La La Land - Movie Review

Every now and then, a film comes that just does everything perfectly. You can't point to any particular element that elevates it into greatness, but every aspect of it working in perfect harmony just makes it a fantastic experience, and a fantastic film. La La Land is one of those films; while there are several parts of it that stand out as truly impressive, how well it all functions together is what is makes it such a delight. This is one of those movies that's hard to write about, because it's easy to point out flaws or shortcomings, but when I don't really have any issues with a movie, it's hard to sum up exactly why it works. You have to see it to understand, and I definitely recommend that you do see this film, because it jumped up my list of best movies of the year very quickly. This is the last film I'm seeing in 2016, and what a way to end the year!

This film is built around a love story, and a fairly conventional one at that. In fact, if it wasn't for the cast and director, I would have expected much less from this film. We follow Mia (Emma Stone), an aspiring actress, and Sebastian (Ryan Gosling), a jazz pianist, as they fall in love and try to navigate through life together, as well as through their conflicting careers. In terms of a love story, it has a very simple set-up, and it hits all of the beats that would be expected while taking full advantage of the genre's formula. Everything from the meet-cute to the falling out to their reunion is included, but it's not presented as simply as it might appear to. La La Land is definitely a "love story", but it's also a story about love itself. How love changes and influences people, how it pulls them together and pushes them apart. The only real complaint that I have with the film is that the conflict that arises between Mina and Seb appears very suddenly, although it is rooted in very believable sources. Because the two function so well together, it's never clear when the slowly building tension between them is going to bubble to the surface, and the way that it finally does really hits hard. Love starts to become the primary motivation for the two of them, but it conflicts with the ideas that they had for themselves and of each other. Although the film initially seems very by-the-book in terms of romance, it does do a few things that many romantic movies don't bother with. For example, La La Land has actual characters. Eat your heart out, Nicholas Sparks.

The impact of the characters is greatly helped by the actors who portray them, as well as the excellently-written screenplay. Sebastian is a very traditional character; he's rooted in classic jazz, but he knows that the genre he loves so much is dying, and he'a treading water holding onto it. On the other hand, Mia is very much about moving forward and embracing the future, although she seems stuck in place. Gosling and Stone both do incredible work in bringing their characters to life, and manage to effectively ground Sebastian and Mia in the middle of a very stylized world. Emma Stone's character allows her to show off a lot more range, and she manages to steal every scene she's in through her irresistible charm and wit - her audition scenes stand out as the funniest in the film. While Gosling's performance is much more understated, his character is supposed to be reserved, which makes his few emotional outbursts stand out even more. Both leads also show a surprising talent for singing, which I didn't really expect. The film is very much a throwback to classic Hollywood musicals, and that classic style is most notable in the editing. Although it has the energy and upbeat positivity of an Old Hollywood musical, it takes place in modern day, and the characters remain true to the modern world. Sebastian and Mia are both struggling artists, and how their respective pursuits play out are handled excellently. Nothing ever feels forced or awkward, and their different journeys develop very naturally.

La La Land balances its style with its tone and story brilliantly. The element of the film that sticks out the most is the cinematography, which is nothing short of breathtaking. Visual effects are incorporated very effectively, but the more impressive moments come from the of practical effects, seamlessly stitched together in editing. Colour appears as absolutely vibrant; every different location in the film has a distinct palette, and every changing scene gives familiar settings different hues. The enhanced style is most noticeable in musical numbers - of which there are plenty - and when reality is broken, the film manages to truly transport the audience to another world. The contrast between these stylistically heightened scenes and the simple, more dramatic scenes of Sebastian and Mia interacting show how both aspects of their relationship are balanced. The music is very representative of the love between them; it moves at different paces and rhythms, but it's always there.

There are quite a few elaborate musical sequences, all of which flow smoothly and without error. Due to the undoubtedly exhausting work that must have gone into crafting these set-pieces, every single one of them is executed flawlessly. So flawlessly that they simply look effortless, whether it's one long dance between two characters or a dance being played out across an enormous party, or a long stretch of highway. The songs themselves are extremely catchy, and are re-incorporated many times across the film to great effect. While there are plenty of songs that go into over-the-top stylistic territory, some songs are presented very simply, and allow the emotion of the music to carry the audience through rather than incredible cinematography. This perfect handling of tone shows how talented writer/director Damien Chazelle truly is. Whether it's a focused, intense thriller like Whiplash or a sweeping, heartfelt romance like this film, Chazelle's distinct vision shines through. He has a real talent for using music to tell a story, as well as populating that story with characters that are easy to understand and emotionally invest in.

La La Land executes everything that it sets out to execute with enormous success. It excels as a musical, as a love story, and as a dual character study. Sebastian and Mia go through the typical trials and tribulations of a relationship, but the conclusion of their journey is very fitting, and very intelligently subversive. The film crafts such a compelling relationship, and the chemistry between Gosling and Stone elevates it beyond typical fare. Though this film is anything but typical, and Damien Chazelle has once again managed to create one of the best films of the year. La La Land is the kind of film anyone can enjoy, like the classic films it takes such heavy inspiration from. It portrays both jazz music and the sensibilities of classic Hollywood with a very classic, nostalgic touch. It's a film very much rooted in the past, but it uses every tool of the present to create a consistently engrossing atmosphere. As a fan of musicals, I found it to be an engaging and impactful experience, and as a fan of fantastic films, La La Land is one that's going to stick with me for a long time.