A film of spontaneous, colourful magic and charm

Rating: 10/10 (13 February 2017)

A film of spontaneous, colourful magic and charm, La La Land captivates us from the very first scene. Visually, it is spectacular. All the elements sing in harmony and coalesce together to form a beautiful artwork. It was director Damian Chazelle ('Whiplash')'s dream for many years to get this film made, and what a passionate, special film he has created. It is a treat for your eyes and ears, and especially your heart.
But let's talk about that opening scene. A hundred dancers, enthusiastically and joyously dancing and singing during a traffic jam on a freeway. Chazelle doesn't wait, he gives us the best from the very start. As the audience, we are immediately enchanted by a symphony of joy and delightful music. I won't spoil the entire scene, but it is done with such incredible craft and skill, it will be remembered for a long time to come.
On that freeway, our protagonists, Mia (Emma Stone) and Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) are introduced. Both are struggling artists, trying to find their way in LA. Mia is an aspiring actress and Sebastian is a talented pianist, determined to revive and preserve traditional jazz music. Through a series of chance meetings, the two eventually fall for each other, and pursue their dreams, with one another by their side. The chemistry between and Stone and Gosling is undeniably instantaneous. The fiery intensity of their connection reminded me of the classic Hollywood couples we admired and loved, like Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall.
A city of dreams, there is no better place than LA to tell this story. On the surface, to those of us unfamiliar with the true essence and identity of the city, we can easily be mesmerised by its allure and its potential for achieving our romanticised ideals. Chazelle wanted to re-create the classic and nostalgic look of the city during the 1950s, and he has successfully captured not just the aesthetic, but also the timeless feeling the city exudes, with a tinge of novelty. To Chazelle, the sound of LA is jazz. Justin Hurwitz's score is a blend of pure extravagance and subtlety. With its jazz influences and undertones, each note tells a story of its own. The trumpet gave the film its life and energy, while the piano touched our hearts and soothed our soul.
I was particularly awestruck at the daedal use of light and the camera-work in this film. Each shot must have been planned meticulously, and yet, they appear very natural. The dance sequences are flawless, effortlessly blending in with the story itself. The hilltop dance between Stone and Gosling - I can imagine just how much effort was invested to get it perfect. As it is taken in one shot, one mistake meant that they would have to start again.
The characters of Mia and Sebastian essentially embody our hopes for romance and our passions. Their journey begins with zealous optimism and as the story progresses, the harsh realities begin to emerge and unveil themselves as they navigate through the challenges. Each one is extremely relatable. In this respect, La La Land is essentially a realistic fairy-tale. In the first half, we are overwhelmed by its elegance and beauty, and in the latter half, we get opportunities to rest our eyes a little, and that is when our hearts start to feel. Beneath the dazzling facade, the story waits for us to discover that warm, but painfully real dynamic that exists between Mia and Sebastian. The music gave this film its rhythm, but it is the love story between these characters that gave La La Land its heartbeat.
Each frame of La La Land could be paused, and turned into an exquisite photograph. I am very glad for the success of Whiplash, otherwise this film may not have been made the way it did. It is creative, refreshing, and daringly speaks to our emotions. The songs, the dances, the story and the characters are immensely addictive. The ending of La La left me stunned. It took a while for me to process what has just happened. But this is why this film is so great. The audience is incredibly invested into these characters and when we get results that we didn't expect, we understand it. It would just take a little while for our hearts to mend.