A 100% Recommendation: Magical, Delightful, Sumptuous, Technically Flawless

Rating: 10/10 (13 January 2017)

On the surface La La Land doesn't seem too different to director Damien Chazelle's previous film Whiplash. The two share a jazz-and-Charlie-Parker-obsessed male protagonist, a love of music, and even JK Simmons. However, this film is wholly different and represents staggering new ground covered by Chazelle and the team behind it, as well as being a deliciously unique piece which seems a shoe-in for being the best film of 2016.
In fact, La La Land is not only by far the best film I've seen released in 2016, but also possibly 2015. Simply put, everything about it works. Firstly, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone are perfectly cast in their roles, with effortless natural likability and chemistry that most actors can only dream of. Gosling provides charm, a believable passion in jazz, and incredible piano skills, whilst Stone is as genuine as ever, and acts as an audience surrogate that is easy to root for.
The music will not only make you tap your toes, but also cause you to leave the cinema dancing with a wide grin on your face - I was a moment away from standing up and giving a round of applause when it finished. The songs, beside being well-sung and expertly-choreographed, are easy to re-listen to and are very catchy.
On the aesthetic side, the cinematography and the colour palette are beautiful. Highly stylised and with an admirable range of techniques. Some stand-out sequences are the planetarium dance and heart-string-pulling epilogue.
Certainly the best thing about the entire film is its spirit and passion. It's so incredibly enjoyable - not a single moment is dull, and though it takes place over a long period of time with a lot of events happening (it is split into winter, spring, summer, fall, and winter again) it is constantly fun. Even in the most dramatic moments it is fantastic to watch, simply for the pure talent on display, and the realness of the drama, despite the almost fantasy-like quality of the film at times.
This review cannot go into enough detail about how delightful the film is - it's also worth mentioning the fresh, well-written script (also Chazelle's work) that is often hilarious. Honestly I can think of no negatives right now, and it will just be interesting to see how it holds up a year down the line. A must- watch, though inevitably those who are staunchly critical of musicals may be hesitant. 98/100.