Why do we love the movies? For two hours or so, they take us to a surreal experience, one that surpasses the average emotions we can be comfortable feeling as human beings. Perhaps these feelings or even philosophies are ones we believed we had successfully shut out or our lives long ago. However, like a vivid dream, these subconscious thoughts, fears, ideas we thought had been long abandoned resurfaced. As painful or as wonderful as that can be, we get the chance to feel these emotions, as we become invested in them playing out by characters on the screen in front of our eyes. A real example of this has always been the Hollywood musical. Many times, musicals resurface in times of greatest fear and hopelessness in the United States. Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, and Shirley Temple kept us smiling when the Great Depression left our nation battered and bruised. Gene Kelly graced the screen with his magical feet at the height of the Cold War. Moulin Rouge and Chicago gave us an escape in the days of post 9-11 America. In, dare I say it, Trump's America, a nation where cynicism, fear, and despair rule the land, La La Land is the glimmer of hope we needed. With a strong shot of unapologetic optimism, a philosophy I had abandoned long ago, it gave me a new zeal on life's strong messages.
In an era where Fifty Shades of Shit is our current romantic standard, La La Land reminds us of how wonderful the romance of old Hollywood was. We loved the swooning songs, the random breakouts dance, and the unfailing chemistry. However, this is a musical with a taste of the realism of the 21st Century, which has failed to be done well on the big screen. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone cement themselves among the great Hollywood on-screen couples. The charm and the magic created by the two leads are almost unprecedented. It is incredibly rare to see an original score and songs make it to the big screen, as most musicals are converted from successful stage shows to make less than average movies. Justin Hurwitz, director Damien Chazelle's college buddy from Harvard, writes one of the best scores not just of the year, or of this century, but in film history. 2016 delivers another flawlessly shot film by cinematographer Linus Sandgren. The dance and song sequences are a flawless homage to so many of the great musicals of Hollywood while maintaining a breathtaking originality. Enough cannot be said for Damien Chazelle, who, by age 31, has made two masterpieces of film that most directors would dream of making their entire lives. Though very different movies, Whiplash and this film show the true talent of the "boy wonder" that is taking Hollywood by storm.
In short, La La Land makes you fall in love again. it allows you to fall in love with romance. the film reminds us why we love the art of cinema. Finally, the film reminds us why we love life. If you see only one movie this year, or even before you inevitably meet your demise, please see this one.
Grade (11/10)
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