A thoroughly captivating modern take on the traditional Hollywood musical

Rating: 9/10 (16 December 2016)

The struggling actress meets a determined jazz musician and they fling themselves around Los Angeles' sights and scenes, while slowly falling in love. Ho hum. But I found a lot of Ho! and much to hum along to. This film swept me up in a way I wasn't expecting, and the effortless gliding between such a range and contrasts of styles, situations and emotions worked a treat. There is sentimentality (quite a lot, actually) but also pathos, doubts, despair, firmly grounded reality, unexpected twists and over the top implausibility.
Los Angeles proves she has some fabulous settings and backdrops, many dating back a long way, which give the city more style, substance and depth than the abundance of concrete freeways and glass office towers that generally appear.
It is a film of two leads: Ryan Gosling as the jazz pianist Sebastian and Emma Stone as wannabe actress Mia. There are no other characters of substance. There is quite a lot of jazz, mostly modern, a little trad and some pleasant tuneful jazz-pop-musical style songs. If either of the leads or modern jazz is a turn off for you, then it mightn't be your cup of tea, because there's a lot of all three. Ryan Gosling gets my special mention award for playing his own piano - and really well. It's the next level up from performers like Geoffrey Rush as David Helfgott who can play and make a convincing show as a real pianist. But Ryan's effort is the real deal.
The film is well structured and I suspect has many references to earlier classics, most of which I failed to notice. But the re- creation of Walt Disney's dancing fairy in the Griffith Observatory was just wonderful.
I found it an effortlessly entertaining couple of hours, with that feeling of "How did it get to be that late?" when we emerged. Damien Chazelle as writer and director in my view has scored a hat trick, a home run, a set to love or whatever your favourite sporting accolade is. As an Aussie Rules follower, it's probably kicking the winning goal after the siren.