When you have a debut like Damien Chazelle had with 2014’s Whiplash, all eyes are going to be on what you’re going to do next. Whiplash, in my opinion, is one of the best films to come out in the last few years and one would hope that he wouldn’t experience a sophomore slump.
I’m very happy to say that Chazelle has outdone himself with La La Land fully showcasing the pure magic that can resonate when a director is fully committed to their vision. It’s not enough for him to simply tell a story but he wants to enrapture us with every aspect of the film. There is a nice sense of nostalgia that permeates throughout the movies that make you recall great films and performers of the past. It may be a 2016 release but it owes a huge debt to a time period that is lost in films today and to the work of the likes of Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, and Ginger Rogers. The setting is modern day but the feel is old fashioned in the best way possible.
When we first meet Mia (Emma Stone) and Sebastian (Ryan Gosling), they are trapped in a traffic jam in the opening scene, although neither participates in the song-and-dance block party. Their lives, like their cars, are crawling along. Their dreams seem far away and at times, unattainable. Sebastian wants to open a jazz club but he’s trapped playing Christmas carols on a piano in a high-end restaurant. Mia is one of many – a wannabe actress who is forced to work as a barista to make ends meet while waiting for elusive audition calls and even more elusive call-backs. These two are getting nowhere fast until they meet. It takes three times before things click. As summer arrives, they’re in love but, as with the seasons, the height of warmth hints at a predictable decline.
La La Land is divided into five acts that follow the progression of the seasons – Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter. Although it starts out by tugging at our memories of old musicals, it eventually gains its own identity. On paper, there’s nothing groundbreaking here. It’s a boy-meets-girl, boy-and-girl-fall-in love, boy-loses-girl kind of story that reminds us that following a dream demands a price. La La Land is a fairy tale but it has a realistic edge and the way Chazelle attacks the material makes it feel original despite its familiarity.
Chazelle doesn’t only love classic musicals but as we could tell with Whiplash, he loves jazz. It was very clear in that film but he makes sure we know it here. The main male character is a frustrated jazz musician and a key aspect of the plot involves his passing on his love of music to his leading lady. Chazelle isn’t shy when it comes to exposing the viewer to all types of jazz – from the classic style that reminds us of the greats to the more commercially viable modern variation used to attract a younger generation. As a musical, La La Land stands up with the greats and it may very well be one of the best modern day musicals to come out in a very long time.
There is an asset to having performers who have worked together on frequent projects. There is an unforced chemistry on display because they’ve learned how to get the best out of each other. Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling clearly have a rapport because they truly pop together on screen and since chemistry is key here, the fact that they have worked together a few times before, adds to the authenticity of their relationship here. I wasn’t aware that Emma Stone or Ryan Gosling could sing and dance (and they do so quite well, despite not always coming off totally polished) but that just adds to their stellar performances. These roles require a lot of range and both of them are up to the task. I think Stone has more moments that showcase that range a bit more (I was particularly floored by Audition) but there are no weak links here. They really encompass a true old Hollywood vibe that is missing in film today.
La La Land exudes a great sense of euphoria but it never feels like it’s being manipulative. It would be easy for a film like this to become very saccharine but it never falls into that territory. We can sing and dance with the performers but it never feels like we’re being forced tunes in order to sell soundtracks. The music adds to the story and never distracts from it. I thought the music was pretty memorable but two tracks in particular still have stuck with me. I mentioned Mia’s theme Audition already but Sebastian’s theme, City of Stars, also lingers. I would also like to add that being from Los Angeles, it’s so amazing to see the city shown in such a beautiful way. The style, approach, camerawork, color palette, and viewpoint are all straight out of the 1950s and Los Angeles has probably never looked better.
Movie musicals, if done well, make you leave the theater feeling like you’re walking on a cloud. There is an innocence in certain musicals that really just make you feel good after leaving the theater. La La Land accomplishes all of this and it represents the best example of pure entertainment of any film I’ve seen in 2016. You leave the theater still thinking about it. You’re in awe of what the creative team has accomplished with this motion picture. If we get more movies like this I would encourage filmmakers and studios to really embrace the more old-fashioned approach because it can really make you remember why you fell in love with movies in the first place.
Reel Talk gives La La Land 4 Reels
