Ooh La La

Rating: 9/10 (24 February 2017)

Modern day Hollywood hype around a certain flick is rarely deserved, and I was one of the doubters when it came to 14 (fourteen) nominations for oscars" for a musical. To be quite hones, I don't like musicals. Basically, I hate them. If I exclude the classic ones (Hair", All that jazz"), I disliked almost every single one of those who roared across Kodak theater in the '90s and early '00s (i.e. Moulin rouge!" and Chicago"). Hence, my skepticism around the much acclaimed and awaited second Damien Chazelle's long feature was really, really high. And totally undeserved. In its nutshell, La la land" is one perfectly balanced blockbuster. Although a musical, the score doesn't overpower the narrative. Although lighthearted and cheerful, it offers some serious existential questions beneath its surface. Although serious for a musical, it doesn't drown in the darkness of modern day US drama. Although funny, it criticizes both Hollywood and the world of music. Although one great homage to the good old times", city of Los Angeles, classical Hollywood and jazz, it stays way out of the pool of pathetic and tacky thank-you notes. All of this, thanks to one single man, the genius behind the camera, young and incredibly talented director and screenwriter, Damien Chazelle. Taking total control over this vast project, he shows off in every single aspect of it, nailing the certain golden boys" for best directing, cinematography, editing and production design. By casting the best available young actress (immaculate Emma Stone), he secures the reality of his characters, using the male lead (best Gosling in years) to complement her story. And the story is really one of those everyone can easily relate to, giving the widest possible audience the chance to follow it all the way to the very end. Ending is a special piece of Chazelle's art, just like the one in his previous indie hit, Whiplash". Although a huge musical (jazz) fan, Damien doesn't produce movie fairy tales, although they certainly look that way in one point or another. The ending will lift La la land" from its shell of a elaborated romantic comedy to the level of serious drama that will stand the test of time in years to come. La la land" is the one of the best American movies in this decade and certainly the best musical in this century. It will make you laugh, cry, think over it and talk about it long after you left the cinema. Just like every great movie in cinema history does.