La La Land is officially my favourite movie – and I’m not just saying that because everyone else is. If you haven’t seen it yet then, first of all, who are you? And secondly, get on it! The movie has already garnered critical acclaim by winning its seven Golden Globe Nominations and I’m sure the Oscar’s are not far behind.
It won these categories at the Golden Globes:
- Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy
- Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy Motion Picture
- Best Musical or Comedy Motion Picture
- Best Director of a Motion Picture
- Best Original Score
- Best Screenplay of a Motion Picture
- Best Original Song of a Motion Picture
There are lots of elements in this movie that I truly and deeply appreciated, not just as a movie-lover, but also as a music-lover. The movie was filled with little hidden treasures and wonderful lines. And in all honestly Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone are everything I’ve ever wanted, we’ve never seen them stronger.
The gist of the movie is this: it follows aspiring actress Mia (Emma Stone) and talented jazz pianist Sebastian (Ryan Gosling), who wants to someday open his own jazz club, as they try to achieve their respective dreams in L.A – you see what he did there, right?
The relationship between the couple is magnetic. They drew me in; I believed in them and I wanted them to be together. Now, this movie can also be classified as a rom-com, but it is so grounded in reality that the style and unique voice of the story is only heightened by the musical numbers and the movie effects that are lacking in real life.
I deeply appreciate how each character behaved in their relationship. Sebastian’s unwavering faith in Mia’s talent and hard work, especially when she didn’t believe it herself, was a breath of fresh air compared to other movie boyfriends. This was everyone should aspire to have in a relationship – imo. Mia’s support of Sebastian’s decisions, and then, later on in the film, her decision to ask the hard questions to remind Sebastian of his dream,although sad, proved real and emotionally raw. Ryan and Emma’s chemistry and easy charm were such essential parts of the movie. If it were anybody else, I simply can’t see the film being as wonderful as it is.
Side note: Emma Watson and Miles Teller were set to play the lead parts, but dropped out because of other opportunities. I’m not complaining.
So let’s talk about the music.
It’s Jazz, “It’s conflict and it’s compromise, and it’s very, very exciting!” – Sebastian.
As a former trumpet player (back in highschool) I will always have a deep love for Jazz music. The music from the movie, composed by Justin Hurwitz, friend and colleague of La La Land’s prestigious director and writer Damien Chazelle. You might recognize these names because of their Oscar-winning film “Whiplash,” released back in 2014.
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Another interesting part of the movie was the use of sound to transition between scenes. There were many sounds that featured as callbacks to previous scenes… The Horn from the beginning of the movie to the pivotal moment when Sebastian comes to look for Mia. The lovers theme song that created such a bittersweet atmosphere I could taste raspberries on my tongue. The stage technique where the light to fades out when the music starts and everything fades away except for them. The music was so easy to get lost in.
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Hidden easter egg is that the opening number for the movie lyrically represents the storyline and themes for La La Land. La La Land’s music sweeps you off your feet, makes you wanna tap till your feet fall off, waltzes you into the sunset and and makes you want to cry in the corner – all in one movie. If you like nothing else about the movie (you better like it all), you will love the music.
Obviously, because it’s a musical, there are going to be dance numbers.
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The opening number on the traffic overpass was sensational. It felt like an old Hollywood style movie but in a modern day setting: a traffic jam. The dancers and outfits for the company were unique. They featured all body types, different ethnicities, and different styles of dance, including costumes to match. I thought it was a great way to start off a movie by being expressive and inclusive.
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When I first watched the movie, the dancing between Mia and Sebastian surprised me because of its natural feel. It didn’t feel polished or too advanced; it was organic. I’m not saying it wasn’t well done or wasn’t fun to watch – Emma and Ryan trained for months learning tap, jazz and the waltz – but it wasn’t high-concept or complicated, it was just dancing.
La La Land was influenced by many musicals, two main ones being “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” (1964) and “The Young Girls of Rochefort” (1967).
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But I also picked up on little nods to “Singing in the Rain” – Sebastian’s swing around a lamppost – and even “West Side Story” – when the girls were walking down the street to the car– and I’m sure I missed more.
Despite all these wonderful things incorporated into La La Land, my favourite part was the ending. Because it was honest to real life. “It’s conflict and it’s compromise, and it’s very, very exciting!” What happened in the end was blended with a scene we would expect to see in an old Hollywood movie, where everything turned out exactly as you wanted. This created such a genuine and compelling conclusion that I doubt any other film scene will ever satisfy me as much as that one did: the reiteration of all the key songs in the movie, and the fact that Sebastian went to Paris and started his Jazz club and called it “Chicken on a Stick” in French!
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To be fair, musicals and rom-coms aren’t for everybody. Maybe you hated the ending. Maybe you don’t like Jazz. To that I say “Pishykaka!”
Bu, I promise you there will be something you like about the film.
Go see it.
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