Very Old School, Not Racists(that is ridiculous!), Not for Those Who Don't Like the Feel of Old Movies or Do Not Like Watching Musicals or 1950's Films.

Rating: Null/10 (15 February 2017)

Thank you to all the blindly biased negative votes given because I speak the truth. The unnecessary negative votes point as to why this review's point of view is a much needed one in a culture hellbent on insulting anyone whom does not share your viewpoint, even when those attacking you are objectively wrong and hating those blindly whom disagree with your "enlightened" viewpoint, that's what real bigotry is, blind hatred, if you hate my review or this movie for the reasons just stated, that is the true bigotry, and you need to get a reality check. Get out of the cultural idiocy and stop being so biased and calling it 'inclusivity', I call BS on those whom criticize this movie for being rascist when it is obviously objectively NOT.
I am glad I read the negative reviews because I think they actually made me like this movie more, as most of the insults were ridiculous, and missed the point. The most ludicrous being that because it is led by attractive white people that it makes it racist... In fact criticizing a film for not having 'enough' of a certain race, is actually racist, as it is a biased based on skin color, newsflash, that's what racism is! FYI people, if I apply that to "The Whiz", "The Color Purple", or even "Hamilton" those would be racist because they exclude white people either altogether, or have only have a few cast members that are white. It goes both ways, racism is not exclusive to a certain skin color(BTW, I like "The Whiz", "Hamilton", and "The Color Purple" despite their flaws). However, neither of those are racist and neither is "Lala Land", yes, it does harken back to the golden age of musicals, only with less musical numbers. Lala Land has many black cast members and it lovingly dedicates a large portion of their film to Jazz, which was started by black people, and it lingers on jazz players (which outside of the male protagonist are black), and definitely puts them in a very very high regard.
My only caveat is definitely that it needed more musical numbers, I read an interview with the composer and he said there were many left out of the film, so if this gets transferred to Broadway as there are talks of, we'll hear them, but I do wish more of them were actually in the film. One main theme runs through the films, but if anyone is familiar with the older films which this pays homage to, particularly 1950's movies, this is not uncommon, I think of "An Affair to Remember" where the main song for that is played or sung at least 4-5 times throughout, and is integral to the story, as is the main theme that is played or sung throughout "Lala Land", it was fitting and appropriate, especially because the main character is a Piano Player and a Songwriter!
This film very much pays homage to musicians and the musical process (I write songs myself, and also used to act a good deal) and I felt, portrayed what it is like to be a musician who is just trying to get by, but also has a bigger dream, and how that process plays out. The acting side, with the auditions very much captured those feelings of the highs and lows of auditions and why being an actor is not always fun and games, unless you actually make it, but it is hard work in the process, and often degrading(I have done numerous singing and acting auditions over the last 15yrs).
The singing was not at all bad, Ryan Gosling sang very well within his range, if you want bad singing go watch Vanessa Redgrave and Richard Harris in "Camelot" or Pierce Brosnon in "Mamma Mia!", all phenomenal actors, but terrible singers! Ryan Gosling has limited range, but he he used it very well. Emma Stone's singing was very girly and pretty, a bit too airy at times, but I really enjoyed her solo song towards the end where she finally shows her real chops, she has a very fine voice indeed. No, the dancing is not plentiful, but it is well done. While I wish there was more tap dancing, I am also a tap dancer, I enjoyed what they did have, although I would have liked it if they were stronger dancers, I just appreciate that it was well-done enough and that they got actors who were fairly competent and at least had rhythm.
The Cinematography was beautiful, the splashy colors were a lot of fun, I loved the bright color palette, which also hearkens back to the days of Technicolor, very much like classic musicals such as "Hello Dolly" or "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" or even "Westside Story", most pre-1970's musicals actually. There were many creative uses of the camera, a lot of blurry shorts to make focal points clearer, it was very creative.
While it is not perfect film, as I said, I wish there were more songs and dancing, I truly felt it captured the lost feeling from the great musicals of the past, and I really hope this does what Moulin Rouge should have done in 2001, fully reignite the modern movie musical as a monetary force. When I left the theater, I was humming the song, and I still have the song that Ryan Gosling's character plays with the "jazz" band he joins and plays a few times, it is a great song. All of the songs were very beautiful, and well-written. By the way, I cannot think of many musicals I actually remember the songs to after only seeing it once if I never heard the songs before, that didn't use pop songs as their score. I can only think of one, and that is "On My Own" from Les Mis, I had never heard that song before and it stuck in my head, but no other song, from that 30 plus songbook did I remember that I had not already heard, but they were still great songs! I can say the same for, and don't laugh, "Repo! The Genetic Opera", great cult film, and has great music, but not extremely catchy. Not all music, including musicals, is extremely ingratiating the first time you hear it. I don't remember any of the songs from "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" or "Hello Dolly" the first time I heard them, they took time to sink in.
I still feel really good from watching "Lala Land" the next day, it made both me and my husband giddy after watching it, and the whole theater clapped after it was over. That may not be your experience, it seems to be polarizing, but it is not because it is bad film, it is a great film, it may just not be to your personal taste.
God Bless ~Amy