La La Land: A Triumph for Old School Hollywood Magic

La La Land brings old Hollywood magic into modern day reality.

4/5 stars

Whiplash director Damien Chazelle is able to bring old Hollywood’s musical magic into the “best movie of 2016.” But did he cast a spell on the Academy to win all those Oscars? Or does the film deserve them?

La La Land is a modern musical which represents exactly why the ‘old school’ is the best school. Chazelle brings in old Hollywood’s allure with a modern twist in a way that should not work, but somehow manages to. The film ties in a love story, a rise to stardom story, a comedy, and a drama into a two-hour rollercoaster. That may sound like a recipe for a disaster, but instead, it was one hell of a party.

The film opens in sunny Los Angeles on the average crowded highway, which, in accordance with the stereotype, is plagued by traffic. It’s a setting that normally calls for mayhem, but instead breaks into a dance party (“Another Day in the Sun”). The opening alone is a refreshing departure from modern storytelling. Soon after the dance number, the party comes to an end when the two main characters, Mia Dolan (portrayed by Emma Stone) and Sebastian Wilder (Ryan Gosling), bump into each other during a moment of road rage. As the film continues, their initial hatred for each other turns into a friendship and eventually to a what seems like a perfect love story, especially during the planetarium scene. Unfortunately, not all love stories end with the protagonists living happily ever after. The film depicts their story as a couple, and as individuals with aspirations to fulfill their dreams within the city of Los Angeles. La La Land is a change to the idea of the musical: it represents the idiom of being out of touch with reality (as some might say conventional musicals are), hence the name La La Land.

The perfect word to describe the film is refreshing—something new within the musical and modern film realm. The plot mixes the idea of magic into a realistic plot. To further emphasize this, Chazelle hired production designer David Wasco and cinematographer Linus Sandgren to give the movie magical visuals. This has an effect on audiences, leaving them wide-eyed and in awe at the beauty of the city of Los Angeles.

La La Land is not only a visual delight but also a gift to the ears. The music, composed by Justin Hurwitz, entices audiences into the film, with songs that have viewers tapping their feet to the beat and getting teary eyed during the powerful and emotional ballads. The music enhances the emotions and power of many scenes. It is a perfect combination of modern and classic music, which reiterates the nature of the film.

The real magic in the film is the chemistry between Emma Stone and Ryan Goslings’ characters, Mia and Sebastian. They were able to capture the essence of their characters and perform them in a way which was appealing and relatable to viewers. It brought audiences along on their journeys and made the film a memorable experience.

But does it deserve all those Academy Awards?

In some ways, yes, but in others not so much. The film was able to score a total of 14 nominations at the 89^th Academy Awards, tying with Titanic and All About Eve, and in the end winning six of them—most notably, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Original Song.

Despite being something new and a different experience for audiences, La La Land wasn’t always magical. As great as it is, it is not the “perfect” film some critics make it out to be. Despite the strong powerhouse performances, the film is at times choppy and confusing. The film editing was strong in some areas of the film, but not consistently. This may have negatively affected viewers’ idea of the plot and their sense of what was going on within the film. The lack of balance between scenes affected the pace and flow of the movie. There was too much focus on scenes that seemed irrelevant to the story, and not enough focus on scenes which had significant meaning to the plot, leaving audiences in a state of confusion: they wanted more, but didn’t want an overload.

Even though it had the opportunity to be, it was not the Best Picture. However, Chazelle, Stone, Hurwitz, and the other winners of the cast and crew were still the best in their respective categories. Chazelle was able to bring passion and creativity to the film, which not many directors can do today. He incorporated his sense of magic and was able to tell a story through his perspective, which is not something you see every day.

Overall, the film was captivating and dare I say it again, a magical experience filled with emotions, music, and colors. The film left us restless for another hit by Damien Chazelle.