La La Land hit the right notes for the most part. Still, I felt a little disjointed, while watching it. It's a good film, but not a perfect film.

Rating: 8/10 (8 February 2017)

Similar to the way, I felt about 2011's Oscar Best Picture 'The Artist', for its love letter portrayal of old Hollywood black and white silent film styles. 'La La Land' is the same with its homage to the 1950's Golden Age of Hollywood Musicals. Vibrant colors and exquisite cinematography makes this film, perfect eye candy. The opening song and dance sequence to the song 'Another Day in the Sun' sets the tone of the routine of joyful dreams of succeeding in Los Angeles, while stuck in gridlock on the freeway, going nowhere fast, without establishing, any of the characters. Others songs like 'Someone in the Crowd', 'The Fools Who Dream', 'A Lovely Night' and 'City of Stars' by Justin Hurwitz, were beautiful and the dancing was impressive throughout it. Even music without lyrics like 'Mia and Sebastian theme' & 'Planetarium' stood out. However, the music, they chose, didn't have, much of a Jazz feel to it for a film trying to save original jazz. While, these songs makes the movie seem entertaining to new viewers, the dancing and the story felt too old & familiar for me. The story about two struggling artists, one being actress, Mia Dolan (Emma Stone) & the other, being an old school Jazz musician, Sebastian Wilder (Ryan Gosling) felt a little too generic. After all, I saw similar musicals films like this, before in 1951's 'An American in Paris', 1952's 'Singing in the Rain', 1953's 'The Band Wagon', & 1954's 'A Star is Born'. This film even remind me of non 1950's musical films like 1964's 'Paris, when it sizzles' & 1975's 'the Day of the Locusts' in its style. Don't get me wrong, the movie does have some unique things that set it, apart from those films, like, placing it in a weird 1950's fuel, nostalgic present time and using digital effects to make a great musical numbers, however the story of Sebastian and Mia trying to make it in Hollywood, fell a little short in me. Maybe, because, I thought the movie play it, really too safe. It didn't really have, much of an interesting real-life story conflict, compare to the others movies nominated that year for Best Picture. It's pure romanticism escapism for the most part. It doesn't challenge Hollywood in any unconventional terms. No wonder, why Hollywood loves this film. It praise it, without much criticize. I think, that is one of the problems with this film. It's wears its location on its sleeve, with several standard Hollywood house parties, several scenes on movie backlots and discussions on movie history, and a plethora of struggling artists trying to make it, that the other side of Americans or the rest of the world can't really relate to it. After all, the conflict in the film really do, seem a bit 'first world' problems. While, I love that the word 'La La Land' euphemism describing a person out of touch with reality. I wish the movie would had use that, more. I would had love to see the movie dealt more with what Los Angeles life is really like, than what's it's portray in Hollywood. Something similar to the musical "In the Heights' or 'Rent' did for New York City. After all, modern day Los Angeles population is mostly made out of very normal people of every culture and creed, but rarely any of them is showcase in this film. All of the people feature here, seem a little fake-looking with their rich and beautiful Hollywood lives. Despite that, Stone and Gosling show strength in their performances, even if Gosling character seem out of place as the white guy trying to save Jazz. It probably would have been better, if he was played by a black actor. Despite that Gosling was alright, even if his character was somewhat of a jerk, at times. Though his own character is indeed flawed, Sebastian shows refreshing selflessness towards Mia, putting her dreams and pursuits even above himself and encouraging her all the way. Mia isn't without her positive attributes either. She puts her everything into being a successful, good artist. The audition scene is heart-breaking. Overall: both of the actors made their characters, very likable. Also, their singing was alright, even if they still feel a bit rough around the edges at times. About their chemistry, this is the third time, following 2011's 'Crazy Stupid Love' and 2013's 'Gangster Squad', where Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone work together. Both were able to align with each other, once again, on every level in this film. In the end, 'La La Land' serve as the antithesis to 2014's 'Whiplash', writer and director Damien Chazelle's previous film. This is most notable in the two films' tones - where 'Whiplash' was dark and oppressive with the New York settling, this film is a bright, sparkling, old-fashioned Hollywood musical with just a hint of modern cynicism. There's even a counterpart in the characters of actor, J.K. Simmons, going to a mean guy who's a jazz maniac to a mean guy who doesn't want to hear any jazz. Both films deal with the common theme that many dreamers face: how far should people go in pursuing their own passions, while risking their own connection toward friends, family and relationships? In my opinion, 'Whiplash' shows the dangers, a lot better. Why, because I think the five years/dream sequence ending of this film, kinda the message. It felt like a cop-out. Don't get me wrong, I still think this film is worthy of the accolades, it is sure to receive. However, if I had to choose, which movie of Chazelle told the same story, better. I have to say 'Whiplash'. Still, recommended seeing 'La La Land', regardless. It's a fun movie to watch.