A magical, musical masterpiece

La La Land
English (A) ****
Cast: Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling
Director: Damien Chazelle

In a world ruled by the struggle of making it big and achieving one’s dreams, Mia (Emma Stone) and Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) fall in love with each other. An aspiring actress/playwright and a passionate pianist trying to keep Jazz music alive, their love story is picture-perfect, until fate sticks its foot in.

La La Land is the kind of old-fashioned romantic movie you haven’t seen in a long time. Punched in with musical masterpieces at the right moments, the movie will pull at your heartstrings and bring out the hopeless romantic in you, with many moments where you’ll want to get on your feet and dance.

Chazelle has turned the simple story of a boy and a girl falling in love in a big city into a magical drama, with references to old romantic classics like Casablanca reminding you of lost love. Chazelle also uses seasons — winter, spring, summer and fall — to show the ups and downs in the lives of the protagonists. In many ways, the movie is also very relatable, showcasing the excitement of new love, how failures make people vulnerable and turn them into escapists and the career-oriented conflict that follows every relationship, reminding you that life is no fairytale. At the same time, it also reminds you never to give up.

Once again, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone impress you with impeccable performances. Gosling is perfect as the talented but curt pianist, while Stone stands out as a cheerful girl bogged down by life. They make the characters so believable and real, that most of the audience will see their lives through them. 

Justin Hurwitz has orchestrated a soul-touching musical, and the lyrics of each song, especially Gosling and Stone’s rendition of City of Stars,  will stay with you even as you leave the theatres. La La Land makes you believe in old-fashioned romance once again in a time when love is aching to last. With breath-taking frames and effortless chemistry between Gosling and Stone, this movie is like a breath of fresh air not only in the romantic genre, but in the industry. Don’t miss it!