I first heard of La La Land not from a trailer on TV, but from all the hype about the many awards it would be winning during this upcoming awards season. I added it to my movie list to see, along with the multiple other best film nominees from years past that I still have not watched. But as soon as I did see the trailer and who was staring in it, I immediately moved this movie higher up on my list.
La La Land stars Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling in modern day Los Angeles, but with a very old Hollywood feel. Stone and Gosling have stared in numerous movies together and have amazing chemistry, and this movie is no different.
Emma Stone plays Mia, a struggling actress trying to make her way in Hollywood. She stumbles upon musician and jazz enthusiast, Sebastian, played by Ryan Gosling. The two get on each other's nerves and push each other throughout the movie to pursue their dreams, while falling in love with each other in the process.
La La Land follows the two's journey throughout a year in their life, going through the ups and downs of Mia trying to find an acting job and start a one woman show, and Sebastian while he tries to save up enough money to start his own jazz club, all while playing in a band that plays jazz music he is not very fond of.
There are also multiple musical numbers that add so much more to the already amazing story line. "City of Stars", crooned by Ryan Gosling, is definitely something to be heard, while the tap duet with Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone is a show stopper. An appearance by John Legend just makes the music even better.
This movie deserves every award that it was nominated for. The cinematography is stunning, the dancing and singing is captivating, and the chemistry between Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone is better than ever. Although the ending is frustrating (you'll have to see it to find out!), La La Land is an absolutely incredible movie and one that I can not wait to buy on DVD so that I can watch it over and over again.
