A near perfect film

Rating: 9/10 (25 May 2017)

I loved almost every moment of this film. One thing that really stood out to me was the sound design and how well it matched the highly stylised feel of the film. The music was fitting and the diegetic sound was edited in an unusual way, sounding distant at some points and being loud and in your face when it needed to be.
The second act, without getting into spoilers, was much more intense than I anticipated. The exposition in the first act, while being maybe a little bit too simple, hinted towards the second act and sets it up well.
Great performances by the actors, especially Ryan Gosling, Ron Perlman, Oscar Isaac and Albert Brooks. Gosling absolutely nailed the lead role.
There were a few scenes that felt off to me. One that comes to mind is when Gosling and Carey Mulligan (Irene) are at a small creek with Irene's son. The scene felt unnecessarily cramped and the camera placements and angles of-putting.