La La Land Review

La La Land Review

Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone "A Lovely Night" 

Starring: Emma Stone, Finn Wittrock, Ryan Gosling, JK Simmons, Rosemarie Dewitt

Directed By : Damien Chazelle

Written By: Damien Chazelle (Whiplash)

I have heard that Los Angeles, more specifically Hollywood, can either be a very gracious friend, turning a youthful child like Jacob Tremblay into the darlings of award season, simply for showing up in a tux, or a brutal mistress, constricting you until your forced to resign yourself to a life in a coffee shop. La La Land takes a look at this concept, taking two people, one who is trying to break unto the music scene, the other trying to become an actress and focusing on their lives ups and downs, in addition to their relationship. It is a simple story, one that is told in such a well mannered way, that you will come to appreciate it more for its quality than for its quantity. 

It beautifully juxtaposes the modern melancholy of modern romanticism with the joyous passion that we saw in innumerable musicals from the past, focusing on how even when you love someone, they might not be the person that you are supposed to end up with. It is self indulgent, in a "we are trying to resurrect a dying genre" sort of way, not a "look at me, I'm a heroic film needed for the future of cinema." Chazelle handles the jazz of the movie well, taking care of it like a mother might take care of a child, respecting what it has brought to the music world, not allowing the important members of its history to be forgot. 

Probably one of the greater elements of the second major cinematic effort of Rhode Island born director, Damien Chazelle, is the use of the cameras and lighting. It is colorful film, providing and amiable with it's application of shots and colorful clothing and camera angles playing off the light to provide a jovial feel to those watching. It is also unique to see them use old fade ins and fade outs and even old school fonting and even the final "the end" captioning. It is boisterous with it's aesthetic, working very hard to pop out of the screen, stimulating the senses and providing a pleasant sight for the eyes. 

Some of the more aesthetically impressionable scenes that utilize the talent of the DP include a scene where, Mia played by Emma is walking from the inside of house towards a pool and everyone is frozen, with people slowly dancing around her, white flakes of paper snow falling from above, a man flipping into a pool and the entire party erupting into dance. Another scene that testifies to the beauty but not necessarily to the story is a visually stimulating sequence where Mia and Sebastian(Gosling) allow their imaginations to consume them, dancing against a backdrop of stars. 

A criticism that has been pushed upon the positive feedback of this film, is that it is nothing more than a rom com with music added in as a shtick to win over fans. I disagree, as it feels like Damien Chazelle is simply trying to capture the appeal that made us fall in love with Hollywood in the first place. Yes we do not have to like all these people having parties every day, but it is more for humor and warmth, than as an assault on the snobbishness and elitism of the culture. This movie is a love letter to the movies that have come before it, utilizing the tropes and elements of historical films while embracing the direction that film is heading in today. 

One most admire Chazelle for taking a gambit on two vocalists who are closer to normal vocals than the stellar ear candy that was Debbie Reynolds or Gene Kelly. It's brilliant because should life be a musical in reality, it would play more like the b side of American Idol rejects and less like the vocals that Whitney Houston displayed every time she opened her mouth. 

Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling are the best they have ever been, with Emma stealing the show with a performance of "Audition (the fools who dream), near the end of the film, a pleasant solo, which takes place during an audition. This was such a chilling number, one which might even be superior to City of Stars, the song from the film that will go on to win the best original song oscar. It takes the cutesy romantic chemistry that elevated Crazy Stupid Love from just okay to decent, and elevates it into a coupling of historic proportions, or at least in regards to modern film history. The ending scene takes a lot of influences and works very beautifully, emulating Singing in the Rain's long ending scene. Lastly I must mention that one of the best shots of the year features a phenomenal choreographed opening scene on a freeway that is one for the ages. 

I would be neglectful if I did not mention the score so I will embed a quick link to one of the instrumental pieces from the soundtrack.