Once in a very long while, a film comes along that truly speaks to me, that captures my heart, entices my hopes, and ensnares my imagination. Movies can have a way of transporting you to a world where love, and dreams and all manner of delights are so vibrantly on display that it seems you could just reach out, grab them, and bring them into your soul. This is the world of "La La Land," and I very much wish all of you to visit it with me.

I've never really been a fan of musicals. I enjoy some of the classics, the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers collaborations come to mind, but too often I find them to be bloated, unneeded, and self-indulgent. I can't even count how many musicals I've seen with songs that feel completely forced and shoehorned in as if the writers needed to fill some sort of mandatory quota. Many animated Disney musicals have been well done, but often I find them riddled with immature themes and plot devices, in order to keep them humorous and easy to understand for children. It's been a long time since I've seen a musical that truly dives into my heart with full force, that fills me with wonder and reverence, that lets me remember the magic of music and film.

Writer/Director Damien Chazelle has such a profound appreciation for music, and that shows in his filmmaking. As a young man, he wanted to be a jazz drummer but found the field to be grueling and exceedingly difficult (these ideas are also showcased in Chazelle's previous film, "Whiplash"). While I found that film very enjoyable, I believed it focused a bit too much on the harshness and cold realities of the music world. In stark contrast and much to my delight, "La La Land" lives within a musical wonderland. It's a visual and auditory treat; the choreography is impeccable, especially in the opening scene...Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling give top notch singing performances, which particular credit to Stone, who sounds as if she could sell out arenas with that voice... and while I've never been the biggest fan of jazz music, of course, because I'm under-educated in the subject, I found the music to be sensational and refreshingly on point, hitting all the right notes found between and up-tempo dance number and a somber and mournful piano ballad. The musicianship of Gosling also deserves appropriate praise, as his piano playing looks and sounds flawless, which is even more amazing giving the fact that he learned to play the instrument in 3 months while preparing for this role. As far as musical credentials go in contemporary film, you'd be hard-pressed to find something more imaginative and delightful.

What truly separates "La La Land" from other great films goes beyond the music. Emma Stone plays Mia, an aspiring actress looking for her big break. Ryan Gosling plays Sebastian, a down on his luck musician searching for meaning. These are some of the most overused cliches in film and yet the performances of both actors never give us the chance to think that. Both characters are played with such passion and brio that we quickly forget we're watching two young people living in Los Angeles trying to make it in show business. They're both such old souls: Mia was inspired to become an actress by watching classics like "Casablanca", and Sebastian fell in love with jazz by listening to legendaries like Charlie Parker. Indeed the film feels like an ode to the golden age of cinema, when going to the movies cost cents and big bands playing hot jazz dominated film soundtracks. The opening and closing credits even use classic typeface, reminding you of the old black-and-white films it echoes. This idea really struck a chord with me, as I've always considered myself to be overly nostalgic about film and music, and to see it displayed with such affection on screen made me feel right at home.

Something that must also be said is how Los Angeles is portrayed. We see plenty of the things it's known for like traffic jams, movie sets, and picturesque sunsets. We've seen these settings in countless other films, but I usually think of southern California serving as a backdrop for buddy comedies, action flicks, or crime dramas. Too often L.A.'s beauty is either ignored or shoved aside in order to show the seedy and treacherous underbelly of what lies beneath. "La La Land" does a tremendous job of depicting a city filled with beautiful vistas and stylish thoroughfares, rich in color and elegance. The cinematographer and production designs deserve every award possible for creating a city so dynamic and lively. More than once I felt awe-inspired by the magnificent set pieces. Chazelle has a keen eye on where to place the audience within a scene, and time after time I felt as if I was right there with these characters, dancing the streets in the City of Angels.

I really could drone on and on about how much I love this film. It's music dazzles, its screenplay enchants, the actors astonish, the technical prowess of the entire crew is exemplary. But what will always stay with me the most about "La La Land" is how big of a heart it has. Sure it's a fantastical adventure of love through song and dance, but it does have its moments of seriousness and powerful themes. Mia has her moments of wondering whether or not to just give up on her hopes. Sebastian doubts if the choices he's made are right for the man he sees himself becoming. Abandoning your youthful dreams to become an adult is a familiar topic in stories like these, but not many times before have I seen it used with such grace and careful consideration. We see that these are complex characters grounded in all too realistic world, but just when the weight of these ideas seems too big for us to bear, we're reminded of what brought these two people together...a simple stroke of luck in a star-crossed city...and that no amount of time or distance can ever keep love from reaching its perfect harmony.