La La Land: The Movie of Dreams

‘La La Land – directed by Damien Chazelle- musical; romance; TV-13 -Movie – Netflix

“La La Land is a magical film about love, loss, and romance”

The Oscar-nominated film ‘La La Land’ is a feel-good musical following the romantic story of Mia Dolan (Emma Stone) and Sebastian Wilder (Ryan Gosling). The film takes place in modern-day Los Angeles California, where the creative lives of Mia and Sebastian are introduced. Mia is an aspiring actor with dreams of Hollywood fame. Sebastian is a jazz pianist and has dreams to open a jazz bar someday. The two are drawn together by their common ambition.

The film is directed by Damien Chazelle, who also directed the critically acclaimed ‘Whiplash.’ The film features stunning cinematography, vibrant colors, and unforgettable musical numbers. The film’s score, composed by Justin Hurwitz, is also a standout, with catchy tunes that will be with the viewer long after the film has ended.

According to Biggar little Cinema, Damian Chazelle’s idea behind the story was, “to take the old musical but ground it in real life where things don’t always exactly work out.”

The music carries the film at a nice and gentle pace, with gentle piano riffs and fast jazz. ‘La La Land’ was nominated and won the Academy Award for Best Original Score in 2017.

‘La La Land’ also shows the ability to balance romantic elements with a sense of realism. The struggles and setbacks that the characters face in the pursuit of their dreams add depth and complexity to the story, making it feel more relatable and grounded.

The story represented is a more realistic love story, ‘La La Land’ demonstrates how not every love story always ends as you want it, but in the end, happiness can still be achieved. It also portrays sadness, heartbreak, and growth, it also is a great example of the right person at the wrong time.

One of the film’s greatest strengths is its ability to balance the whimsical, dreamlike quality of classic Hollywood musicals with the gritty reality of modern-day Los Angeles. It’s a love letter to both the city and the art of filmmaking and it’s impossible not to be swept up in its charm.

The movie has a very bright and colorful palette to it, most of the outfits shown are usually strong and colorful with simple accessories, and having this color pallet portrays the movie in a high and lightened mood, and the colorful dream and opportunity of Los Angeles.

Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling deliver strong performances as Mia and Sebastian, bringing depth and complexity to their characters, they are able to poetry an on-screen romance that’s both heartwarming and bittersweet.

‘La La Land’ was highly enjoyed by critics and audiences alike. The film won six Academy Awards, including Best Director for Chazelle, and was praised for its visual style, music, and performances.

Although, some critics have stated that they happened to find the film boring, as well as some viewers may find the film’s pacing slow at times, and the ending has been a point of controversy for some.

‘La La Lands’ story is relatively simple, but it is executed with great skill and heart. It deals with themes of following one’s dreams, the sacrifices we make for our passions, and the bittersweet nature of success. The ending of the film is particularly poignant and resonant, leaving a lasting impression on the viewer.