Hammerman Ikon

Hammerman Ikon Film Guide

La La Land
2016
*****
Director: Damien Chazelle
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, John Legend, Rosemarie DeWitt, Finn Wittrock, Jessica Rothe, Snoya Mizuno, Callie Hernandez, J.K. Simmons, Tom Everett Scott

Mia is an aspiring actress and Sebastian is an idealistic jazz pianist. The two fall in love while they pursue their dreams in Los Angeles. Like New York, New York (thankfully without the verbal and mental abuse Martin Scorsese made us sit through), this is a story about two ambitious creative people who have trouble finding time for each other and about the city in which they live. Damien Chazelle kicks off his romantic musical with an in-your-face music and dance number set in a freeway traffic jam. However, after this bold and somewhat alienating opening, I was totally swept along by the central characters, the beautifully woven story, and the catchy tunes. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone are excellent in the leading roles, and Chazelle stages a few unforgettable set pieces, such as the what if? scene towards the end. The film won Academy awards for directing, acting (Stone), cinematography, production design, score, and best original song (City of Stars).