One of the best movies that I have watched over my winter break is La La Land. I didn't realize this until the end, however. The first few minutes of the film had me worried for what I was in for, as too much singing and dancing can be a little too corny and unenjoyable for me.
Emma Stone even said at the Golden Globes that this is a movie for dreamers. This accurately depicts the film entirely. For those of you who have not watched it yet, I am not trying to spoil anything, but I will say that the movie does a great job of highlighting the fact that it is important to chase your dreams, even if there are other significant aspects of your life that might be standing in the way, such as friendships or romances.
Mia, played by Stone, and Sebastian, played by Gosling, have a refreshing romance that is very enjoyable to watch. Mia is an aspiring actress, while Sebastian is a lover of jazz music and hopes to open up a club of his own in the future. Their relationship is important because they are able to talk about their aspirations. I believe that it is important for everyone to be able to share their goals to someone else, and it doesn't just have to be to a partner. Friends, family, colleagues, mentors, etc. can also take on this role.
I would also say that there was a considerable amount of singing in the film, but not in a way that seemed unnatural. Mia and Sebastian, who are struggling to make ends meet in a city that is notorious for crushing dreams and breaking hearts, definitely have a lot of expression that needs to be unleashed.
Every once in a while, and don't say that this isn't true, every one of us has broken out into song. While I am definitely not musical in any way, I can recognize that music speaks differently to certain groups of people. Although La La Land may be considered a musical, it is definitely atypical of most Golden Age Hollywood musicals. The major romance in this film is not between the two main characters, rather it is about chasing dreams.
After reading the interpretations of this film and if you are still skeptical to see it in theaters, take the leap. La La Land will teach you lessons that you never expected to come across in musical and will not leave you with only one emotion. The movie accurately explores how exciting and awful it can be to pursue your dreams.
