La La Land- Review

Stunning, mesmerizing and visually lavish, “La La Land” written and directed by Damien Chazelle is truly a film that feels timeless in its own relevance. The story starring iconic actors Emma stone and Ryan Gosling is one of love and life and searching for one’s identity and purpose. The tale features a love story between Mia Dolan (Stone) and Sebastian Wilder (Gosling) which acts as the anchor of the plot. Wilder and Dolan are both presented as dreamers in “The City of Angels”, Los Angeles California In search of something greater than the lives they have been leading.

The opening scene has a Broadway-esque spectacle featuring actors dancing on cars with exaggerated movements and helpless grins worn on their faces. And the essence of California and Los Angeles as a city was captured beautifully through the dank apartments filled with trinkets of creative expression as that holds great deal of significance in a city like this. A connection is truly kindled between Mia Dolan and Sebastian Wilder through love of art in culture around them and within themselves. Both characters struggle with an inner conflict of what is most important to them: their careers, dreams and aspirations in a city full of dreamers, or a once in a lifetime chance for an epic love. Although this is a tale of love, it is so much greater than love between two individuals, but love in oneself. The beautiful scenes of the Griffith Observatory, the solemn stage featuring Sebastian's piano playing or Mia’s one woman all present a passion for art and expression that each of them desire to find and capture in their own lives. Vibrant costumes, scenes and playful secondary roles all aid in the image of an ideal Los Angeles in times of prosperity while dimmed lights in shoebox apartments create a mood of solitude in each of the character’s time of emotional struggle. Use of spotlights in a busy scene on Mia or Sebastian force the audience to feel the soft tones of their voices in contemplation or sheer acceptances the changes around them. The timeless quality comes from the appreciation of jazz music and understanding of a genre of music that brings people together. Throughout the film there is a progressive change in type of jazz music showcased, starting with a classic jazz and introducing Sebastian’s root passion and then moving to modern jazz featuring John Legend, presenting a disconnect of what Sebastian once cherished and the evolvement of his character in connection to Mia and within himself.

With the use of varied music, dance and constant fluidity of singing, seamlessly connecting each scene to the other in a complex but blended. This is a piece of art with many layers of symbolism for what it means to dream and to struggle to achieve and understand what purpose life truly holds. A film for the ages, “La La Land” is essential upon self-reflection and pure enjoyment of something truly beautiful, musically, cinematically and visually. A true masterpiece of cinema. 10/10