A brilliant musical and a brilliant film. Best of 2016 so far

Rating: 9/10 (8 December 2016)

I had watched La La Land at TIFF 2016, and it was a definite highlight of the festival. Having had seen director Damien Chazelle's previous film Whiplash and being utterly blown away by it, I went into La La Land with very high expectations. I'm happy to say, I was far from disappointed. Tonally, La La Land was very different from Whiplash, (one was an intense and dark psychological thriller whereas this was a brilliant, comedic, and emotional romance) but Chazelle's style can still be seen in this film. With two stellar films under his belt, I'm incredibly exited for Chazelle's next project.
Performances from Ryan Gosling and especially Emma Stone were absolutely astounding. Both of the stars were able to authentically portray such a vast range of emotion as well as deliver great musical performances. The chemistry between the two actors was great. Gosling and Stone were able to believably play off of one another and it made for an entertaining and emotionally engaging relationship to watch unfold. John Legend gave a good performance in his supporting role, although he was outshone by the stars of the film.
The costume and set design were expertly done and well utilized in the story. Where a lesser film may establish character through expository dialogue, Chazelle tells the audience what there is to know about his characters by showing us details like the color of her dress, the dustiness of his apartment, or even the make of his car. The mise-en-scene is employed to establish the tone of the movie. For example, there are multiple comedic scenes in which the comedy is derived from the clash between the costumes and setting. A more dramatic, tragic scene uses the lighting to communicate to us the emotions which the characters are trying to communicate to each other. The lighting would often be used as a way to transport the film from the real world to a more dream-like, surreal, timeless space. In many scenes, the hue of the lighting is used to represent emotion or even to represent a particular character. The use of spotlights was also helpful to establish tone and mood.
The cinematography is stunning. With a wide variety of beautiful shots, La La Land is able to convey emotion. A simple point-of-view shot can turn a stereo speaker into a symbol of longing or a stained ceiling into a symbol of desperation. The production of some of the shots were impressive, especially during the musical numbers. These scenes employed a variety of long shots, crane shots, and dolly shots. Another example of raw talent to be marveled at.
The editing was good. Chazelle knew when to cut and when not to cut. Cuts were strategically placed for the sake of comedy, similarly, other shots would linger for a decent length to emphasize the drama and tension of the scene.
This entire review can be spent discussing the film's soundtrack. Not only did this film display what is perhaps this decade's greatest soundtrack yet, but the score was so essential to the movie. Whenever placed in the film, the lyrics and tone of the music perfectly compliment the tone and plot. Every single piece of music in this film is so expertly written and fits so superbly within the film. There are plenty of clever double and triple entendres in songs like City of Stars which comment on the plot and the larger themes of the film all at once. The musical performances by Gosling, Stone and John Legend were all out of this world. The soundtrack is the highlight of this film and it will, without a doubt, win La La Land at least one Oscar come February.
The story was simplistic yet admirably written. Unlike many romantic films that will force in some contrived conflict between the two leads in order to push the film into the third act, every plot point in La La Land feels natural and believable. There are a couple of encounters and events towards the beginning of the film that feel a little too coincidental. But as long as you can suspend your disbelief a little, they won't be anything that will ruin the movie. If I had to choose I would say that the plot is the weakest element of this film, if not only because every other aspect was done so perfectly.
La La Land was an amazing, alluring, magnificent, emotional roller-coaster of a film. I am excited to see it again when it opens next week, and to see it win at the Oscars. The opening scene alone is worthy of multiple Oscars so it wouldn't be surprising if this took home best picture. This film is an anthem for all the fools who dream. 9/10. Best film of 2016 so far.