La La Land (2016)

“La La Land” is a Musical that also combines the genre of Comedy & Drama. Our story is about two key people that begin to fall in love. The film also includes music tracks and dance numbers by actors Emma Stone & Ryan Gosling. The film’s setting is in Los Angeles, present day. 

I had the honour and pleasure of being able to attend an Advance screening for this film before it officially arrives in cinemas on 26th December (Boxing Day)

The film starts with the introduction of two key characters. Mia (played Emma Stone) currently works in a coffee shop located around movie studios. Mia has the dream of one day becoming a famous actress herself. Mia is also trying to make ends meet as she continuously gets knock backs from casting auditions. 

The other key character is Sebastian. Sebastian (played by Ryan Gosling) is currently a jazz pianist who also carries a dream- of one day owning his own jazz club and seeing jazz make a huge comeback. He feels that Jazz is dying and will one day be forgotten unless something is done about it. When Sebastian is in his car, he plays jazz music. When he comes home from work, he plays jazz music on his turntable and plays along on his piano. From the very get-go, it is very evident that Sebastian has huge amounts of passion for the Jazz genre.

Shortly after we are introduced to both of our main characters, our Jazz pianist begins to fall in love with an aspiring actress. The two of them share a journey that will never be forgotten in cinema history.

La La Land is one beautiful looking film. The film doesn’t hold back from using incredible amounts of bright colours and stunning lighting, which is always used at the right, key moment. La La Land will make you feel like you’re watching a stage play and forget you’re watching a cinema film. The film also pays a great tribute to music, fashion, movies and technology from the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s all the way up to the present-day today. 

Despite this being a musical, it is never dull or boring. At no point did I roll my eyes and think, ‘geez, not another song’ because every song was fresh, different and exciting. And people who know me well know that I’m not a huge fan of music. 

The biggest strong point of why this movie works is the magic between Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling on screen. It is a known fact that both Emma Stone & Ryan Gosling always have provided amazing entertainment when on-screen together (as a screen in Gangster Squad 2013 & Crazy, Stupid, Love 2011). I must admit that this was more of a new level Emma Stone between both actors to the point where I say both her and this film deserves an award. 

Director Damien Chazelle (best known for previously writing and directing the film “Whiplash” (2015) returned to both writing and be behind the camera to direct another smash hit in his career. Did you know that the Director of La La Land & Whiplash is only age 31! Making movies like this at his age declares that Damien Chazelle has a great road ahead with more amazing films to come. 

Overall, With so many big film arriving in cinemas at this time of year (including Star Wars: Rogue One, Moana etc.), this is one film that I strongly suggest you do not ignore. Even if you’re not into musicals, stage plays, jazz, or dance, there’s still an incredible story to be enjoyed with some of the most outstanding performances and filming I have seen this year. In fact, allow me to call it now. For the year 2016, La La Land is my number one (and currently highest rated) film of the year.

10/10

Rating: 5 out of 5.
La-La-Land-Poster

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The luxurious cruise ship, the Elder of the Seas, is sailing the oceans, filled with passengers socialising and revelling while travelling worldwide for sixty days. Initially, everyone seems to be having a wonderful time, enjoying fine dining, partying, and drinking....

The Dead Don’t Hurt (2024)

Set in the 1860s in Elk Flats, Nevada, the story follows Holger (Viggo Mortensen), who lives in a quiet, dusty home near the mountains. Although his house is quite plain, he enjoys a peaceful lifestyle and prefers to keep to himself. While venturing outside the...

The Naked Jungle (1954)

Venturing deep into South America to meet her new husband, Joanna Leiningen (Eleanor Parker) does not find her new husband as eager to meet her as she thought he would be. Christopher Leiningen (Charlton Heston), married to Joanna by proxy, is suspicious of her, and...

The Cat and the Canary (1939)

The crumbling, isolated Norman mansion amidst the Louisiana Bayous is an eerie place. Even more so when the family gathers together to read a will 10 years after the previous owner, Cyrus Norman, dies. One by one, the family called to the reading and enter the...

Caligula: The Ultimate Cut (2023)

In Antioch, A.D. 19., the celebrated Roman war hero Germanicus, the grandson of Marcus Antonius, has died under mysterious circumstances. His seven-year-old son, Gaius, is beloved by both his father's army and the citizens of Rome. The boy is affectionately nicknamed...

Death Valley (1982)

In the opening scene, Paul (Edward Herrmann) and his son, Billy (Peter Billingsley), spend a wonderful time together. However, as their time together ends, Paul has to comfort a shocked and upset Billy as his parents are split up, and Billy is about to return to his...

Your Monster (2024)

Laura's (Melissa Barrera) life is at an all-time low. After undergoing surgery to remove cancer, she's filled with sadness and mixed emotions. Making things even worse, while she is in hospital in recovery, her boyfriend, Jacob (Edmund Donovan), reveals that he is no...

Out Come the Wolves (2024)

Out in the wilderness, a barely alive man armed only with a sharp stick attempts to crawl to safety. Not far away is a cabin where Sophie (Missy Peregrym) and Nolan (Damon Runyan) are. When a knock at the door interrupts their solitude, they answer the door and find...

Piece by Piece (2024)

Welcome back to the world of Lego, a place where everything is fantastic, colourful, creative, and fun. Have you ever heard of Pharrell Williams? If you don't know, Pharrell Williams is an American musician who continues working on many great musical titles, including...

Goodrich (2024)

When Andy Goodrich (Michael Keaton) receives a call in the middle of the night, things become problematic. The call is from his current partner, Naomi (Laura Benanti), who has checked into rehab. Andy is both shocked and surprised to hear the news. After all, he...

Grafted (2024)

As a young girl, Wei often completed her schoolwork while her father conducted various scientific experiments. One of these experiments aimed to address a significant birthmark on Wei's face. However, when her father’s latest creation was tested, the consequences were...

Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point (2024)

It's Christmas Eve, and we follow a family as they drive to their destination on Long Island.  Upon their safe arrival, they join many loved ones from their family whom they haven't seen in a while.  Viewers are invited to join the Christmas celebration with...

Piper (2023)

One stormy night, a woman rushed to the hospital with her young child. On the trip there, her son acted strangely, as if he were no longer himself. As the woman arrives at the hospital, a mysterious figure appears in the distance, playing a flute and surrounded by...

Thesis (1996)

In the opening scene, a woman named Ángela (Ana Torrent) is travelling by train when an unexpected announcement is made- that a passenger has taken their own life by jumping onto the train tracks. Ángela and the other passengers are instructed to exit the train and...

Scream, Pretty Peggy (1973)

One dark night, a woman attempts to escape from a large home, but upon reaching the garage, she discovers the car won't start. As she panics and searches for ways to flee, a mysterious, ghostly figure approaches and brutally murders the woman. After this scene, we...

What We Do in the Shadows (2014)

Every few years, a secret society in New Zealand hosts a special event called ‘The Unholy Masquerade’. This year, in the month leading up to the ball, a documentary crew is granted full access to a small group of this society. Each crew member is allowed to wear a...

Poison (2024)

Waking up early, Lucas (Tim Roth) starts his drive to a cemetery, quickly stopping for fuel and a hot coffee along the way. Meanwhile, Edith (Trine Dyrholm) calls her workplace, claiming she is unwell at the start of her day before riding her bike to the cemetery....

Intruder (1989)

In a local grocery store, the staff on duty are preparing to close after a long day of trade. But before they can officially close, an incident occurs involving a staff member named Jennifer (played by Liz Kern), who works at one of the store's checkouts. The...

Cuckoo (2024)

After the sadness of her mother's passing, Gretchen (Hunter Schafer), her father Luis (Marton Csokas), and his new family are moving to the German Alps. Gretchen's father had received a contract to help build a new hotel and when they arrive, Herr König (Dan Stevens)...

The Nature of Love (2024)

Sophia (Magalie Lépine Blondeau) lives in Montreal with her long-term partner, Xavier (Francis-William Rhéaume). Sophia is a full-time philosophy professor determined to repair and renovate their country house in her spare time. To help with the extensive...

Nightbitch (2024)

Amy Adams plays ‘Mother’, a full-time stay-at-home mum to her toddler son. Throughout the day, she often takes her son to the park or the local library, where other toddlers and mothers gather to play games and sing songs. Throughout each day, she consistently...

Weekend in Taipei (2024)

John (Luke Evans) is an undercover agent tasked with gathering evidence to bring down a criminal leader named Kwang (Sung Kang). His undercover mission as a chef is going smoothly until a fellow agent accidentally drops his badge in front of the enemy. This mistake...

Tatami (2024)

Leila (Arienne Mandi) is an Iranian female judoka who has travelled to the Judo World Championship and strongly desires to win the gold medal. If successful, Leila would be responsible for Iran's first gold medal. Her coach and trainer, Maryam (Zar Amir Ebrahimi),...

We Were Dangerous (2024)

In 1954, Nellie (Erana James) and Daisy (Manaia Hall) are students at an organisation for teenage female delinquents. The organisation is passionate about teaching everything about religion and preparing the students for their future in motherhood and parenting. Their...

Flathead (2024)

After receiving some concerning health news, Cass (Cass Cumerford) suddenly decides to visit his childhood home in Bundaberg, Australia, which is filled with many memories. Since Cass is alone, he rents a cheap room to stay in. While in town, he begins...

The Moon is Upside Down (2024)

Follow the journey of three different women who have one major thing in common: they're all looking for happiness, a sense of belonging, and purpose. Firstly, there is Natalia (Victoria Haralabidou), a mail-order bride from Siberia. Natalia travels to Aotearoa to...

Sasquatch Sunset (2024)

In a North American forest, we follow a family of Sasquatches. There are four members to the family: the Alpha male (Nathan Zellner), a female (Riley Keough), a young male (Jesse Eisenberg), and a child (Christophe Zajac-Denek). The story spans a year, beginning in...

The Substance (2024)

Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore) was once an award-winning actress- one of our time's most popular and hottest celebrities. Currently, Elisabeth hosts a television program where she teaches aerobics. However, her boss, Harvey (Dennis Quaid), feels Elisabeth is becoming...

Goodnight Mommy (2014)

In a rural setting, nine-year-old twin brothers Elias (Elias Schwarz) and Lukas (Lukas Schwarz) are left to entertain and care for themselves while they wait for their mother (Susanne Wuest) to return from surgery. When their mother returns, she is relatively weak and...

Sunrise (2024)

In an old, gritty, and damp rural town, a political leader named Reynolds (Guy Pearce) is determined to take ownership of everything he desires. Reynolds's power, control, foul attitude, and disrespect exhaust the residents, who are tired of trying to defend...

Hellboy: The Crooked Man (2024)

In 1950, Hellboy (Jack Kesy) travels by train with precious cargo: a dangerous spider that can fester into something far more sinister and evil than anyone can imagine. But when an altercation occurs on the train, and the spider manages to escape, Hellboy and a fellow...