Terrific

Rating: Null/10 (26 December 2016)

Liked everything about it; acting, singing, dancing, direction, screenplay, etc., and it all works. Can't remember when I saw a more entertaining picture. I am a big fan of movie musicals and, strictly speaking, "La La Land" is a musical, with some tuneful original songs and a few dance numbers. It starts off with a production number in a highway traffic jam - right off the bat you say to yourself, "this will be a special picture".
Midway through it switches gears into a straight romantic drama, leaving the singing and dancing behind. By that time, though, you are thoroughly invested in the story and you hardly notice. Gosling and Stone are not known as singers and dancers but they get through just fine, he with a three day growth of beard and she with a Senor-Wences-hand-puppet endearing face. Writer-Director Chazelle has put together a movie which will draw some Oscar noms come Academy Award time. A rare picture with no apparent flaws.
Just saw it again and it was better the second time. The "No" vote crowd will be very disappointed at AA time. And, apparently, some "No" votes have gone to every single high rating and voted No. What the point is, I don't know, but it's very coincidental and doesn't fool all the people, to paraphrase a Republican president.