USA TODAY International Edition
You’ll sing the praises of magical ‘ La La Land’
If you make it through the opening — with dozens of people singing and dancing in bumper- to- bumper traffic and a samba party breaking out on a freeway — then you’ll be all in for what’s next in the effervescent and dazzling La La Land.
Writer/ director Damien Chazelle improves on his splendid 2014 film Whiplash by crafting a fabulous old- school Hollywood musical ( eeee out of four; rated PG- 13; in theaters Friday in New York and Los Angeles, expands to additional cities Dec. 16) in modern- day Tinseltown with joyous tunes, exceptional choreography, a feel- good love story and a hint of bittersweetness to keep the wonder grounded. A clear favorite in the Oscar bestpicture race, La La Land is both delightful confection and lifeaffirming food for the soul.
The romance revolves around struggling actress Mia ( Emma Stone), who toils as a barista between frustrating auditions, and jazz pianist Sebastian ( Ryan Gosling), a cranky anti- authoritarian with no patience for Christmas standards or 1980s new- wave pop.
Instead of a meet- cute, Mia and Sebastian have tense runins before they figure out there’s a spark: Their mating dance involves tap shoes and a skyline view. Their relationship goes through seasons of change as they face the question of realizing their individual dreams or giving them up.
The movie is boosted by a buoyant score by Justin Hurwitz, who also did the music for the original songs ( with Tony Award- nominated duo Pasek and Paul handling lyrics), such as Sebastian’s melancholic City of Stars and Mia’s ballad Audition ( The Fools Who Dream), an ode to “painters and poets and plays.” They even have a ringer: John Legend impresses in a small role as a bandleader who recruits Sebastian for his new group.
On paper, Stone’s Mia and Gosling’s Seb are seemingly a disaster waiting to happen, but her earnest optimism and his cool demeanor fit together like puzzle pieces. They can duet like nobody’s business, but their solo performances are wowing, too, especially Stone’s awards- ready turn and the way she conveys so much of Mia’s mood and personality with just a look.
While Whiplash hinted at his potential, Chazelle’s latest has the young filmmaker at the height of his prowess, conducting the actors, songs and spectacle like a veteran maestro. In La La Land, he has created a tribute to an era where musicals and jazz ruled but also posits in powerful fashion how each needs to evolve for its own relevance.
The movie’s sweeping yet intimate nature carries through to the unexpected but fulfilling conclusion. By then, you’ll be wondering when the Broadway adaptation is coming.
We’ve seen the cinematic ingredients of what makes La La Land special before. What makes this trip magnificent — guaranteed, this will be many people’s new favorite movie — is how they combine to remind us of the world- changing ability of artists and dreamers.