Not a masterpiece

Rating: 7/10 (25 December 2016)

I'll keep this review straight and to the point – I liked La La Land, but I didn't love it, and I'm a little perplexed about why it's a front runner for the Best Picture Oscar. I think the film looks beautiful, from the camera work, to the costumes, and the lighting. Emma Stone also gives a very good performance. But other than that, there's not much else I can really praise. It kept me engaged, but I wasn't riveted by it.
La La Land is an attempt to revive the musical genre by giving it a more modern twist. It's about an aspiring actress (Emma Stone) and a struggling Jazz piano player (Ryan Gosling) trying to reach success in their respective industries. They fall in love without much build up and they encourage each other to achieve their dreams, but there are some bumps along the road (I don't want to spoil it). It's a pretty routine bittersweet love story about the conflict between chasing your ideal career and personal happiness.
I think the main reason La La Land is getting so much buzz is because it's nostalgic about 1940's musicals and it makes show business seem like an important industry. Hollywood and the critics eat up those kinds of movies. I don't think the songs or the dance numbers are particularly memorable though. Script wise, it's nothing special either. Director Damien Chazelle's camera work and Emma Stone's performance are the real stars here. While I don't think the actual songs are memorable, they ARE filmed well. La La Land deserves many technical awards.
I think most people who go into La La Land not expecting a masterpiece will be very pleased. I just don't get the people calling it the best movie of the year. Different strokes for different folks I guess.