By Emilio Frenk.
Director: Damien Chazelle
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, John Legend, Callie Hernandez, Rosemarie DeWitt and J.K. Simmons
Rating: Excellent.
Writer/Director Damien Chazelle, who made “Whiplash” in 2014 and scored 3 Academy Awards brings “La La Land”. Not only is a sweet and touching movie, but it’s one of the year’s best films.
The movie takes place in Los Angeles, California and tells the story of two dreamers: Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) a jazz pianist who gets fired on Christmas by his boss Bill (J.K. Simmons) and Mia (Emma Stone) an actress and barista who gets rejected often in every audition she’s in.
They both have a serious of encounters that will lead them to fall in love for each other.
In the way their will be obstacles and challenges due to the careers and paths they have chosen and eventually these will either represent to sacrifice their careers and continue their relantionship or chose to be on separate ways and pursue their dreams
Damien Chazelle is one of the best directors who is well known for integrating music with imagery. He previously did it with “Whiplash”, which I considered the best movie of 2014 and now he did it with “La La Land” which of course is a more ambitious project and works at every single level.
The script and direction, both by Chazelle were sharp, sweet and touching and I was very moved with the story from beginning to end.
The message is clear of never stop dreaming and never giving up in your hopes and dreams and this is what “La La Land” is all about.
The performaces by Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone are true, believable and convincing and the chemistry is rock solid. This is the third collaboration between; previously they worked in the succesful romantic comedy “Crazy, Stupid Love” and “Gangster Squad”.
I was impressed with Damien Chazell’s directing in “Whiplash” and now with “La La Land” he went all the way and made a unique film.
The score by Justin Hurwitzand the cinematography by Linus Sandgren were impressive and this is not the typical musical were envolves themes of fantasy and everything is happy. This is the opposite and it represents the reality and the struggles of people who want to fulfill their dreams in a city like Los Angeles, where most people want to be in show business and this is how it is represented.
I do strongly believe this movie will get all the hype in this upcoming award season and it’s gonna be a movie that will be memorable for ages and I put it at the same level of Gene Kelly’s “Singin’ in the Rain” which I personally consider the best musical movie of all time.
“La La Land” like I mentioned before is one of the year’s best movies and I give it a huge recommendation and please bring a pack of tissues with you to the theaters since you are going be moved and touched.