La La Land is going to win many Oscars. A jazz musician (Ryan Gosling) meets an aspiring screen writer (Emma Stone) in majestic Los Angeles?! With original jazz based songs?!?! And they might FALL IN LOVE ??!!!?!?!?!?! The only real question is…how many Oscars do they want? Oscars aside, La La Land is pretty adorable, and navigates all the pitfalls of a musical impressively. Bravo, Damien Chazelle, I guess you could have all the Oscars.
I cannot stress how amazing a feat Chazelle pulled off here. Musicals lean heavily schmaltzy, forcing tears and smiles in equal capacity. Chazelle wisely elects to put some modernity in the form of sarcasm into the proceedings. Each early interaction is filled with arm’s length dialogue between the two leads, making it easier for the audience to draw in. And like the leads, the audience starts to realize that these two really connect well together. In addition, La La Land isn’t just about the courtship; we see the real world weigh heavily on the two as they try to hold onto their special bond. The ending could have gone badly in so many different ways, and Chazelle finds the perfect ending sentiment for this story.
Chazelle also does this without forgetting it is a musical. The songs derive from old school musicals, very jazzy and whimsical. However, the modern tinge to the story gives the songs more pop and zazz than you would expect them to have. The songs also fit in some New Wave and other pop as well which makes sense in the story, trust me. There’s a little something for every music lover in La La Land, emotional numbers, whimsical dance routines, esoteric fantastical montages. And best of all, each stays the perfect amount of time before Chazelle moves onto another song type. From the freeway opening number, the smile rarely left my face.
Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone are so damned cute together. They fit like a puzzle. His gruff exterior and longing interior pair nicely with her manic pixiness and effervescent charm with subtle despair. They sizzle on screen, when dancing, conversing, arguing, or longlingly looking at each other. You can’t help but “aww” when you see them. They hit every beat they are supposed too, in particular Stone, who is “acting” while really acting, going deep into her character.
I was ready to roll my eyes at La La Land. I really was. But this movie has a deft touch and knows its genre so well that it avoids all of that and becomes a genuine crowd pleaser, through and through. Much like the leads, just give this movie a chance, and you’ll be La La ing by the end to. You’re right Emma Stone, here’s to the ones who dream.