An entirely competent movie that's worth seeing.

Rating: 7/10 (4 August 2018)

So, the obvious.. both visually and audibly this movie is nothing short of stunning. The colour palette, the score, the costumes; all practically flawless and with great traditional stage lighting to support what amounts to a very beautifully constructed piece of cinematography.
The dialogue was a little too smart at times but it never strayed so far off the beaten path to pull me out of the experience. The characters were likable, even if they seemed to go for the all too common trope of characters that are only flawed because other characters tell you they are, whereas throughout the entire movie they practically make no missteps in any capacity.
Speaking of characters, the leads were brilliantly acted but didn't feel quite as fleshed out as I would have liked. The leads, both Gosling and Stone stole the show and the chemistry between them never felt forced to me. Secondary characters were entirely forgettable and I struggle to recall a single notable one.
The plot was entirely competent. Nothing groundbreaking -- but then I don't really feel it has to be, after all; moonlight and love-songs are never out of date~
In summary, a great way to spend two hours. Themes felt a bit heavy handed at times, but the film was a feast for both eyes and ears and it's worth catching.