Damien Chazelle does it again.

Rating: 10/10 (13 January 2017)

Firstly, I've got to start off by saying I am not a fan of musicals or romantic films, in fact I've never completed a single one. With that said, this film was just a delight to watch, a treat from start to finish.
You're probably wondering why I went to see this film after declaring myself to not be a fan of musicals and romantic films. That would be down to the fact that this film was directed by Damien Chazelle, the mastermind behind Whiplash (2014). He demonstrated his ability to create meaning through sound and cinematography in that film. Chazelle asserts his talents in La La Land, creating vibrant images that hold your attention.
The second reason is simple, the wonderful trailers. I tried to not look into this film too much or reading about it online. The teaser trailer gave me enough insight as to what to expect, but boy was I in for a treat.
The narrative is simple, Sebastian and Mia meet, perhaps through unconventional means at first, and fall in love. There are many layers to this story however and it most definitely has a lot of heart. Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling have wonderful chemistry and both are extremely quirky and personable. The film has heart, through comedic moments (that work), gorgeous and lavish set designs and the beautiful soundtrack. The numbers work and part of me now wishes people would just break out and dance on the motorways, much like the film portrays. I enjoyed how the film presented the struggles of relationships and handled them in what I would argue is a realistic manner. The camera work is extremely efficient in providing information about characters. For instance, a simple wide shot of an isolated character walking down the street in the film told me a lot of what the director wanted to show.
Overall, this film was one of the most enjoyable films I've seen in recent times, if not the best. It really demonstrates the wide array of films out there, even in genres you may not expect. I can't wait to see Damien Chazelle's project, First Man. La La Land was a truly unique experience, one that I do not regret going to watch.