'LA LA LAND' - REVIEW

Release Date: Thursday the 12th of January (UK Release)

Directed By: Damien Chazelle

Written By: Damien Chazelle 

Produced By: Fred Berger, Gary Gilbert and Jordan Horowitz

Starring: Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone 

Distributed By: Summit Entertainment

After wringing the hell out of his audience with his rhythmically intoxicating 2014 debut feature 'Whiplash', Damien Chazelle returns to bring us another tale of dreams and desires this time against the Los Angeles skyline. At only 31, Chazelle has already received multiple award nominations including the coveted Best Director Academy Award, already giving something of a benchmark for himself so early on. With ‘La La Land’ being released merely two years after his sharply paced and performed ‘Whiplash’, does this young gun with a knack for sharp storytelling deliver?

Set in the idyllic hills of Los Angeles, ‘La La Land’ see’s aspiring actress Mia (Stone) seemingly stuck in a rut with unrewarding auditions, meet piano playing Jazz enthusiast Sebastian (Gosling) who’s also down on his luck, moving from job to job with dreams of one day opening his own Jazz club. From here, inevitable love blossoms as the two’s passions and dreams take them on an emotional rollercoaster fraught with heartache and joy. 

With the Musical genre in something of a latent state in todays Hollywood, Chazelle’s third feature is very much so a throwback to the golden age of Hollywood musical thematically modernised for the 21st century. Whilst there are an abundance of high energy dance numbers paired with an equally infectious soundtrack, there isn’t a sense of forced introduction and instead allows the songs to flow naturally, making a nice change from the harping, out of the blue numbers of old. That said however, the spirit of the 50’s musical is very much alive throughout the picture with some of the most audaciously choreographed dance sequences put on screen. From the opening scene, an incredible feat of long take cinematography and exquisite choreography to the very first title on screen “FILMED IN CINEMASCOPE”, the sense of nostalgia is delightfully rife leading to a felling of being in very safe and capable hands as Chazelle has previously demonstrated. The notable references to 1950’s cinema in general is also a welcome delight with references to Hollywood classics such as ‘Casablanca’ and the ever notorious ‘Rebel Without a Cause’, the blending of retro and contemporary is blurred to perfection, making for a final film which is like things you may have seen before, but also very much a film you are unlikely to see again. 

What sets the film aside from its 1950’s counterparts hover is the depth within the narrative as we follow these two dreamers through thick and thin, with their relationship at the forefront of the lens, both Stone and Gosling are undeniably glorious and believable interpretations of young creatives with a passion and drive, the Hollywood dream has a tendency to scrape away from the human conscious. Indeed, the saturation of modern Hollywood is made present at various intervals in a particularly astounding scene involving one of Mia’s numerous auditions. Whilst the first act comes dangerously close to painting a picture of an almost unbearably sweet and saccharine relationship, the second and third reveal the hardships and costs of following your dreams, to an almost bittersweet degree yet fantastically realised. 

As with ‘Whiplash’, the crux of the emotion lay within the form of a two hander between Miles Teller’s driven young drummer Andrew Neiman and his militaristic tutor Fletcher portrayed by J.K Simmons. Here the formula is very much the same, with Gosling and Stone very much leading the film forward with their believable and at times animated performances. Gosling again following his laugh out loud performance in Shane Black’s ‘The Nice Guys’, brings forth a beautiful blend of heartfelt drama and comedic wit in every scene. Absent is any sense of 50’s machismo and here we are given an individual who’s passion for a dying genre is enough to make anyone who feels invested in a hopeless endeavour, invigorated and energised. A man initially sceptical to the idea of a relationship, eventually coaxed into romance by Emma Stone’s wonderfully nuanced portrayal of a girl who simply dares to dream of a life many dare not to. Her usual wit and physical acting out on fine form, along with drawing both laughs and tears in equal turn, it is clear that Stone brings in one of the most heartwarming and inspiring performances of the year.

With the soundtrack being as much a character of the film as it’s two leads, natural skepticism may prepare yourself for an abundance of celebratory style tunes about success in the Hollywood Hills. Such lies the sheer relief when discovering a deeply ranged and moving collection of songs which perfectly encapsulate the sensations of whirlwind romance and the willpower of dreamers. Enhanced with real life sets, superb dance routines performed by both Gosling and Stone, there is also an underlining of the sheer sense of wonder surrounding Hollywood itself, leading to a wonderfully created moment of tranquil love at Griffith Observatory. Composer Justin Hurwitz crafts numerous classics bringing to mind the likes of ‘Singin’ in The Rain’ destined to become an iconic soundtrack in years to come.

In a world which see’s the world crumbling in front of our eyes week by week, it’s wholeheartedly refreshing to find such a gem which will make you smile, laugh and perhaps even cry at a celebration of those who dare to dream in an ever competitive and incredibly cynical world. Those with aspirations to enter the creative industry in whatever form should leave the screening feeling on the highest of highs and a sense of possibility. With Chazelle seemingly showing no signs of slowing down, its clear he has more than established himself as the new blood Hollywood is in short supply of of late and with this only his third feature, it’s somewhat obvious we can expect exciting and groundbreaking films to follow. 

"People love what other people are passionate about" - Mia