A simple love story, beautiful soundtrack and a nod to the 1950's musical

Rating: 8/10 (16 December 2016)

La La Land is the perfect movie for contemporary society. After the Second World War happy, escapist films became popular, and now with all the current negativity of war in the middle east and terrorism along with our economic woes, La La Land similarly allows us a short respite from reality. The soundtrack is memorable and addictive particularly the music of Justin Hurwitz' City of Stars. It's a simple, familiar and relatable love story intertwined around career dreams. The photography is engaging, while the outdoor locations are familiar yet have a fantasy quality due to the incredible camera work. Colorful costumes add a nostalgic quality appropriated from the 1950's. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone are no Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers but the dance sequences are well choreographed to catchy music. The jazz music may also convert naysayers of the music genre. Overall a movie, that will make you laugh, cry and swoon. I hope Damien Chazelle makes more of these types of films. Violent films are passé.