the filming was actually done on the Warner Brothers lot).

Musicals are clearly measured by the quality of the music, and Justin Hurwitz ("Whiplash") has produced a gem with – notwithstanding the jazz numbers and a catchy little pop number from John Legend – merely a handful of simple but unforgettable melodies that recur in different variations throughout the film. The soundtrack is already in my Amazon library and uplifting my mood on what is a damp and dreary Monday here in the UK.

Damien Chazelle has delivered a triumph in both direction and original script. There is really very little I can fault the film on. In what was the somewhat patchy Coen brothers offering from last year – "Hail Caesar" – there was a standout moment of a throwback song and dance number with Channing Tatum that I raved about (you can find it on youtube). If I was being picky, then this tantalizing snippet would be a better representation of the style and vim of the original genre – – with the exception of the opening number, few of the song and dance numbers in "La La Land" quite get to that "Broadway Melody" level of scale and energy. This, together with a few concerns about the pacing in some places, led me to rate this as a 4.5 on first viewing.

However on now seeing it twice within 36 hours, it's got me well and truly under its spell! I normally emotionally resist films that arrive with excessive hype… but, in this case… I give in. 10/10.

(For the graphical version of this review, visit bob-the-movie-man.com).

I respect it but don't love it

[DanLawson146 · 7/10 · 6 April 2020]

POSITIVES:

1) Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone are both absolutely sensational in this film.

2) The relationship is completely believable, largely due to great performances and writing. I really wanted both central characters to succeed in their endeavours and to succeed in their relationship together 3) The film is very emotional in all the best ways. I loved the heartbreak of the ending as it feels like an inferior film would've had an overly simplistic happy ending

NEGATIVES:

1) I realise that what I'm asking for is a completely different film, but I didn't enjoy any of the musical sequences in this film. I just HATE the opening sequence in the singing traffic jam, I thought it was terrible, and none of the other musical sequences were much better in my opinion 2) Outside of our two leads, the rest of the characters aren't really fleshed out at all and feel somewhat like caricatures 3) The film very much feels like a passion project from Chazelle, which in a way is good in that he was allowed to realise his vision, but in a way is bad because it feels very undisciplined at times and the way in which the film is so obsessed with jazz and movies is a bit cliche at times.

Very Well Made But Not My Kind Of Movie

[Theo Robertson · 7/10 · 17 January 2017]

Did someone say last year's Oscars were too white ? So let's award most of this year's Oscars to something that looks like an explosion in a paint factory where every primary colour is splashed across the screen . LA LA LAND was being touted as the film to beat even before most of the other contenders were announced and its domination at the Golden Globes confirmed everything . Looks like the 2017 Oscars will be the most predictable event of this year

Romantic musicals aren't my thing so my dread was realised in the opening scene with a California highway turning in to a song and dance scene so camp I thought I was watching a forest of pink tents which hints at what you're going to get - feelgood factor whether you want it or not . It was at this point I seriously considered giving up on the movie and going on youtube to listen to proper love songs by the likes of The The and Joy Division

As the film continued the narrative did expose itself to being what you expect , two young people , a man and a woman , who are embarking on fulfilling their careers in respectively jazz music and acting . There's not a lot here we haven't seen before but what sells this movie is the visual work director Damien Chazelle has put in to it . The language of cinema is very much to the fore especially the stunning cinematography and my abiding memory is the scene where the two protagonists meet and an impact aesthetic is instantly created by the way the lighting changes . Many scenes are similarity beautiful but if there's a fundamental problem remains that no matter how well made a film is if you've no interest in the genre then you won't become a convert . As it stands LA LA LAND will dominate the Oscars like the French film THE ARTIST did five years ago then become quickly forgotten

A nice experiment...though I wasn't exactly captivated by it.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 11 November 2018]

"La La Land" made quite a splash after it debuted. It's now on IMDB's Top 250 and received 6 Oscars! But, with all that publicity, it might just leave you feeling like me...that's it is a decent film, but hardly a great film.

The story is of two struggling artists...one an actress (Emma Stone) and another a jazz musician (Ryan Gosling). Each appears ready to give up their beloved craft after years of disappointments and bills....and that is when they both meet and fall in love. Ultimately, however, their careers DO take off and this leads you to wonder if they can make it TOGETHER. After all, being a famous actress or musician isn't exactly part-time work!

In many ways, this film reminds me of the ending in "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg". This sort of downbeat ending didn't really bother me...it was realistic. But somehow "La La Land" muddled it all up...and left you with a confusing ending that PROBABLY was like "Umbrellas"...but maybe wasn't. I found this to be a huge problem. Aside from this, I also was not a huge fan of the characters...though I must admit it DID leave me misty-eyed more than a few times. Well worth seeing...but a film that isn't perfect...and you'd expect a six Oscar film to be absolutely perfect.

Believe the hype

[gsygsy · 9/10 · 9 October 2016]

What a great movie! Who would have thought anyone could bring the original screen musical back from the dead? Yet here it is, hale and hearty.

The music is melodic but never simplistic; the lyrics are intelligent and intelligible; the script is funny, touching without ever resorting to sentimentality; the two leads are not only skillful but full of a kind of charm that I honestly thought had disappeared entirely from American movies: but here we have Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone just oozing it.

The only pebbles in this ocean of inventiveness are some routine dance routines and over-reliance on the device of lights dimming on set to isolate an actor in white light, but that's me being r-e-a-l-l-y picky. It may well be that this is the best musical written directly for the screen since SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS.

All credit to writer-director Damien Chazelle and his team - and it really feels like a team-movie - for giving us this gem. Sure it's a feelgood piece, but it creates a world which is complex, it acknowledges alternative outcomes for its characters, it connects with people's passions, and in the case of Ms Stone's big solo, "Audition", it has a bona fide classic.

This "hardly musical" can't compare with the great song and dance films of the past

[SimonJack · 5/10 · 7 May 2021]

After watching this movie in early 2021 on DVD, I was puzzled by its very high IMDb rating. With more than half a million ratings, "La La Land" had an average of 8.0. I am a long-time fan of musicals of all varieties, so the high rating of this film seems strange. How could so many people think this film is equal to the best musicals of all time? Do they really think it is better than all but a few musicals? Musicals with a dozen or more songs? With hit tunes? With great compositions by famous composers? With singing by the best and most popular singers? With dance numbers and choreography by the greatest hoofers of all time?

"La La Land" has a total of six songs. The great musicals have 10 to 18 songs. Can anyone name a single hit tune from this movie? Can anyone even remember one of the songs? Did either of the leads record any of the songs -- Ryan Gosling or Emma Stone? Are either of them known for their singing or recording? Does either one have a hit record? Are there any known dancers in this film?

I have seen way more than 200 musicals, and most of them were better than "La La Land." So, when I watched this film, it struck me that most of the people who rated it just hadn't seen many musicals. Surely none of the great ones of the past. And that would mean that they have little to compare with what little music, singing and dancing there is in this movie. So, perhaps it's a sign of the times. Perhaps there aren't such gifted musicians and singers and dancers that past decades had. Or, it might be an indication of how starved modern audiences are for quality entertainment.

But there are a couple other possibilities for why this movie is rated so high. The first is the sentimental romance story. Modern people may be starved for good entertainment in the area of romance and love with the technology overload of the 21st century. And, then there is the "sale" of Los Angeles itself - including Hollywood and related sights. The publicity says from the start that this movie is a celebration of L. A. And, it shows a glamorized city, all clean and neat and without blemish. One wonders how many of the ratings for this movie came from the movie capital itself - from the 13 million people of the Los Angeles area, or the 24 million of southern California.

It's not hard to imagine that a real propaganda film for the movie capital of the world, got high marks from its own area. And, that some others who thought it a smashing musical are among a population that doesn't know the great musicals of the past and/or that is starved for really great musical talent and entertainment. Adding all of that together is probably the basis for the high rating of this movie. I would wager that after separating out all the ratings of this movie that came from Southern California, the resulting average from the rest of the country - however large or small the number, would not be higher than 7.0, and would probably be closer to 6.5 or lower. There probably are a lot of 10 ratings from the Los Angeles environs, and many 7, 6 and lower ratings from the rest of the country.

I'm not trashing the acting of Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone or any of the rest of the cast of this film. They were good to very good. But none of them are accomplished singers or dancers. While a couple of the choreographed larger dance scenes are good, they are more acrobatic with modern dance, than anything like the footwork of the great talents in films of the past. This film has nothing to compare to Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Gene Nelson, Ginger Rogers, Eleanor Powell or dozens more actors who also could sing and dance.

With so many reviews already, I'm just weighing in to apprise younger audiences who enjoy musicals of all kinds, about some of the truly great musicals of the past. Here's a short list of films everyone should enjoy. For starters, there are three wonderful films from the 1930s - "Top Hat" of 1935, "Show Boat" of 1936, and "The Wizard of Oz" of 1939. The last one was in color. Color would take over after "Broadway Melody of 1940" and following the war years. The 1940s included top hits such as "Blue Skies" of 1946 with a dozen Irving Berlin tunes and Fred Astaire's debut of "Puttin' on the Ritz," and "Easter Parade" of 1948 with Judy Garland and Astaire. The 1950s were dynamite years for great musicals - "On Moonlight Bay" of 1951, "Singin' in the Rain" of 1952 with Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds, "The Glenn Miller Story" of 1954, "White Christmas" of 1954 with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye, and three of the greatest Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals - "Oklahoma" of 1955, "The King and I" of 1956, and "South Pacific" of 1958. The 1960s had such great musicals as "Westside Story" of 1961, "My Fair Lady" and "Mary Poppins" of 1964, "The Sound of Music" of 1965, and "Hello Dolly" of 1969.

And, although the interest in musicals had waned by the 1960s, every decade has had several musical films made - some of them great films. The musical still has a considerable fan base, especially those with great music, dancing, choreography and plots. So, among later smashing musicals are "Fiddler on the Roof" 1971, "Amadeus" of 1984, "Newsies" of 1992, "Immortal Beloved" of 1994, "Chicago" of 2002, "Phantom of the Operate" of 2004, and "Les Misérables" of 2012.

Pretentious nonsense

[jtindahouse · 4/10 · 7 January 2017]

I'll call it right now. 'La La Land' will win Best Picture at the Academy Awards, and for no other reason than the fact that the Academy loves a film about the industry. If there's a film based around movies in anyway amongst the nominees list, put your money on it to win. Does it deserve the award? No, there were many superior films released in 2016.

Hollywood seems to be obsessed with Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone as a couple. This is their third film appearance together and for my liking they just get worse every time. Comparing the chemistry for example to Gosling and Rachel McAdams in 'The Notebook', they are worlds apart. Stone is a very good actress as far as emotional range goes, but she can't pull off the likable tag very well.

I really enjoyed Damien Chazelle's previous film 'Whiplash'. In a lot of ways they are very similar films, but in the more important ways they are worlds apart. The biggest difference is the modesty that 'Whiplash' achieved. It had great characters, yet it acted like it didn't know it. 'La La Land' has very average, even poor occasionally, characters yet acts like they're God's gift to cinema.

I was really disappointed coming out of 'La La Land'. Even though I knew it wasn't my type of film ideally, I was willing to give it a chance and thought it might surprise me due to my low expectations. On the contrary though, it managed to fall below my expectations. My advice would be don't be fooled by the reviews and probable Oscar nominations. There's nothing to see here.

A true ode to the Golden Era of Hollywood

[wgerhardt · 10/10 · 10 August 2019]

The vibrant colors and use of musical scores to set the mood for scenes transported myself back in time. This movie feels not only like a beautifully nostalgic nod to Hollywood of yesteryear, but also that of a timeless love story. Gosling and Stone have a charm to their chemistry on screen during the musical and dance numbers. All these aspects lead to a raw portrayal of love that many experience in life, with still providing a sense of hope and wonder to the viewers. I was entranced from the opening scene until the final note played by Goslings piano. I absolutely recommend this film to any and everyone!

Blah Blah Bland

[RussHog · 3/10 · 3 January 2017]

What is everyone in this film singing and dancing about? Our story starts off in a traffic jam on a freeway and suddenly everyone does a song and dance number that sets the tone that this film is a colorful original musical about ambitious young people who pursue their dreams in LA. The opening musical number is painful to watch but I assume the story will improve.

Our central characters are an actress who aspires to be a famous movie star and a musician who aspires to be a moody jazz pianist. She falls in love with him when she first hears him play his music. He falls in love with her as they begin to date and explore Hollywood. They soon trip head over heals in love and as if by magic they dance with bliss along the milky way.

The only problem is - she soon reveals that she does not understand what is so great about jazz. (Wait - I thought she loved his music when she first heard him play?) So he explains the history of jazz and the poetry of the musician. That seems good enough and they continue their starry eyed romance.

But her auditions are a bust. No work. Nothing changes. She has to write a one woman play to perform to demonstrate her craft. Yet he lands an opportunity to perform in a big band - the only problem is the music will be more upbeat pop funk jazz hybrid that will make him pretty good money but also take him away from his dreams to be the moody jazz pianist.

He sells out to get work - and she stays true to herself and finds no work.

This creates a schism and they have a very corny argument about creative direction. He does not understand what is wrong with him making money and traveling and being famous even if he truly knows that it sells out his dreams. She does not understand why she cannot get work even though she stays true to her dreams - and when her one woman show is a dud she decides to quit her dreams and move back home.

Our dashing hero feels awful and soon learns that she has one final audition that awaits and so he drives to her home in Nevada to tell her that she must return for one final audition. They travel back to LA - she sings at her audition - and she gets the role. Both have their own careers now - so they split up. Five years later - she is a famous movie star married with children and he has his own jazz club where he lives his dreams as a moody jazz pianist.

One night by happenstance - she stumbles into the club and finds him. He plays a solo piano song and she has a dream where their entire love affair is relived only all the choices which led to their separation are made differently and they stay together and have a family and discover their dreams as a couple. Suddenly, she understands what his words meant so long ago - about the history of jazz - the poetry of the musician - now everything comes full circle - and they have a longing final glance.

This is all cool - don't get me wrong. But the story itself has been told so many times its clichés are even clichéd. The songs and dialogue are very uneven and at times the film is incoherently stupid. Really - do young couples talk about why they would sell out their dreams to make thousands of dollars a month?

Also, the big red flag with the story is that the music simply is not very good. There is not one memorable song or dance in the entire film! Mostly the lights and costumes replace any real choreography or musical number with a unique visual cue. Also, Ryan Gosling is poorly cast as a jazz pianist. It just does not feel real at all that Gosling is so, so sad in LA with his poor dreams of being a jazz pianist so hard to recognize as he dates lovely women.

What exactly is the purpose of this film? What was everyone singing and dancing about? Do we live in a world where people can fly down to LA and pursue their dreams with a shot like yesteryear? Or do we live in a world where educational alliances, corporate oligarchy, family connections, and the occasional marriage - determine who gets to shine in the lights? Are we as a people supposed to rejoice that the song and dance of old Hollywood musicals had a tribute film made just in time for the Oscar season?

I dunno - this movie does have some strong moments in the script - and it does have some good acting - costumes - and lights - but I just think it's corny and I could not care less.

an absolute stunner and expert raconteur

[lasttimeisaw · 9/10 · 7 September 2016]

The opening film of Venice '73, a strong contestant of the Golden Lion, Tinseltown's latest prodigy Damien Chazelle's wildly-anticipated follow-up of WHIPLASH (2014), LA LA LAND is an exuberant revamp of the Golden Age's musical formula and miraculously transposed onto a contemporary milieu, an absolute stunner and expert raconteur chronicles the effervescent romance between a jazz pianist Sebastian (Gosling) and a waitress Mia (Stone), who aims to break into the showbiz in the City of Angels, without ever compromising its realistic spin.

Fully embracing the widescreen splendor, the film's winning opening gambit is a slithering singing- and-dancing sequence on the chockablock freeway choreographed in one dashing long shot. Then the film pans out its narration of an ever-typical girl-meet-boy story (in this case, it is the girl who makes the first move), divided by seasons with a winter-to-winter rotation, initially, the story bifurcates in two different forks until the two finally hit the ground running, interposed with scintillating music numbers which can hypnotically melt your heart and dazzle your mind. Chazelle adroitly centers on two protagonists through and through like in those vintage romantic flicks where you can see haloes around them, anyone, anything else in their world has all duly faded into the dark background whenever their eyes meet, their hands touch, and they kiss.

Gosling and Stone, whose on-screen dynamism has been patently tested in Glenn Ficarra and John Requa's CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE (2011), let sparks fly higher as they plunge wholeheartedly into the torrid journey, from misunderstanding, meet-cute, falling for each other, to supporting each other's dreams, taking the middle ground or simply giving up, doubting and bickering, to the highest level of unconditional and unadulterated love - the holy sacrifice to let go of each other when their time is due, the Gosling-Stone pair is superbly amicable, adorable and charismatic, each is blessed with their own tuneful theme songs CITY OF STARS and AUDITION respectively, and satiates viewers with a show-stopping tap-dancing. Gosling, as dapper as ever, oozes with a heart-throbbing attentiveness and devotion as a talented pianist who is bent on opening his own jazz bar, a traditionalist but deadly romantic; Stone, portrays a character so naturally rooted in her chromosomes, an aspiring actress-to-be finally pays her dues after numberless humiliating auditions, her vivacity, comic timing and line delivery are top-notch, both are eyeing for their second Oscar nomination at this stage.

Heading to the upcoming Oscar race, Chazelle, of course, is the one who deserves all the fanfare for his virtuoso directing competence, one will be sublimely intoxicated by his vision of L.A. envelopped with an indelible mauve palette in lieu of its usual sun-dappled glamour, vibrant props and tableaux vivants, not to mention the central music elements, which is always in the veins of Chazelle's works, his cherry-picked jazz-fusion, the fluent and sleek choreography, Justin Hurwitz's overwhelmingly soothing attendant score apart from several striking ear-worms, all those above-mentioned herald that a major cinematic director, with a distinct and greatly entertaining aesthetics adorned by his music flair, is in the offing in the land of L.A..

Last but definitely not the least, how can one not praise for the silent epilogue in the end, Chazelle soberly let audience get a view of what would happen to the perfect-matched couple if they were living in an ideal Hollywood fairy-tale, but reality, in most times, is a far cry from fairy-tale, we have to move on without our perfect-half, but that is not to say, life will be miserable or intolerable, thanks to Chazelle's perspicuous vision, in a long run, we might be able to cherish the true happiness once we were fortunately bequeathed, and perhaps, it never leaves us, it always stay with us, to savor, to reminisce and to never give up our dreams.

11/10

[jackelkarl · 10/10 · 7 February 2020]

Any chance I could give this 11/10, or a few more oscars, just for being so oscary... such a splendidly heart warming experience

A nostalgic and joyful musical feast of a film.

[anthonymigliori · 19 January 2020]

A nostalgic, joyful, and oh-so realistic portrayal of chasing your dreams and living in the "la la land" that is Los Angeles, "La La Land" is a different kind of masterpiece, as it pays tribute to the musical films of the 40s and 50s, the Astaire and Rogers, MGM kind of musicals, while also bringing something new to the genre, specifically the modern and original elements.

Damien Chazelle was already a promising newcomer when he made 2014's "Whiplash", also an Oscar-winning film. "La La Land", however, sets the record straight that this young writer-director is a true talent and possibly one of the greatest of our time. One of the most important elements within Chazelle's script and directing is, in one word, passion. Pure passion for cinema is what it takes to make a great film, and Chazelle sure does know that.

Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone sparkle as the film's leading stars on screen, like Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall and Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn once did in the golden age. In the film, Stone and Gosling's characters share the same goal: to make their dreams in both acting and jazz, respectively, come true. What comes out when you put these two acting talents together in a film is pure enjoyment and an onscreen chemistry that seems impossible to break.

Overall, "La La Land" is one hell of a film to watch, as it may go down in cinematic history as one of the finest films made.

True love lasts forever

[w-08323 · 8/10 · 31 March 2020]

Two people know each other because of their preferences for art, influence each other, encourage each other, achieve each other's dreams, although the feelings have not bloomed and bear fruit, but leave an indelible mark in their respective lives, the last act, each realized their dreams but have long been separated by each other, in the moment when their eyes meet, it is clear that they are smiling.

A Love Letter to Hollywood

[Michael_Elliott · 7 February 2017]

La La Land (2016)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

Struggling Jazz musician Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) meets struggling actress Mia (Emma Stone) and together they try to make their mark in Hollywood.

LA LA LAND is a film that pretty much came out of nowhere and ended up grabbing fourteen Oscar-nominations. The film is a homage to Hollywood and everything that Hollywood used to produce. This, of course, is a musical so the film pays respect to the type of film that MGM and Hollywood was pumping out in the 1950s. Is the film worthy of all the praise it's getting? Calling a film overrated is something that will strike up an argument on any message board but while I don't think the film was that great, there's no question that it's an extremely charming film with two great performances.

I will start off with what I didn't love about the film. One was the opening dance number, which was impressive in regards to how it was shot but at the same time I must admit that it really didn't pull me into the film. I'd also say that I didn't love any of the songs in the picture. A couple were nice but I really didn't walk out of the theater singing any of them. Finally, I did feel that the film went on a bit too long and would have benefited from about ten-minutes being cut out.

With all of that out of the way, there was still a lot of stuff here that I really enjoyed but there's no question that the greatest thing were the two leads. Gosling and Stone were so great and so wonderfully charming together that you couldn't help but fall in love with their characters and want to see them succeed. I really thought both of them did a terrific job in their acting, their dancing and their singing and you can honestly say that they were among the most entertaining couples from recent memory. They really get to shine with the comedy, the romance and the drama and they really pack a great punch.

I also really loved the Jazz music in the picture. The music is certainly something wonderful and it just perfectly builds up the story and delivers the goods. The film also benefits from some wonderful costume and production design with brilliant uses of colors that just leap off the screen. As I said, the film is a homage to Hollywood and there's some great dialogue about older movies, older stars and of course Jazz musicians.

It's easy to see why people and especially Hollywood are in love with LA LA LAND. It's a great throwback to the type of romantic comedies and musicals that were made in a different era. I'm sure many young people were seeing this type of film for the first time. Hopefully some of those who loved this will go out and seek out the classics that this is paying homage to.

A Really Pleasant Experience

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 7 January 2017]

It's so nice that someone was willing to produce an original musical that wasn't animated. Emma Stone and Ryan Goslin light up the screen. The songs are very well written and fit well within the parameters of the romance that develops. I think the people that are so angry about the hype this film has gotten forget that the musicals it mimics had pretty basic plots. Oh, so it's the worst film of the year! Really? This is a story about dreams and hopes and trying to achieve them in an environment where the chances are really slim. The production numbers are sappy to be sure, but that's what this kind of offering puts to us. It tells us that we can just have fun and root for the characters.

Weightless--as it's meant to be--and not without heart, but this balloon wafts away instead of soars...

[moonspinner55 · 4/10 · 14 January 2017]

One can say many things about writer-director Damien Chazelle's "La La Land" and, indeed, the critics' plaudits and accolades have already infiltrated our national consciousness: it's a valentine to movie musicals; it's a musical for people who don't like musicals; it's a feel-good movie for all audiences; it's a tonic for our national malaise. The story--separated into seasonal chapters--is pretty basic: Emma Stone is a barista on the Warner Bros. movie lot who aspires to be an actress but can't get passed the audition phase; Ryan Gosling is a jazz pianist who longs to play his own compositions. They encourage each other to follow their dreams, which doesn't necessarily mean taking the financially lucrative road (although having money in the bank would certainly be an incentive for a better future, even if the 'artistic value' isn't there yet). Yes, Chazelle is in love with movies--he steals enough from the motion picture past to tell us that--and, certainly, the opening musical number on a jammed Los Angeles freeway is full of contagious acrobatic joy and celebration. The trouble is, these two young people aren't willing to compromise (perhaps that would be allowing for too much realism). Chazelle attempts to show us that success doesn't always lead to happiness, yet his protagonists don't see the big picture; starry-eyed, they want instant gratification through artistic expression. The dancing is polished (too polished, I thought) and the early numbers (such as one with Stone and her girlfriends) have a sprightly quality that is old-fashioned in concept and charmingly lacking in pretension. Still, the hardships of a romantic relationship pulled in different directions isn't all that interesting here, mainly because Gosling and Stone seem so charmed and picture-perfect. She trembles with a beginner's desperation during her auditions and is convincingly unhappy when her one-woman show doesn't pan out, but watching her out to dinner with an affluent date and his friends reveals nothing more than a princess eager to try another throne. Gosling has a moment or two when he's able to give us a natural response to a line or situation, but his concern for Stone seldom registers. The brightly-painted film is reaching for a certain height--a plastic paradise, a movie heaven--that will flood us with good feelings in its attempt and break our hearts with its climax. However, if you are not invested in these characters by the midway point, it will all seem like a glossy charade. ** from ****